St. Josephs National School
LOUGHREA, Galway
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 53 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 18 girls, 35 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 15958F the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Joseph’s National School, Woodford is a Catholic, Christian, co‑educational primary school operating under the management and trusteeship of the Diocese of Clonfert. The school’s ethos centres on holistic education, aiming to nurture each child’s academic, social and spiritual development so that they can achieve their full potential. It places particular emphasis on caring for students and staff, supporting those at risk, and fostering environmental responsibility. The school actively promotes Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through dedicated fundraising initiatives run by the Parents Association, which also supports a range of additional resources. Community engagement is encouraged via a newly established Facebook page, providing updates and opportunities for parental involvement. The school’s commitment to a balanced curriculum is reflected in its wide range of activities, including sports, arts, science projects and physical activity programmes across all class levels.
Applying to 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. 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. Josephs National School
How many pupils attend St. Josephs National School?
St. Josephs National School has 53 pupils enrolled, 18 girls and 35 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St. Josephs National School a DEIS school?
Yes. St. Josephs National School is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
What is the ethos of St. Josephs National School?
St. Josephs National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.