St. Paul's National School
Waterford
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 269 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 36 girls, 233 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20219R the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Paul’s National School is a co‑educational primary school in Waterford serving children from Junior Infants through 6th class. The school follows the Irish national curriculum while placing a strong emphasis on holistic development, encouraging pupils to excel academically, creatively and physically. A broad range of extracurricular activities – including chess, coding with Scratch, music (choir, recorder, clarinet, flute and saxophone), and a vibrant arts programme – complement classroom learning and foster confidence, teamwork and problem‑solving skills. The school’s facilities support a varied programme: a dedicated hall for performances and exhibitions, access to a local swimming pool for regular PE lessons, indoor hurling sessions with Roanmore CLG, and partnerships with community clubs for Gaelic football, hurling and basketball. Regular participation in regional competitions such as the Waterford Schools’ Athletics Day, Féile Fichille chess tournament and FAI Soccer Blitz highlights the school’s commitment to sport and community involvement. These opportunities, together with a supportive environment and active parental engagement, aim to nurture well‑rounded individuals prepared for the next stage of their education.
Applying to St. Paul's 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. Paul's 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. Paul's National School
How many pupils attend St. Paul's National School?
St. Paul's National School has 269 pupils enrolled, 36 girls and 233 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St. Paul's National School a DEIS school?
Yes. St. Paul's 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. Paul's National School?
St. Paul's National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.