St. Joseph's National School
Tullamore, Offaly
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 360 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 166 girls, 194 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18797W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Joseph’s National School is a co‑educational Catholic junior primary school serving the Tullamore community. It provides education for children from Junior Infants to Second Class, including dedicated classes for pupils with special needs and a Speech/Language development class. The curriculum follows the Revised Primary School Curriculum and incorporates a Catholic Religious Education programme, with a broad range of subjects such as Gaeilge, English, Mathematics, Science, Arts, Physical Education and SPHE, complemented by a variety of enrichment activities and extracurricular clubs. The school places a strong emphasis on community partnership, encouraging active involvement from parents, the Parents’ Association and the wider local community. Facilities have been progressively expanded, with major refurbishments in 2004, additional classrooms added in 2008, and a further extension completed in 2016, creating modern learning spaces for over 400 pupils. A vibrant school life is fostered through regular events, cultural weeks, and a student council that helps organise activities, promoting a happy, inclusive and stimulating environment for all learners.
History
St Joseph’s N.S. moved to its current Arden View site in Tullamore in 1980, having previously been located on Convent Road (now St Philomena’s N.S.). The school was refurbished in 2004, with four new rooms added in 2008 and a second extension completed in 2016. Today it educates more than 400 children across mainstream and special‑needs classes.
Applying to St. Joseph's 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. Joseph's 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. Joseph's 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. Joseph's National School
How many pupils attend St. Joseph's National School?
St. Joseph's National School has 360 pupils enrolled, 166 girls and 194 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St. Joseph's National School a DEIS school?
Yes. St. Joseph's 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. Joseph's National School?
St. Joseph's National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.