St. Francis National School
Blackrock, Louth
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 441 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 201 girls, 240 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20259G the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Francis National School is a vibrant, co‑educational primary school situated in Blackrock, County Louth. Established in 2007, the school now accommodates 18 mainstream classes – two per year group – together with two dedicated Special Autism classes, serving over 400 pupils from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, including recent Ukrainian refugee families. The school’s ethos centres on a supportive, inclusive community that works closely with parents to nurture each child’s potential, fostering both academic achievement and personal development. The purpose‑built campus on Rock Road, officially opened and blessed in December 2013, provides modern classrooms, specialist learning spaces and facilities for a broad curriculum. Extra‑curricular provision is extensive, featuring a Scratch Coding Club, school choir, chess, green‑school initiatives and a range of after‑school activities and camps. A strong special‑education team, including reading recovery teachers and special needs assistants, ensures that pupils with additional needs receive tailored support, while the dedicated administrative and caretaking staff maintain a welcoming, well‑managed environment.
History
St Francis National School opened in September 2007 with two teachers and 20 pupils, created to serve the growing Blackrock community as a Catholic school. Initially housed in five prefabricated units on the Community Centre site, construction of a permanent building began in February 2013 and the school moved in at the end of August 2013. The new premises were officially opened and blessed on 6 December 2013 by Archbishop Eamon Martin. Today the school boasts 18 mainstream classes, two autism classes, a staff of twenty teachers, a special‑education team of four teachers and eight special needs assistants, and a diverse pupil roll exceeding 400 children.
Applying to St. Francis National 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. Francis National 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. Francis National School
How many pupils attend St. Francis National School?
St. Francis National School has 441 pupils enrolled, 201 girls and 240 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St. Francis National School a DEIS school?
No. St. Francis National 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. Francis National School?
St. Francis National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.