NEW COURT SCHOOL
School Details
About
New Court School is a co‑educational day school situated in Bray, County Wicklow, dedicated to providing a comprehensive educational, social, recreational and vocational training programme for children with a mild learning disability. The school adopts a holistic approach that recognises each pupil’s individual needs, fostering a safe, caring and familiar environment where academic progress is balanced with personal development and life‑skills training. The campus shares a site with St Andrew’s National School and benefits from a modern building completed in 2009 and opened in 2010. Recent investment includes a purpose‑built STEM Shed, a hands‑on space that encourages experimentation, creativity and practical problem‑solving across science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Integration activities with the neighbouring mainstream school further promote social inclusion and community links. Guided by a clear set of aims, the school prioritises the development of mental, physical, moral and aesthetic abilities, encouraging respect for the environment, mutual respect among staff and pupils, and the cultivation of confidence, communication and self‑worth. A structured Human Values programme embeds universal values such as truth, love, peace and right action into the curriculum, supporting pupils to grow into mature, confident young people.
History
The origins of New Court School date back to 1874 when a residential home for children opened in Bray. In 1958 the institution received Department of Education recognition as Sunbeam House Special National School. Sunbeam House Services was established in 1977 to provide training and employment for school leavers. The school was renamed New Court School in 1991 and relocated to its present site on Newcourt Road, sharing the grounds with St Andrew’s National School. A new joint building for both schools was completed in September 2009 and officially opened in May 2010.