St Josephs National School
Laois
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 95 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 49 girls, 46 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 07442U the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Joseph’s National School in Borris‑in‑Ossory, County Laois, is a mixed primary school that provides education for children from junior infants through to sixth class. The school operates both mainstream classes and a range of autism‑specific classes, supported by dedicated special‑needs assistants and a special education team. This inclusive approach ensures that pupils with diverse learning needs receive tailored support within a cohesive school community. The school’s facilities include well‑equipped classrooms, a dedicated area for special‑needs provision, and access to school meals and organised transport with bus escorts. A vibrant parents’ association works alongside staff to enhance the school environment, and a variety of extracurricular activities and sports are offered through the school’s programmes. Enrolment is currently open for mainstream classes, while autism‑specific classes are at capacity, with a waiting list available for future years.
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 95 pupils enrolled, 49 girls and 46 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Josephs National School a DEIS school?
No. 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 Josephs National School?
St Josephs National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.