St Bernadette Special School
Letterkenny, Donegal
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 129 about the same size as the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 42 girls, 87 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19592J the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Bernadette’s Special School is a co‑educational day school situated in Letterkenny, County Donegal, catering for children aged 4‑18 with mild to moderate learning disabilities. The school delivers a highly individualised programme that follows the national primary curriculum, supplemented by the Junior Certificate Level 2 (JCL2) framework for junior cycle pupils and a comprehensive School Leavers’ Programme for senior students, culminating in a recognised certificate of education. The curriculum is broad and student‑centred, covering English, Maths, History, Geography, Science, Home Economics, Music, Drama, Computer Studies, Physical Education, Arts & Crafts and Religious Education, alongside key life‑skills training such as pre‑vocational work experience, woodwork and health education. Facilities include a fully equipped PE hall and partnerships with local sports venues, enabling a wide range of activities such as swimming, basketball, football, GAA, bowling and mini‑hockey. Small class sizes and close collaboration with external therapists and sports coaches ensure each child receives the personalised support and attention required to thrive academically and socially.
Applying to St Bernadette 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.
School-published admissions links
These links come from the school's published admissions material. Check the school year shown before relying on dates or place numbers.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St Bernadette 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 Bernadette Special School
How many pupils attend St Bernadette Special School?
St Bernadette Special School has 129 pupils enrolled, 42 girls and 87 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Bernadette Special School a DEIS school?
No. St Bernadette 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 Bernadette Special School?
St Bernadette Special School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.