St Francis National School
Newcastle, Wicklow
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 90 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 42 girls, 48 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19734D the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Francis’ National School is a small, rural primary school situated in the village of Newcastle, County Wicklow. The school embraces a strong ethos of kindness, encouraging every pupil to appreciate the value of compassion and to develop a love of nature and respect for God’s creation. With a close partnership to the local Church of Ireland parish, the school integrates spiritual life through monthly assemblies and special services, fostering a sense of community and shared values. The educational approach combines a caring, stable environment with high academic expectations. A broad curriculum, aligned with the Department of Education and Skills’ Primary School curriculum, supports each child’s individual abilities and promotes holistic development. Although modest in size, the school provides dedicated support for special educational needs through a full‑time Special Education Teacher and a shared specialist, ensuring inclusive learning for all 94 pupils.
History
St Francis’ National School opened its doors in 1982 under the patronage of the Church of Ireland. Since its establishment, the school has grown to serve the local community while maintaining its founding principles of kindness, respect for nature, and a faith‑based ethos.
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 90 pupils enrolled, 42 girls and 48 boys. That makes it smaller 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 Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed primary school.