St Andrews National School
School Details
Location
About
St. Andrew’s National School is a small, co‑educational primary school in Bray, County Wicklow, catering for pupils from Junior Infants through to 6th class. The school operates under a shared patronage of the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church and the Methodist Church, and its ethos is rooted in Christian values while remaining inclusive of all children. A warm, supportive community is central to the school’s approach, with a focus on nurturing each pupil’s individuality, confidence and academic potential. Learning is enhanced by the use of the Aladdin Connect platform for end‑of‑year reports, parent‑teacher meeting bookings, fee collection and absence notifications, ensuring clear communication with families. The school shares a modern campus with New Court School, providing access to a large hall, a recently refurbished library, and other specialist facilities that support a broad curriculum and extracurricular activities. Opening hours run from 8:30 am to 2:10 pm for most classes, with a slightly earlier finish for Infants, reflecting a structured yet child‑centred timetable.
History
St. Andrew’s National School was founded in January 1888 under the patronage of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, following the laying of the foundation stone by the Earl of Meath on 20 August 1887. The original trowel from that ceremony is displayed in the school foyer. By 1889 the school had 97 pupils. A fire in the 1940s destroyed the main building, which was rebuilt with the help of the local Presbyterian community. In the late 1960s and early 1970s St. Paul’s Church of Ireland School merged with St. Andrew’s, prompting expansion and the naming of the Large Hall and the library after key supporters. In the early 1980s, recognising the need for improved facilities, the school secured a new site and, together with Sunbeam House (now New Court School), built a shared campus. This made St. Andrew’s the first Irish primary school jointly overseen by three churches—a partnership that continues today.