St Itas Special School
Drogheda, Louth
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 207 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 82 girls, 125 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18936K the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Ita’s Special School is a co‑educational Catholic special school in Drogheda serving children aged 5‑18 with mild learning needs. The school provides a nurturing environment that promotes self‑worth and personal development, guided by a mission to create a safe, inclusive atmosphere where each pupil’s abilities and limitations are respected. Teaching follows the National Curriculum framework for the junior phase and offers a broad range of Level 1‑3 modules, QQI courses and Junior Certificate programmes for senior students, with an emphasis on practical and creative subjects such as cookery, swimming, drama and gardening. The school operates across two campuses: the main site on Crushrod Avenue and the Shamrock Lodge campus situated within the grounds of Boyne Rugby Club. Together the campuses house 20 classrooms, including specialised facilities such as a dedicated woodwork and art room (added in 2009) and additional classrooms to support expanding curricula. Recent involvement in the Erasmus+ programme has earned the school a European Innovative Teaching Award (2023) and accreditation to continue international collaborations until 2027, enriching both staff development and pupil experiences. A strong anti‑bullying ethos is embodied in “The Promise”, a set of commitments encouraging students to speak up, include others and model positive behaviour. This focus on community, together with a range of extracurricular activities, underpins the school’s holistic approach to education and personal growth.
History
St Ita’s Special School was founded in 1963, initially serving children from the local Drogheda area. Over the decades the school has been repeatedly refurbished to improve its infrastructure, including upgrades to electrical, heating and roofing systems. In 2009 a new woodwork and art room was built to support students undertaking QQI and Junior Certificate coursework. Two additional classrooms were added in 2013 to accommodate the growth of QQI programmes. A major expansion occurred in 2016 with the opening of a second campus, Shamrock Lodge, which added six classrooms to meet the demand for Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programme classes. Today the school educates approximately 199 pupils across primary, middle and senior phases, with 75 pupils currently engaged in the revised Junior Cycle curriculum.
Applying to St Itas Special 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 Itas Special 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 Itas Special School
How many pupils attend St Itas Special School?
St Itas Special School has 207 pupils enrolled, 82 girls and 125 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Itas Special School a DEIS school?
No. St Itas Special 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 Itas Special School?
St Itas Special School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.