Castlepollard Mixed National School
School Details
Location
About
Castlepollard Mixed National School is a co‑educational primary school situated in the town of Castlepollard, County Westmeath. Operating under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Meath, the school welcomes pupils of all faiths and backgrounds, delivering a balanced curriculum that incorporates Religious Education in line with the Roman Catholic tradition. The school is recognised as a DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) institution since 2017, reflecting its commitment to inclusive education and support for disadvantaged learners. The school currently enrols approximately 140 children who are organised into six mainstream classrooms and two dedicated autism classes. A team of four Special Educational Needs (SET) support teachers provides both in‑class assistance and withdrawal support, ensuring that individual learning needs are met. A broad range of pedagogical programmes underpins the curriculum, including Jolly Phonics for early literacy, the Aistear framework for play‑based learning, Guided Reading and Reading Recovery for developing reading proficiency, and Numicon for multisensory mathematics. Social‑emotional development is fostered through the “Fun Friends” and “Friends For Life” programmes. A daily healthy lunch is provided, consisting of a sandwich or wrap, fruit or yoghurt, and water, supporting the school’s emphasis on wellbeing. The school’s facilities accommodate a vibrant community of learners, offering specialised spaces for autism support and a collaborative environment that encourages creativity, academic growth and personal development.
History
The school celebrated its 50th anniversary, an event highlighted in the Westmeath Examiner alongside the opening of its dedicated autism class. In 2017 the school was awarded DEIS status by the Department of Education, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to equity and inclusive provision.