St Paul's School
Montenotte, Cork
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 92 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 40 girls, 52 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19203S the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Paul’s School is a dedicated special‑needs institution in Cork, catering for boys and girls aged 4‑18 with moderate, severe and profound learning disabilities. The school operates under the patronage of the Bishop of the Diocese of Cork and Ross and is funded principally by the Department of Education and Skills. Its Christian, Roman‑Catholic ethos underpins a caring, inclusive community that strives to make the school a happy, enthusiastic and safe environment where each pupil can develop to the best of their ability. The curriculum follows the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment guidelines for pupils with moderate, severe and profound learning disabilities, with junior and middle classes using the specialised curricula and senior classes delivering the Junior Cycle Level 1 Learning Programme. The school comprises 15 class teachers, 35 special‑needs assistants and a multidisciplinary support team, providing personalised learning plans and therapeutic assistance. Pupils attend a structured day from 9.20 am to 3.00 pm (with phased entry for reception classes), and benefit from purpose‑built facilities designed to support a range of educational and developmental activities.
Applying to St Paul's 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 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 School
How many pupils attend St Paul's School?
St Paul's School has 92 pupils enrolled, 40 girls and 52 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Paul's School a DEIS school?
No. St Paul's 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 Paul's School?
St Paul's School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.