St Augustines School
Dublin
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 157 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 66 girls, 91 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18499O the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Saint Augustines School is a co‑educational special school in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, catering for approximately 160 pupils aged 8‑18 with mild learning disabilities (and, where appropriate, moderate disabilities with high independent‑living skills). The school delivers a comprehensive educational programme that blends the Junior Cycle (Level 2) and Further Education and Training (QQI Level 3) curricula with a strong emphasis on personal development, vocational training and life‑skills preparation. Small class sizes of no more than twelve students enable personalised teaching, and each pupil follows an Individual Education Plan that outlines specific academic, behavioural and independent‑living targets. The campus comprises 16 well‑equipped classrooms, four purpose‑built vocational training units, a large gymnasium, a ceramics workshop and outdoor facilities for basketball, tennis and swimming. Residential services are available for a limited number of students from Monday to Friday, supporting continuity of learning and social integration. The school’s mission is to promote excellence in special education, guided by a vision of hospitality and leadership in delivering tailored educational services. A holistic approach is reinforced through extracurricular programmes such as swimming, outdoor recreation and personal development activities, fostering confidence and community participation.
History
Founded in 1930, Saint Augustines School is part of the Saint John of God Community Services, an organisation dedicated to supporting people with intellectual disabilities. The school has evolved to provide specialised education for children with mild learning disabilities, maintaining a commitment to religious freedom and inclusive practice. In September 2025 a new Board of Management was established, marking a recent governance milestone.
Applying to St Augustines 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
View St Augustines School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St Augustines School. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 Augustines School
How many pupils attend St Augustines School?
St Augustines School has 157 pupils enrolled, 66 girls and 91 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Augustines School a DEIS school?
No. St Augustines 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 Augustines School?
St Augustines School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.