St Josephs National School
Bonnybrook, Dublin
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 294 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 140 girls, 154 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19913D the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
Saint Joseph’s National School in Coolock is a primary school that places children at the centre of its ethos. Its mission is to partner with families to develop enthusiastic learners within a safe, supportive and challenging environment. The school adopts a holistic approach, treating each pupil as a unique individual and providing opportunities to develop personality, talents and self‑confidence through a well‑ordered, happy and caring learning setting. High expectations are set for all pupils, with a focus on respect for self, others and property, and on nurturing cooperation and a spirit of community. The school operates a Catholic ethos while welcoming children of all faiths or none, and it actively involves parents as partners in education. A range of programmes supports this inclusive vision, including Jolly Phonics for early literacy, the Challenger Programme for extended learning, a Healthy Eating Policy, and an anti‑bullying advice framework. The school day runs from 8.40 am to 2.20 pm, with junior and senior infants finishing at 1.20 pm, and clear procedures are in place for attendance and lateness.
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 294 pupils enrolled, 140 girls and 154 boys. That makes it larger 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.