Willow Park School
Blackrock, Dublin
Key facts
- Boys
- Pupils enrolled
- 206 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 60040B the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Willow Park Senior School is a day‑and‑boarding secondary school for boys situated on a 65‑acre parkland campus in Blackrock, County Dublin. The school combines a residential environment with a vibrant day‑student community, offering extensive sporting fields, specialist classrooms and dedicated boarding houses. Facilities include modern science laboratories, a well‑equipped library, art studios, and a range of extracurricular spaces that support a holistic education. Rooted in the Spiritan tradition, Willow Park delivers a Catholic‑based curriculum that seeks to nurture faith, moral development and academic excellence. The ethos, encapsulated in the school rule “Be Caring, Be There, Be Truthful”, underpins a supportive community where pupils are encouraged to develop their full human potential, engage responsibly with society and appreciate their cultural heritage. A strong emphasis is placed on pastoral care, anti‑bullying initiatives and restorative justice, ensuring a safe and inclusive learning environment.
Applying to Willow Park 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 post-primary school dates apply broadly to Willow Park 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: 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 Willow Park School
How many pupils attend Willow Park School?
Willow Park School has 206 pupils enrolled. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Willow Park School a DEIS school?
No. Willow Park 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 Willow Park School?
Willow Park School has a Catholic ethos. It is a boys' post-primary school.