St Pauls National School
Ratoath, Meath
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 565 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 268 girls, 297 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20215J the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St. Paul’s National School is a Catholic primary school situated in the rapidly developing community of Ratoath, County Meath. The school provides education for nearly 600 pupils across 24 mainstream classes and two dedicated autism‑specific classes, supported by a robust team of learning‑support teachers, special‑needs assistants and ancillary staff. Housed in a purpose‑built modern building opened in 2011, the facilities include well‑equipped classrooms, dedicated resource rooms for special educational needs, and spaces that accommodate a wide range of extracurricular activities. The school’s ethos centres on nurturing the whole child – intellectually, physically, emotionally, morally and spiritually – through the encouragement of natural curiosity and creativity. Faith is woven throughout the curriculum, and parents are recognised as primary educators, with an open‑door policy that promotes partnership between families, staff and the wider community. A vibrant programme of activities, such as swimming, podcast production, book weeks and various sports clubs, complements the academic curriculum and contributes to a supportive, happy learning environment where each child can reach their full potential.
History
St. Paul’s National School was founded in 2005 as a Catholic school under the patronage of the Bishop of Meath and the Department of Education and Skills. It began in prefabricated structures with two teachers and 28 children. In 2011 the school moved to a new purpose‑built building on the same site. Since its opening, enrolment has expanded to nearly 600 pupils, supported by over 46 staff members, including 24 mainstream classes, two autism classes, nine learning‑support teachers, and a range of specialist assistants.
Applying to St Pauls 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 Pauls 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 Pauls National School
How many pupils attend St Pauls National School?
St Pauls National School has 565 pupils enrolled, 268 girls and 297 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Pauls National School a DEIS school?
No. St Pauls National 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 Pauls National School?
St Pauls National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.