Nuns Cross National School
School Details
Location
About
Nun’s Cross National School is a co‑educational primary school situated in the hamlet of Killiskey, nestled in the rolling hills of County Wicklow. Managed by the Church of Ireland, the school welcomes children from a wide range of religious, ethnic and social backgrounds and aims to nurture the moral, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical and social development of every pupil. The ethos reflects the values of honesty, charity, kindness, patience and personal responsibility, while also respecting the traditions of other faiths and encouraging an inclusive, tolerant community. The school has expanded considerably since its modern reopening in 1992. Originally comprising two classrooms, it now boasts six classrooms across two recent building blocks, one of which includes a multi‑purpose room. Facilities support a broad curriculum that includes STEM activities, outdoor learning in the school garden, and regular participation in parish services and religious festivals. The school follows the Department of Education’s guidelines for Religious Education and uses the “Follow Me” programme, ensuring a balanced approach that respects parental choice while fostering a shared sense of community.
History
The earliest record of schooling in the Ashford area dates to the 17th‑18th centuries, with hedge and estate schools serving local families. Around 1857 a schoolhouse was erected in Kiliskey by public subscription, later sold when the present Nun’s Cross school was built. In 1877, on land donated by Charles George Tottenham of Ballycurry Estate, a stone‑wall structure was erected and, in 1881, a red‑brick extension created “The Crofton School”. After the original building became inadequate in the 1980s, a new site was purchased and, in Easter 1992, the current school was opened by the Archbishop of Dublin. Since then the school has grown from two to six classrooms, adding two new blocks and a multi‑purpose room, and has evolved from serving solely the Church of Ireland parish of Killiskey to welcoming a diverse pupil body.