St. Joseph's Secondary School
Westmeath
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 1,129 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 578 girls, 551 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 63310T the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St. Joseph's Secondary School is a voluntary Catholic secondary school in Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath. It is co-educational and non-selective in its intake of students. Enrolment stands at 1129. The school operates under the trusteeship of Ceist and follows the Mercy philosophy of education, which the school describes as based on justice, respect and equal esteem for all. The curriculum includes the Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate programmes. Facilities on site include three science laboratories, two woodwork rooms, a technology room, an engineering and metalwork room, a music room, a gymnasium, a fitness suite, two home economics kitchens, an art room, basketball courts and playing pitches. The school also has computer rooms and five travelling tablet trolleys for classroom use, and has been awarded Microsoft Showcase School status. After-school study takes place each evening. Extracurricular activities include coding club, drama and musical performances, public speaking, charitable activities and a range of sports teams that compete in local, provincial and national competitions. The school states its mission as creating conditions for learning in a caring and safe environment where everyone is respected and listened to.
Applying to St. Joseph's Secondary 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 post-primary school dates apply broadly to St. Joseph's Secondary 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: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (primary schools: Thu 18 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 Secondary School
How many pupils attend St. Joseph's Secondary School?
St. Joseph's Secondary School has 1,129 pupils enrolled, 578 girls and 551 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St. Joseph's Secondary School a DEIS school?
No. St. Joseph's Secondary 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. Joseph's Secondary School?
St. Joseph's Secondary School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.