St Helens Junior National School
Portmarnock, Dublin
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 319 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 171 girls, 148 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19578P the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Helen’s Junior National School, Portmarnock, Co. Dublin, is a welcoming, friendly and inclusive primary school that works in close partnership with parents, guardians and the local community. The school prides itself on providing a caring, nurturing and safe environment where every child is encouraged to reach their full potential. Guided by a Catholic ethos, the curriculum is designed to develop both academic skills and personal values, fostering respect, love and cooperation among pupils. The school places a strong emphasis on active learning and wellbeing. A varied programme of physical activity, creative projects and wellbeing initiatives supports a holistic approach to education. Regular newsletters, assemblies and community events such as Grandparents’ Day and themed weeks help to build a vibrant school life that celebrates achievement and encourages participation from all members of the school family.
Applying to St Helens Junior 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
View St Helens Junior National School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St Helens Junior National School. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 Helens Junior National School
How many pupils attend St Helens Junior National School?
St Helens Junior National School has 319 pupils enrolled, 171 girls and 148 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Helens Junior National School a DEIS school?
No. St Helens Junior 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 Helens Junior National School?
St Helens Junior National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.