St. Fintan's High School
Sutton, Dublin
Key facts
- Boys
- Pupils enrolled
- 714 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 60370W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Fintan’s High School is an all‑boys Catholic voluntary secondary school situated on the coastline of Sutton, overlooking Dublin Bay. Operating under the trusteeship of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, the school follows the ERST Charter’s holistic vision, promoting partnership, excellence in teaching and learning, a caring community, transformational leadership and the nurturing of faith. The curriculum is designed to develop independence and cater for a wide range of abilities, with a strong emphasis on both academic achievement and personal development throughout the Junior Cycle, Transition Year and Leaving Certificate programmes. The school benefits from a unique natural setting that enriches learning: direct access to Burrow Beach supports physical education, sailing, and environmental studies, while nearby historic sites such as Howth Castle provide opportunities for cultural and culinary projects. Facilities include a dedicated football pitch and astro‑turf, extensive sports provisions with over a dozen competitive teams, and well‑equipped spaces for music, drama and the arts, highlighted by an annual school musical. A comprehensive wellbeing curriculum is delivered by a multidisciplinary support team, ensuring that pastoral care, inclusion and positive behaviour are integral to everyday school life.
History
St. Fintan’s High School opened on 8 September 1943 with 48 boys and a teaching staff of five Christian Brothers. Originally a fee‑paying preparatory and secondary school on Burrow Road, it moved in September 1972 to its present site overlooking Dublin Bay, where it continues to operate. Today the school is under the trusteeship of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, serving over 700 students with a staff of around 50 teachers, while retaining the traditions and core values established at its founding.
Applying to St. Fintan's High 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. Fintan's High 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. Fintan's High School
How many pupils attend St. Fintan's High School?
St. Fintan's High School has 714 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St. Fintan's High School a DEIS school?
No. St. Fintan's High 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. Fintan's High School?
St. Fintan's High School has a Catholic ethos. It is a boys' post-primary school.