St Francis Xavier Senior National School
Castleknock, Dublin
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 387 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 194 girls, 193 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19470S the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Francis Xavier Senior National School is a Catholic primary school situated in Roselawn, Castleknock, Dublin 15. It provides education for children in the senior infant, junior, and senior classes, fostering a supportive environment built on mutual respect and a commitment to holistic development. The school’s vision emphasises the moral, spiritual, physical, academic, aesthetic and cultural growth of each pupil, encouraging confidence, ambition and a strong sense of cultural identity. The campus has benefitted from extensive recent renovation, offering modern classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards and new percussion instruments for music. Dedicated facilities include a purpose‑built computer room, a library garden and outdoor classroom, an astro‑turf pitch, and Ireland’s first dedicated autism class “SONAS”. Environmental stewardship is promoted through the Green School Committee and hands‑on gardening projects that produce vegetables and sunflowers for the school community. A vibrant extracurricular programme features a show choir, debating, football, tennis, cycling, and an EPIC Museum class, reflecting the school’s commitment to a well‑rounded education.
History
The school originated as Coolmine Primary School, opening on 2 July 1973 in prefabricated buildings with 62 pupils. In mid‑1976 the school moved to newly completed premises in Roselawn, later named St Francis Xavier Schools. The senior section was established on 1 July 1977 with 170 pupils and expanded rapidly, reaching a peak enrolment of 680 pupils and 21 teachers in 1989. Since then the roll has settled at around 383 pupils, now representing 37 nationalities. Key developments include a computer room (1998), a library garden and outdoor classroom (2013), the opening of the autism class SONAS (2014), a redesigned library (2016) and a joint astro‑turf pitch (2017). The school is governed by an active Board of Management and Parents’ Association, both of which have contributed to the continual improvement of facilities and programmes.
Applying to St Francis Xavier Senior 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 Xavier Senior 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 Xavier Senior National School
How many pupils attend St Francis Xavier Senior National School?
St Francis Xavier Senior National School has 387 pupils enrolled, 194 girls and 193 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Francis Xavier Senior National School a DEIS school?
No. St Francis Xavier Senior 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 Xavier Senior National School?
St Francis Xavier Senior National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.