St Angela's School
School Details
Location
About
St Angela’s School is a girls’ Catholic post‑primary institution in Ballytruckle, Waterford, operating under the Ursuline ethos. The school’s mission is to cherish the uniqueness of each pupil and develop her full potential through a curriculum that blends academic rigour with the gospel values of gentleness, kindness and respect. Religious education, daily liturgical practice and a strong pastoral care programme are integral to school life, fostering a community where Christian values are lived and taught alongside a commitment to collaboration with students, families and the wider community. The campus is centred on the modern “Brescia” building opened in 1981, named after the Italian birthplace of St Angela Merici. It provides a range of contemporary facilities, including indoor courts for basketball, tennis, badminton, soccer and hockey, supporting a vibrant sports programme. The school also benefits from well‑equipped classrooms, specialist learning spaces and a secure car park, creating an environment conducive to both academic and personal development.
History
St Angela’s traces its origins to 8 September 1816 when four Ursuline sisters from Thurles established the first school at the foundation house of the Ursuline Convent, Waterford, initially at Waterpark and later at Newgrove, Newtown, before settling at Elysium. A coach house was converted for teaching local poor children, and in 1842 a solid building became St John’s National School. Saint Joseph’s house was completed in 1868, and the Secondary Day School of Saint Anne’s (opened 1892) merged with the boarding school in 1967 to form St Angela’s Post‑Primary School. The present primary school, St Ursula’s, opened in 1953. In 1981 the new Brescia building was inaugurated, providing modern educational and sporting facilities. The Ursuline Order itself was founded in 1535 in Brescia, Italy by St Angela Merici and arrived in Ireland in 1771 at the invitation of Nano Nagle.