St Patricks College
Cork
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 218 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 174 girls, 44 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 62730N the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Patrick’s College is a co‑educational, inclusive Catholic secondary school situated on the St Patrick’s Campus at the top of Gardiner’s Hill, Cork. The college shares its grounds with St Patrick’s Infants, St Patrick’s Boys Primary, St Patrick’s Girls Primary and a pre‑school, creating a vibrant educational community that benefits from shared facilities and a seamless transition between early years and secondary education. The school’s ethos is built around the values of dignity, trust, respect, kindness and a commitment to holistic development, fostering a supportive environment where every pupil can thrive academically, socially and spiritually. The college places a strong emphasis on continuous improvement and modern learning. It offers a range of e‑learning resources through the Children First programme, dedicated reading and CAT assessment portals, and regularly updates its School Improvement Plan to reflect progress and set future goals. Regular communication with parents is maintained via newsletters, video updates and a comprehensive school calendar. The campus provides easy pedestrian access from Ballyhooly Road and benefits from a collaborative setting that encourages community spirit and shared use of sporting and cultural facilities.
History
St Patrick’s College was established in 1958. Since its foundation the school has evolved from a single‑sex institution to a co‑educational secondary school, maintaining its Catholic identity while expanding its curriculum and facilities to serve a broader student population.
Applying to St Patricks 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
View St Patricks College's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to St Patricks College. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 Patricks College
How many pupils attend St Patricks College?
St Patricks College has 218 pupils enrolled, 174 girls and 44 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St Patricks College a DEIS school?
Yes. St Patricks College 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 Patricks College?
St Patricks College has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.