St Joseph's National School Valleymount
Blessington, Wicklow
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 110 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 54 girls, 56 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 10131U the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Joseph’s National School, Valleymount, is a vibrant primary school serving the local community in County Wicklow. The school provides a caring, child‑centred learning environment that follows the Irish Primary Curriculum, fostering both academic achievement and personal development. Classrooms are equipped with modern teaching resources, and the school places a strong emphasis on outdoor learning, utilising the surrounding countryside for physical education and environmental projects. The school actively promotes sustainability and health through its Green Schools Committee, which organises initiatives such as Clean Air Week and encourages the community to adopt a no‑idling pledge. A rich programme of extracurricular activities includes annual cross‑country trials, drumming workshops, and cultural outings such as visits to international sheep‑dog trials, reflecting a commitment to holistic education. Regular events and projects for senior infants, 5th and 6th classes, and whole‑school celebrations further enhance pupils’ social skills and sense of belonging.
Applying to St Joseph's National School Valleymount
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 National School Valleymount. 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 Valleymount
How many pupils attend St Joseph's National School Valleymount?
St Joseph's National School Valleymount has 110 pupils enrolled, 54 girls and 56 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Joseph's National School Valleymount a DEIS school?
No. St Joseph's National School Valleymount 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 National School Valleymount?
St Joseph's National School Valleymount has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.