St Johns NS
School Details
About
St John’s National School is a co‑educational primary school situated in Kenmare, Co. Kerry, serving the local community with a Catholic ethos. The school provides a broad curriculum that builds on a long tradition of holistic education, incorporating subjects such as English, mathematics, physical education, arts and, historically, specialised programmes in music, woodwork and science. Emphasis is placed on nurturing each child’s spiritual, social and academic development, with resources and policies in place to support a safe and inclusive learning environment. The school maintains an active communication network for parents, offering a school calendar, regular newsletters and an online enrolment process. Modern facilities are complemented by a rich heritage, reflected in the school’s continued commitment to community involvement and the preservation of its historic values. The amalgamation of St Francis’ and St Clare’s schools in 2012 expanded the campus, providing enhanced spaces for teaching, play and extracurricular activities.
History
The origins of St John’s trace back to 1861 when Mother Michael O’Hagan and six Sisters arrived in Kenmare to establish a school at the invitation of Fr John O’Sullivan. Initially housed in “Rose Cottage” with a breakfast kitchen, the school grew rapidly, reaching 577 pupils by 1870 and becoming a Classified School in 1874. A kindergarten equipped for Montessori education was added in 1889, and the institution later expanded to include a “Secondary Top” for girls in 1949, which became co‑educational in 1967. In the late 1960s the boys’ school merged with new facilities, and in 2003 the secondary provision was replaced by Pobal Scoil Inbhear Scéine. The most recent development occurred in 2012 when St Francis’ and St Clare’s schools amalgamated to form the present St John’s National School, continuing a legacy that dates back to the 15th‑century chapel of St John the Baptist in the area.