Scoil Bhríde Primary School
School Details
About
Scoil Bhríde Primary School is a co‑educational, fully‑vertical primary school serving the Edenderry community in County Offaly. The school places a strong emphasis on inclusive education, offering a dedicated Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) unit and a range of specialist facilities that support children of all abilities. A core part of the school ethos is the *Bí Cineálta* policy, which promotes kindness, respect and anti‑bullying practices throughout every classroom. The purpose‑built campus, opened in February 2015, provides a modern learning environment with thirty classrooms, a purpose‑area, a PE hall, libraries, and specialised rooms including a science laboratory, ICT suite, gallery space, occupational therapy, speech and language, and a sensory room. Outdoor provisions feature ball courts, junior and senior play areas, bicycle shelters, playing pitches and landscaped gardens. High‑speed broadband, delivered under the national School Broadband Programme, underpins the school’s digital learning initiatives. Beyond academics, Scoil Bhríde encourages a vibrant extracurricular programme, such as the newly established singing club for junior pupils, and actively engages parents through surveys and open evenings, fostering a collaborative community centred on the holistic development of its learners.
History
In 2005 the Commission on School Accommodation recommended a new green‑field primary school for the Carbury side of Edenderry to meet rapid population growth. Following an application on behalf of Bishop James Moriarty, the Minister for Education and Science announced the recognition of Scoil Bhríde in April 2007. A temporary site was secured at Edenderry GAA, providing space for Junior Infants and an ASD unit serving both Offaly and neighbouring Kildare. The school opened in September 2007 and was officially blessed by Bishop Moriarty on 21 June 2008 with 29 pupils. Expansion continued with additional staff and facilities, and a permanent building was completed in February 2015, offering state‑of‑the‑art classrooms, specialist rooms and extensive outdoor amenities. The school now operates as a co‑educational, fully‑vertical institution with a strong commitment to inclusive education.