St Joseph's Adolescent School
Dublin
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 11 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 6 girls, 5 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20153N the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St. Joseph’s Adolescent School is a designated special school situated on the grounds of St Vincent’s Hospital Fairview. Established in 2002, it provides a dedicated, holistic education for young people aged 13‑18 who are experiencing mental‑health challenges that make attendance at mainstream schools difficult. The school works closely with a multidisciplinary care team, receiving referrals from the hospital’s inpatient unit and the CAHMS Day Hospital, ensuring that each pupil’s educational programme is integrated with their therapeutic support. The curriculum is designed to be dynamic and engaging, continuing the programmes pupils were following in their regular schools while also offering a range of extra‑curricular activities such as art projects, music, and photography. Emphasis is placed on developing academic skills, personal confidence, and independent learning, alongside fostering respectful relationships and a lifelong love of learning. The school’s aim is to equip students to return to their own schools, progress onto training courses, or pursue further education, according to individual needs.
History
St. Joseph’s Adolescent School opened in 2002 on the campus of St Vincent’s Hospital Fairview. In 2014 the school was recognised as the winner of the Mental Health Ireland National Project, highlighting its commitment to innovative mental‑health education and support.
Applying to St Joseph's Adolescent 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 Joseph's Adolescent 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 Joseph's Adolescent School
How many pupils attend St Joseph's Adolescent School?
St Joseph's Adolescent School has 11 pupils enrolled, 6 girls and 5 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Joseph's Adolescent School a DEIS school?
No. St Joseph's Adolescent 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 Joseph's Adolescent School?
St Joseph's Adolescent School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.