Colaiste Chluain Na Sli (Clonaslee College)
School Details
Location
About
Clonaslee College (Coláiste Chluain na Slí) is a co‑educational, multidenominational community college serving roughly 236 pupils under the patronage of the Local Education and Training Board (LOETB). The school’s ethos centres on fairness, understanding, success and discipline, fostering an inclusive, safe and respectful learning environment where every student is encouraged to reach their full potential. A strong sense of community underpins daily life, promoting mutual respect and cooperation among learners, staff and families. The curriculum is delivered across the Junior Cycle, Transition Year and Senior Cycle, with a holistic approach that integrates academic knowledge, practical skills, values and personal development. Emphasis is placed on developing competence, confidence and a commitment to serving the wider community. The college’s vision of empowerment through knowledge is supported by a values‑driven culture, reflected in a student‑designed values tree displayed within the school building. Facilities support a broad range of learning experiences, from modern classrooms to specialised spaces for science, technology and practical subjects. The school’s commitment to continuous improvement is evident in its use of contemporary resources, including digital learning tools, and its focus on nurturing both academic achievement and personal growth.
History
The County Laois Vocational Education Committee resolved in 1934 to establish a rural school in Clonaslee. A site was purchased in 1935 and the original building, completed in 1937, housed two main classrooms, a Domestic Science room and a Manual Instruction room. The school officially opened on 11 October 1937, inaugurated by the Minister for Education, with an initial enrolment of seventeen students. Early programmes included day continuation classes for boys and girls, evening courses in domestic economy, Irish and woodwork, and a glass‑house (acquired from Brittas Castle in 1939) for rural science instruction. During the war years the curriculum reflected national self‑sufficiency goals, offering vegetable‑growing programmes and emergency food lectures. The 1940s and 1950s saw the introduction of farm discussion groups, R.D.S. and Barrington lectures, and a range of scholarships in Irish, rural science, commerce and hotel cookery. The school played a pivotal role in establishing the ICA and Macra na Feirme Clonaslee Show (1948) and the Junior Farmers’ Club (early 1950s). A forestry course operated from 1955 until 1980, leveraging proximity to Kinnity Castle. The 1960s brought accommodation challenges, leading to the conversion of additional rooms for teaching, including a science room. The introduction of free second‑level education and bus transport in 1967 boosted enrolment, and the Intermediate Certificate was offered from 1968, expanding the subject range to include languages, humanities and sciences. In 1978 a new principal was appointed, and the college acquired its first computer (Apple II) in 1982, marking the start of its modern technological development.