Woodlands National School
Letterkenny, Donegal
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 467 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 197 girls, 270 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17728V the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Woodland National School is a bustling co‑educational primary school situated on the outskirts of Letterkenny, County Donegal. The school provides a safe, happy learning environment for children from Junior Infants through to Sixth Class, offering 19 mainstream classrooms alongside dedicated provision for children with autism, speech and language needs, and other special educational requirements. An inclusive ethos under Catholic patronage welcomes pupils of all faiths and none, fostering respect, care and the holistic development of each learner. The campus has expanded considerably over recent decades and now includes modern facilities such as a purpose‑built PE hall, a well‑stocked library, specialist speech and language rooms, an Autism Suite, and a sensory playground opened in 2020. Additional resource rooms and classrooms support small‑group teaching and the work of Special Needs Assistants, ensuring personalised attention for pupils with additional needs. The school’s commitment to a balanced curriculum embraces intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual growth, preparing children for lifelong learning in a supportive, nurturing setting.
History
The original Woodland National School was established in 1861 at the crossroads of the town‑land of Woodland, operating as a one‑teacher rural school until 1928. In 1952 a new two‑teacher school opened on the present site at Rough Park, retaining the Woodland name. Notable long‑term leadership included Ms Molly Callaghan (1917‑1964). The school expanded in 1979 with the first prefabricated classrooms, and under subsequent management grew to a ten‑teacher institution by 1993. Major building phases occurred in 1994 (seven new classrooms, staff facilities) and 2002 (nine classrooms, PE hall, library, and expanded offices). A dedicated Speech and Language class was introduced in 1994, evolving into junior and senior classes with on‑site therapist support. From 2007 onward, the school developed a specialist Autism Unit, first as a temporary prefab and then as a permanent facility opened in 2009, with further extensions in 2011 and 2013. Additional classrooms and a resource room were added in 2017‑2018, and a sensory playground was completed in 2020.
Applying to Woodlands 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
View Woodlands National School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Woodlands National 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: 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 Woodlands National School
How many pupils attend Woodlands National School?
Woodlands National School has 467 pupils enrolled, 197 girls and 270 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Woodlands National School a DEIS school?
No. Woodlands 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 Woodlands National School?
Woodlands National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.