ST ITAS SPECIAL SCHOOL
School Details
About
St Ita’s Special School is a co‑educational Catholic special school in Drogheda serving children aged 5‑18 with mild learning needs. The school provides a nurturing environment that promotes self‑worth and personal development, guided by a mission to create a safe, inclusive atmosphere where each pupil’s abilities and limitations are respected. Teaching follows the National Curriculum framework for the junior phase and offers a broad range of Level 1‑3 modules, QQI courses and Junior Certificate programmes for senior students, with an emphasis on practical and creative subjects such as cookery, swimming, drama and gardening. The school operates across two campuses: the main site on Crushrod Avenue and the Shamrock Lodge campus situated within the grounds of Boyne Rugby Club. Together the campuses house 20 classrooms, including specialised facilities such as a dedicated woodwork and art room (added in 2009) and additional classrooms to support expanding curricula. Recent involvement in the Erasmus+ programme has earned the school a European Innovative Teaching Award (2023) and accreditation to continue international collaborations until 2027, enriching both staff development and pupil experiences. A strong anti‑bullying ethos is embodied in “The Promise”, a set of commitments encouraging students to speak up, include others and model positive behaviour. This focus on community, together with a range of extracurricular activities, underpins the school’s holistic approach to education and personal growth.
History
St Ita’s Special School was founded in 1963, initially serving children from the local Drogheda area. Over the decades the school has been repeatedly refurbished to improve its infrastructure, including upgrades to electrical, heating and roofing systems. In 2009 a new woodwork and art room was built to support students undertaking QQI and Junior Certificate coursework. Two additional classrooms were added in 2013 to accommodate the growth of QQI programmes. A major expansion occurred in 2016 with the opening of a second campus, Shamrock Lodge, which added six classrooms to meet the demand for Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programme classes. Today the school educates approximately 199 pupils across primary, middle and senior phases, with 75 pupils currently engaged in the revised Junior Cycle curriculum.