Villiers Secondary School
Limerick
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 508 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 286 girls, 222 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 64310B the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Villiers Secondary School is a multicultural, student‑focused secondary school that combines a strong academic programme with a deep commitment to personal wellbeing. The school promotes an inclusive environment where every learner is valued, encouraging the development of integrity, determination, responsibility, kindness and a positive outlook on life. Small class sizes enable personalised attention, allowing teachers to balance academic rigour with the social and emotional needs of each pupil. The campus offers a safe, welcoming boarding experience with dedicated care and supervision, providing a “home away from home” for boarders. State‑of‑the‑art facilities support a broad curriculum, including modern science laboratories, a newly certified hockey pitch, and extensive sports provisions such as rowing and rowing team successes. Extracurricular opportunities are further enriched by participation in national competitions, science exhibitions and cultural projects, fostering well‑rounded development beyond the classroom.
History
Villiers Secondary School originates in Villiers Charitable Institutions, established by the 1821 will of Hannah Villiers, née Scott, who was born in 1733 and married Edward Villiers circa 1758. Her will set out an almshouse for twelve poor Protestant widows, alongside two schools for the parish, one intended for boys and the other for girls. These opened in 1827 under the name Mrs. Villiers' National Schools, though locally people called them the Nicholas Street Schools, or in some cases St. Munchin's National Schools. In 1850 the schools came under the National Board of Education and moved to Henry Street, Limerick. In August 1925 the boys' and girls' schools amalgamated to become co-educational. The school relocated to its current site, Tivoli House on the North Circular Road, in 1953, and grew from 90 to 220 students during the 1960s and 1970s. In 2013 the school acquired the adjacent Derravoher House site, which opened as part of Villiers in September 2016, and in 2017 Villiers became an authorised IBDP school, the first boarding school in Ireland to gain that status.
Applying to Villiers Secondary 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
View Villiers Secondary School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Villiers Secondary School. 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 Villiers Secondary School
How many pupils attend Villiers Secondary School?
Villiers Secondary School has 508 pupils enrolled, 286 girls and 222 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Villiers Secondary School a DEIS school?
No. Villiers Secondary 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 Villiers Secondary School?
Villiers Secondary School has a Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.