St Annes Special School
Roscrea, Tipperary
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 49 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 9 girls, 40 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19370O the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Anne’s Special School is a co‑educational special‑needs institution situated within the historic Sean Ross Abbey in Roscrea, County Tipperary. It welcomes pupils aged 4 to 18 who have been assessed as having moderate to severe or profound learning disabilities, and it also accommodates children with additional needs such as physical disabilities and autism, including those with milder learning difficulties in exceptional circumstances. The school prides itself on fostering a caring community that upholds professional standards, trust and respect between pupils, families and staff. The educational programme is tailored to each pupil’s individual requirements. Younger children follow the Primary School Curriculum together with the *Guidelines for Teachers of Students with Learning Disabilities*, while senior pupils engage with the Junior Cycle Level 1 Learning Programme. On completion of their time at St Anne’s, students participate in a School Leavers Programme that prepares them for transition to appropriate adult training services. The school’s ethos emphasises holistic development, supporting intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual and physical wellbeing. Facilities are designed to meet a wide range of needs. The campus includes a hydrotherapy pool (currently closed) adjacent to a gym, a specially adapted playground, and extensive natural surroundings of fields and forests that provide a safe, attractive environment for outdoor learning and recreation. These amenities, together with a supportive staff team, create a nurturing setting for pupils to reach their full potential.
Applying to St Annes Special 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 primary school dates apply broadly to St Annes Special 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: Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (post-primary schools: Mon 15 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 Annes Special School
How many pupils attend St Annes Special School?
St Annes Special School has 49 pupils enrolled, 9 girls and 40 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Annes Special School a DEIS school?
No. St Annes Special 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 Annes Special School?
St Annes Special School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.