St. Francis National School
School Details
About
St Francis National School is a vibrant, co‑educational primary school situated in Blackrock, County Louth. Established in 2007, the school now accommodates 18 mainstream classes – two per year group – together with two dedicated Special Autism classes, serving over 400 pupils from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, including recent Ukrainian refugee families. The school’s ethos centres on a supportive, inclusive community that works closely with parents to nurture each child’s potential, fostering both academic achievement and personal development. The purpose‑built campus on Rock Road, officially opened and blessed in December 2013, provides modern classrooms, specialist learning spaces and facilities for a broad curriculum. Extra‑curricular provision is extensive, featuring a Scratch Coding Club, school choir, chess, green‑school initiatives and a range of after‑school activities and camps. A strong special‑education team, including reading recovery teachers and special needs assistants, ensures that pupils with additional needs receive tailored support, while the dedicated administrative and caretaking staff maintain a welcoming, well‑managed environment.
History
St Francis National School opened in September 2007 with two teachers and 20 pupils, created to serve the growing Blackrock community as a Catholic school. Initially housed in five prefabricated units on the Community Centre site, construction of a permanent building began in February 2013 and the school moved in at the end of August 2013. The new premises were officially opened and blessed on 6 December 2013 by Archbishop Eamon Martin. Today the school boasts 18 mainstream classes, two autism classes, a staff of twenty teachers, a special‑education team of four teachers and eight special needs assistants, and a diverse pupil roll exceeding 400 children.