St Francis S S
Portlaoise, Laois
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 121 about the same size as the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 39 girls, 82 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19337Q the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Francis S S is a special school in Portlaoise, Co. Laois, providing education for students aged 5 to 18 years with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities and co-occurring needs. The school operates under Catholic ethos and is mixed gender. Enrolment stands at 121 pupils. The school states its ethos as a community where members support, respect and empower each other, with an emphasis on high professional standards. Pupils are valued for themselves rather than compared with others. The curriculum is described as broad, balanced and enriching, with attention to individual needs. Spiritual development is treated as important, with time given to prayer, reflection and guidance. The school works in partnership with families to help students overcome difficulties and develop life skills.
Applying to St Francis S S
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 S S. 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 S S
How many pupils attend St Francis S S?
St Francis S S has 121 pupils enrolled, 39 girls and 82 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Francis S S a DEIS school?
No. St Francis S S 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 S S?
St Francis S S has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.