Scoil Cnoc Mhuire Junior
School Details
Location
About
Scoil Cnoc Mhuire Junior is a Catholic‑ethos junior national school dedicated to providing a happy, safe and stimulating environment for children aged four to seven. The school’s ethos centres on kindness, fairness and friendship, encouraging pupils to develop academically, physically, socially and emotionally while respecting a wide variety of cultures and spiritual beliefs. Learning is guided by a commitment to inclusive practice, with resources tailored to meet the specific needs of each child and a strong focus on nurturing appropriate social skills and emotional expression. The school boasts modern facilities that support a diverse range of learners, including two dedicated ASD units opened in 2015‑2016, a state‑of‑the‑art multi‑sensory room, and a garden class that promotes outdoor exploration. Small class sizes, averaging fifteen pupils, enable a low pupil‑teacher ratio of 1:6, allowing for personalised attention and effective learning support. A team of mainstream teachers, resource and learning‑support staff, and a home‑school liaison ensures a collaborative approach to each child’s development.
History
Scoil Cnoc Mhuire Junior opened in 1982 on land formerly owned by Killinarden House, initially housing five junior infant classes in Knockmore Senior National School under its first principal, Peter McArdle. The purpose‑built school opened in September 1983 as a 16‑teacher shared‑area school and grew to over 600 pupils during the 1980s. After a period of reduced numbers, the school shared its premises with Scoil Chaitlin Maude until 2016. In 1995 it joined the Breaking the Cycle Programme, reducing class sizes to an average of 15. Leadership transitioned from Peter McArdle (retired 2009) to Chris Meehan (until 2016) and then to Dearbhla Byrne in September 2016. ASD units were introduced in 2015 and 2016, and the school now employs 12 mainstream teachers, several support staff and ten SNA’s.