St Itas & St Josephs National School
BALLOONAGH, Kerry
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 127 about the same size as the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 49 girls, 78 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19376D the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St. Ita’s & St. Joseph’s is a specialist school for children and young people aged 4‑18 with mild learning disabilities, situated in Balloonagh, Tralee, Co. Kerry. The school delivers the mainstream Primary Curriculum for junior classes and offers Junior Cycle, Leaving Certificate Applied and Transition Year programmes for senior pupils, with individually designed programmes for those on the autism spectrum. Small class sizes and dedicated staff enable personalised learning, while a broad range of specialist subjects, including Home Economics, Art and Design, ICT and Woodwork, support both academic and vocational development. The campus features purpose‑built, structured classrooms, a multi‑sensory room, an indoor sports hall, a horticulture poly‑tunnel, and a courtyard with a pond. Pupils benefit from a free bus service, free breakfast and dinner meals, a school minibus for outings, and access to outdoor activities such as horse riding, golf and surfing. Additional resources include a library, indoor play and social area, and an active student council, all aimed at fostering independence, confidence and community engagement.
Applying to St Itas & St Josephs 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 Itas & St Josephs 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 Itas & St Josephs National School
How many pupils attend St Itas & St Josephs National School?
St Itas & St Josephs National School has 127 pupils enrolled, 49 girls and 78 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Itas & St Josephs National School a DEIS school?
No. St Itas & St Josephs 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 Itas & St Josephs National School?
St Itas & St Josephs National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.