St. Anne's Secondary School
Tipperary
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 267 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 65500L the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Anne’s Secondary School is a Catholic voluntary secondary school for girls situated on Rosanna Road in Tipperary Town. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy over 130 years ago, the school combines a long‑standing tradition of academic excellence with a nurturing, caring ethos. A dedicated teaching team creates a positive learning environment where pupils are encouraged to achieve their full potential, both academically and personally, guided by the school motto *per Ardua Ad Stella* – “reach for the stars”. The college offers a comprehensive curriculum supported by modern specialist classrooms, a well‑equipped science block, and extensive sports facilities, including a gymnasium and playing fields. Additional resources such as a canteen, lift, and dedicated spaces for art, debating, and student enterprise enhance the whole‑school experience. A structured transition programme eases new entrants from primary education, and strong parental partnership is promoted through regular communication and involvement in school life.
History
The Mercy Sisters arrived in Tipperary Town in 1864 and moved to Rosanna the following year, establishing the convent and St. Anne’s Secondary School. A primary school opened soon after, and by the end of the 19th century several hundred pupils attended. In the early 1870s a three‑storey industrial school for girls was built, forming the core of the present secondary school, which operated under the Board of Intermediate Education from 1897. Renovations and extensions occurred throughout the 1960s‑1990s, including new staff rooms, classrooms, a science block, and extensive modernisation in 1996. Since 2007 the school has been under the trusteeship of CEIST (Catholic Education, an Irish Schools Trust), continuing the values of the Sisters of Mercy into the 21st century.
Applying to St. Anne's Secondary School
For a September 2027 place, a school's formal admissions process cannot begin before 1 October 2026. The school sets its own opening and closing dates in its annual admission notice.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to St. Anne's Secondary School. Individual schools set their own discretionary closure days, confirm exact dates with the school.
- October Mid-Term Break: Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026
- Christmas Holidays: Wed 23 Dec 2026 – Tue 5 Jan 2027
- February Mid-Term Break: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (primary schools: Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027)
- Easter Holidays: Mon 22 Mar – Sun 4 Apr 2027
Primary schools close for the last two days of the February mid-term week and may use discretionary days to take the full week, so their break can be shorter than post-primary schools'.
Frequently asked questions about St. Anne's Secondary School
How many pupils attend St. Anne's Secondary School?
St. Anne's Secondary School has 267 pupils enrolled. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St. Anne's Secondary School a DEIS school?
No. St. Anne's Secondary School is not part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme of additional supports for schools serving communities at risk of educational disadvantage. Not holding DEIS status says nothing about how good a school is, only about the profile of the community it serves.
What is the ethos of St. Anne's Secondary School?
St. Anne's Secondary School has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' post-primary school.