St Fergals National School
School Details
Location
About
St. Fergal’s National School is a Catholic primary school serving the Bray community, offering a nurturing environment that promotes holistic development. The school’s ethos is rooted in a philosophy inspired by belief in God and core values of openness, acceptance and joy. Children are encouraged to grow physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, with learning framed around relationships to self, others, the earth and the spirit. These values are woven into daily routines, decision‑making processes and the school’s curricular, pastoral and organisational policies. The school operates across two adjoining buildings that accommodate both the junior and senior sections, as well as the Early Start preschool. Early Start follows the Aistear framework and Early Start guidelines, focusing on cognitive, language, personal, social, emotional and creative development through play‑based learning. A qualified primary teacher and a childcare worker deliver the programme, and pupils benefit from full access to school facilities, including assemblies, yard time, green‑school initiatives, science displays and a range of extracurricular activities such as trips to local attractions, art projects and environmental projects.
History
In the early 1970s St Fergal’s Junior National School was established to serve the emerging Ballywaltrim community in Bray, initially holding classes in the Parochial Hall of Queen of Peace Church. The following year the school moved to the Parish Hall, sharing the space with the church until construction was completed. In 1977 the Junior School relocated to its present site, and in 1979 the Senior School opened under new leadership. Both schools expanded over the years, undergoing several building modifications. In June 2015 the separate junior and senior schools were amalgamated, and in September 2015 the unified St Fergal’s National School opened its doors, continuing to operate across the two buildings.