St. David's Holy Faith Secondary School
Greystones, Wicklow
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 792 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 365 girls, 427 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 61830M the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. David’s Holy Faith Secondary School, Greystones, is the town’s sole Catholic secondary school and a member of the Le Chéile Catholic Schools Trust. Founded in 1906 by the Holy Faith Sisters, the school delivers a holistic education rooted in Gospel values of compassion, forgiveness, love, faith and hope. Its curriculum is organised around four pillars – academic excellence, ethos, sport and the arts – which together aim to develop students’ intellectual rigour, spiritual growth, physical wellbeing and creative expression. The school operates from a modern campus opened in October 2024, providing state‑of‑the‑art classrooms, science laboratories, a well‑equipped sports hall, playing fields and dedicated arts facilities including studios for music, drama and visual arts. A broad extracurricular programme offers competitive and recreational sport, artistic clubs and community‑service projects, reinforcing the school’s commitment to inclusion and leadership. Strong links with local parishes, primary schools, sports clubs, charitable organisations and international partners – such as exchange programmes in France, Spain and Zambia – enrich the learning experience and foster a sense of global citizenship among pupils.
History
St. David’s Holy Faith Secondary School was established in 1906 by the Holy Faith Sisters, bringing Catholic education to Greystones. Over more than a century the school has built a reputation for academic achievement, community involvement and a nurturing ethos. In October 2024 the school celebrated the opening of a new campus, marking a contemporary milestone while honouring its long‑standing heritage and the legacy of founder Margaret Aylward.
Applying to St. David's Holy Faith 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
View St. David's Holy Faith Secondary School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to St. David's Holy Faith Secondary 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: 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. David's Holy Faith Secondary School
How many pupils attend St. David's Holy Faith Secondary School?
St. David's Holy Faith Secondary School has 792 pupils enrolled, 365 girls and 427 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St. David's Holy Faith Secondary School a DEIS school?
No. St. David's Holy Faith 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. David's Holy Faith Secondary School?
St. David's Holy Faith Secondary School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.