Scoil Naisiunta Gort Na Gaoithe
School Details
Location
About
Windfield National School (Scoil Naisiunta Gort Na Gaoithe) is a co‑educational primary school serving the Newbridge area of Ballinasloe, County Galway. The school provides education from Junior Infants through to Sixth Class, delivering the Irish primary curriculum with a strong emphasis on both the Irish language and modern digital skills. Recent funding from the EU’s Next Generation EU programme has enabled the installation of interactive panels in every classroom, supporting learners at risk of educational disadvantage and narrowing the digital divide. The school’s learning environment combines traditional classroom teaching with contemporary technology, fostering interactive and collaborative learning experiences. Facilities include well‑equipped classrooms, a dedicated school lunch service, and access to a range of extracurricular activities reflected in its vibrant news and events programme. Windfield National School is committed to the wellbeing and holistic development of its pupils, underpinned by a clear ethos and a suite of safeguarding and wellbeing policies.
History
The origins of the school trace back to temporary post‑hedge‑school arrangements in the Curraghduff area. The first permanent building was erected in Windfield, with the “Old School” constructed in 1892 by the Hynes Brothers, originally housing separate boys’ and girls’ schools. Amalgamation of the two schools occurred around 1942 due to falling enrolments. The present school building was opened in 1958, and further amalgamations, such as with Cappagh National School in the late 1960s, have shaped its development. Over the decades the school has evolved from a modest rural institution to a modern primary school equipped with contemporary learning technologies.