St. Mary's National School
School Details
Location
About
St. Mary’s Woodside National School is a co‑educational primary school situated in Lambs Cross, Sandyford, Dublin 18, under the patronage of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin. While its ethos is rooted in the Catholic tradition, the school explicitly welcomes pupils and families of all faiths and cultural backgrounds, fostering an inclusive community. The educational philosophy is child‑centred, aiming to create a friendly, supportive atmosphere where each child can thrive academically, socially and spiritually. The campus combines historic charm with modern facilities. The iconic granite‑faced building with its green steeple, erected in 1936, is complemented by a two‑storey extension added in 2011 that provides new classrooms, a spacious entrance hall and upgraded learning spaces. A broad extra‑curricular programme enriches the curriculum, including a school choir that participates in national competitions, a strong tradition in athletics, and successful football and soccer teams that have competed at provincial and national levels. These activities, together with dedicated spaces for clubs such as Lego and a vibrant student council, support a well‑rounded education for the school’s growing enrolment.
History
The original school on the site was built in 1841 on the former country hospital grounds. In 1936 the present granite‑faced building with its distinctive green steeple replaced the earlier structure. As the Sandyford/Stepaside area developed, pupil numbers expanded, prompting the addition of a two‑storey modern extension with a new entrance and hallway in 2011. St. Mary’s Woodside is the oldest Catholic school in Sandyford Parish and has continually embraced a child‑centred approach, maintaining its friendly ethos despite a three‑fold increase in enrolment over the past decade.