Primary Context - School Contexts

Irish Primary School Contexts

State-funded Primary schools exist in a variety of settings and within a variety of contexts. In 2019 there were 3106 Mainstream Primary Schools in Ireland. Although children are not obliged to attend school until the age of six, almost all children begin school in the September following their fourth birthday. Nearly 40% of four-year-olds and almost all five-year-olds are enrolled in infant classes in primary schools (sometimes called national schools). Primary education consists of an eight year cycle: junior infants, senior infants, and first to sixth classes. Pupils normally transfer to post-primary education at the age of twelve.

Primary School contexts can broadly be categorised as religious schools, non-denominational schools, multi-denominational schools and Gaelscoileanna (Irish-medium schools). For historical reasons, most primary schools are state-aided parish schools, although this pattern is changing. The state pays the bulk of the building and running costs of state-funded primary schools, but a local contribution is made towards their running costs. Teachers’ salaries are paid by the Department of Education, and the schools are inspected by the Department’s Inspectorate.

The general aims of primary education are:

To enable the child to live a full life as a child and to realise his or her potential as a unique individual
To enable the child to develop as a social being through living and co-operating with others and so contribute to the good of society
To prepare the child for a continuum of learning.

General School Types

Rural Schools

Rural Schools exist in a rural location and at the heart of the local community. When these schools are geographically isolated in areas of lower population size, they would usually include mixed-grade classes and a Teaching Principal. The culture, ethos and education in these schools is very often deeply influenced by the culture of the local community. Rural schools also exist in or near more densely populated areas and tend to have higher enrolments from a larger geographical area with administrative Principals and a mainstream teacher for each class grade.

Urban Schools

Urban Schools are schools that exist in larger Irish towns and cities. Both urban and rural schools, can sometimes comprise of children who are living geographically together in an urban or rural context or children who attend a school as a result of parental choice for a variety of reasons. The Education Act 1998 promotes the “right of parents to send their children to a school of the parents’ choice”.

Special Education

In general, educational provision for children with special needs is made:

In special schools;
In special classes attached to ordinary schools;
In integrated settings in mainstream classes.

Special Schools

Special schools cater specifically for students who have a general learning disability at a mild or moderate level from Primary to Post Primary levels. Some Special schools cater specifically for visually impaired children others for hearing impaired students. Special schools for students with physical disabilities also exist as well as schools that cater specifically for children with emotional or behavioural needs. Depending on the child's level of need as well as the choice of their parents, children with special educational needs may initially attend a mainstream school with supports, or a special class within a mainstream school setting. Over time, these children may continue to attend the mainstream setting or can move to a special school setting or vice versa. Depending on their progress, the most appropriate setting is reviewed regularly during the child's school years.

Dual Enrolment is also an option for children with Special Educational Needs which permits a child to be enrolled in a Special School and a Mainstream School concurrently. Typically, the child would attend one school for two days per week and the other for three each week.

DEIS Schools

The DEIS Plan 2017 sets out the Department’s vision for education to more fully become a proven pathway to better opportunities for those in communities at risk of disadvantage and social exclusion. DEIS Schools are categorised as DEIS Band 1, DEIS Band 2 and DEIS Rural. A grant is issued to all DEIS Schools annually based on level of disadvantage and enrolment. DEIS Schools work within a specific planning framework that aims to improve the learning experience and outcomes of pupils in DEIS Schools by developing action plans for improvement in Literacy, Numeracy, Attendance, Retention, Transitions and Partnerships with Parents and Others. Specific Supports are available to DEIS Schools through the Schools Support Programme. Depending on the level of disadvantage, some DEIS schools have access to the School Completion Programme, School Meals Programme, Home School Community Liaison and work in conjunction with local Tusla Education Welfare Officers.

Scoileanna sa Ghaeltacht agus Gaelscoileanna

Scoileanna sa Ghaeltacht agus Gaelscoileanna are schools where Gaeilge is the first language spoken and taught in the school. These schools follow the Primary School Curriculum.

Scoileanna sa Ghaeltacht

Scoileanna sa Ghaeltacht are schools that are located in a Gaeltacht area and use immersion education methods. All aspects of school life are undertaken through the medium of Irish except the subject of English. Polasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta 2017–2022 includes the requirement for Gaeltacht Primary Schools to participate in the Gaeltacht School recognition scheme using a language-based criteria for recognition as a Gaeltacht Primary School.

Gaelscoileanna

Gaelscoileanna are schools that also use the immersion method to teach through the medium of Irish, but these schools are located outside the Gaeltacht areas around the country.

Island and Hospital Schools

Island Schools

There are approximately 12 Primary schools located on islands off the coast of Ireland. These would be considered rural schools and are very often scoileanna sa Ghaeltacht.

Hospital Schools

Many hospitals in Ireland have a school that caters for Primary and Post-Primary students who are in-patients in that hospital. Day case children may also be eligible to attend. If pupils attend for a long period, these schools would communicate with the child's mainstream school.

Further Supports

The Department of Education Website provides a description of state-funded schools in a variety of contexts. Visit: https://www.education.ie/en/The-Education-System/Primary/ for further information.

Statistical Reports are published by the CSO, OECD and other organisations regularly that examine trends in Primary schools: https://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Statistical-Reports/statistical-bulletin-2020-overview-of-education-1999-2019.pdf

DEIS: https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/FAQs.html

Gaelscoileanna agus scoileanna sa Ghaeltacht https://gaeloideachas.ie/i-am-a-parent-pupil/primary-schools/
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was set up to improve the delivery of education services to persons with special educational needs arising from disabilities with particular emphasis on children. See https://ncse.ie/

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