Newtownmountkennedy Primary School
School Details
Location
About
Newtownmountkennedy Primary School is a co‑educational, Catholic‑patroned primary school serving the Newtownmountkennedy community. The school operates across three dedicated buildings – a Junior School for Infants to 3rd class, a Senior School for 4th to 6th class, and the St Joseph’s block which houses two of the four specialist autism classes. The campus is designed to support a broad range of learners, with dedicated facilities for mainstream and special‑needs education, and it participates in the Department of Education’s Band 2 DEIS programme, reflecting its commitment to equity and inclusion. The school day begins at 9.00 am, with junior and senior infants finishing at 1.40 pm and older pupils and autism classes concluding at 2.40 pm. An early‑close arrangement sees all classes finish at 1.40 pm on the second Wednesday of each month. A Home School Community Liaison scheme fosters strong partnerships between families, staff and the wider community, encouraging active parental involvement in the educational experience. Key features include four autism support classes, a clear timetable structure, and a supportive ethos centred on holistic development, guided by Catholic values and a focus on inclusive, high‑quality primary education.
History
Newtownmountkennedy Primary School was formed through the amalgamation of the former boys’ school, St Joseph’s National School, and the girls’ school, St Brigid’s National School, onto the current campus. The school operates under the patronage of the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin. In 1998, two autism classes were introduced at St Joseph’s National School; the provision has since expanded to four autism classes within the present primary school.