St Mary's College
Arklow, Wicklow
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 527 about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 61780A the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Mary's College is a Catholic girls' secondary school in Arklow, County Wicklow, with an enrolment of 527. The school offers the Junior Cycle, Transition Year and Leaving Certificate programmes. Junior Cycle core examination subjects are Irish, English, Mathematics, History, Geography, Religious Education and Science. Students select three optional subjects from French, German, Home Economics, Music and Business after a period of sampling in First Year. A wellbeing programme followed by all students includes SPHE, CSPE, Physical Education, Digital Literacy and Choir. Extra-curricular activities include choir, debating, drama, eco club, Green School, musicals, orchestra, Young Scientist and SciFest, along with athletics, badminton, basketball, camogie, Gaelic football and soccer. The school is designated a School of Sanctuary.
Applying to St Mary's College
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 Mary's College. 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 Mary's College
How many pupils attend St Mary's College?
St Mary's College has 527 pupils enrolled. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St Mary's College a DEIS school?
No. St Mary's College 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 Mary's College?
St Mary's College has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' post-primary school.