St Gerard's
Bray, Wicklow
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 623 about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 267 girls, 356 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 61811I the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Gerard’s is a lay Catholic, co‑educational school situated on a 68‑acre campus on Thornhill Road, Bray, County Wicklow. The school provides continuous education from Montessori through to the Leaving Certificate, catering for roughly 250 pupils in the Junior School and about 600 in the Senior School. Its educational philosophy is founded on the dignity of the individual and the development of the whole person, promoting academic excellence alongside a strong emphasis on sport, music, performing and visual arts, and social awareness. The campus boasts a range of state‑of‑the‑art facilities, including a dedicated Science wing, an Arts, Craft and Design Centre, a modern Sports Hall, extensive sporting amenities, a School Chapel and a Dining Hall. The curriculum is broad and holistic, encouraging curiosity beyond the classroom and fostering resilience, critical thinking and compassionate citizenship. The school’s motto, “Memor” – to be mindful – underpins a community that values kindness, integrity, inclusivity and environmental stewardship.
History
St Gerard’s was founded in 1918 by John James, whose faith‑based philosophy of education stressed the dignity of each individual and the development of the whole person. From its modest beginnings, the school has grown into a vibrant institution offering education from early childhood through to the Leaving Certificate, while retaining its original Catholic ethos and commitment to holistic development.
Applying to St Gerard'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 post-primary school dates apply broadly to St Gerard'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: 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 Gerard's
How many pupils attend St Gerard's?
St Gerard's has 623 pupils enrolled, 267 girls and 356 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St Gerard's a DEIS school?
No. St Gerard'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 Gerard's?
St Gerard's has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.