St Joseph's National School Donard
POULPEASTY, Wexford
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 79 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 39 girls, 40 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17638U the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Joseph’s National School, Donard is a rural primary school situated in the parish of Cloughbawn, County Wexford. It operates with four mainstream teachers and places a strong emphasis on creating a safe, supportive and stimulating environment where pupils can develop academically, socially and emotionally. The school’s motto, “Meabhair Chun Foghlama”, reflects its commitment to fostering a lifelong love of learning. A partnership between home and school is highly valued, encouraging parents to take an active role in their children’s education. The campus boasts extensive outdoor facilities, including a large pitch, playground, orchard, flower beds and a polytunnel where pupils engage in gardening activities each spring. Sporting opportunities are diverse, ranging from GAA and tag rugby to soccer, and the annual Active School Week is a highlight for students. Extra‑curricular programmes such as the Junior Entrepreneur Programme nurture creativity and enterprise. The school day begins at 9.00 am, with before‑school supervision from 8.45 am, a Homework Club (1.40 pm–2.40 pm) and plans for an after‑school programme (2.40 pm–5.10 pm) to extend learning and recreation.
Applying to St Joseph's National School Donard
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.
School-published admissions links
These links come from the school's published admissions material. Check the school year shown before relying on dates or place numbers.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St Joseph's National School Donard. 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 National School Donard
How many pupils attend St Joseph's National School Donard?
St Joseph's National School Donard has 79 pupils enrolled, 39 girls and 40 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Joseph's National School Donard a DEIS school?
Yes. St Joseph's National School Donard 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 Donard?
St Joseph's National School Donard has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.