St Raphaels Special School
CELBRIDGE, Kildare
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 96 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 27 girls, 69 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18988G the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Raphael’s Special School provides a dedicated educational setting for pupils aged 5‑18 with moderate, severe and profound learning difficulties, including autism, sensory challenges and physical or medical needs. The school’s ethos centres on recognising each child’s individual strengths and fostering independence through practical life‑skill development, functional academic learning and social‑interpersonal growth. A strong partnership with parents is encouraged, with regular communication via the Aladdin and Seesaw applications, newsletters and a Facebook page to keep families informed and involved. The campus combines a purpose‑built main building (opened 1972) with a range of specialised facilities: a purpose area, cookery and sensory rooms, two intimate personal‑care suites, a movement‑break room, a nurses’ station, an outdoor playground and garden, an outside classroom, four individual learning spaces and additional outdoor teaching zones. Support services include a dedicated transport provision coordinated by the Department of Education, NCSE and Bus Éireann, daily catered lunches from Twist Food Services, and organised outings that promote community integration and life‑skill practice.
History
St Raphael’s Special School was recognised by the Department of Education in 1963. The main school building dates from 1972, with additional temporary accommodation added over subsequent years. The school operates as part of St John of God services.
Applying to St Raphaels Special 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 Raphaels Special 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 Raphaels Special School
How many pupils attend St Raphaels Special School?
St Raphaels Special School has 96 pupils enrolled, 27 girls and 69 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Raphaels Special School a DEIS school?
No. St Raphaels Special 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 Raphaels Special School?
St Raphaels Special School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.