Our Lady Good Counsel Girls National School
School Details
Location
About
Our Lady of Good Counsel Girls National School is a Catholic primary school situated in Johnstown, offering education to girls from Junior Infants to Sixth Class. The school operates a two‑class per level structure, providing a balanced pupil‑to‑teacher ratio and fostering a close‑knit learning community. In addition to its mainstream provision, the school runs three specialist classes for children with autism, housed in a purpose‑built facility known as “The Meadow”, which includes pre‑school, junior and senior settings. The school’s educational philosophy centres on a whole‑school approach to learning through play, guided by the Aistear framework and the new Primary Curriculum Framework. This model aims to develop confidence, wellbeing, language, literacy and numeracy by encouraging curiosity and active involvement. A strong emphasis is placed on the wellbeing of every pupil, with a caring, happy and secure atmosphere that respects cultural backgrounds and individual strengths. The school works collaboratively with parents, the Parents Association, and its partner boys’ school to ensure a supportive environment that nurtures each child’s full potential.
History
The school opened its doors in September 1967 and has since grown to include a range of mainstream and specialist provisions, reflecting its commitment to equality, diversity and the Catholic ethos under the patronage of the Archbishop of Dublin and the Department of Education and Skills.