Schools in Celbridge: Complete Guide for Parents
Schools in Celbridge include six mainstream primary schools, three secondary schools and St Raphael’s Special School. Parents can choose between Catholic, Church of Ireland and Educate Together primary schools. At second level, Celbridge offers a boys’ school, a girls’ school and a co-educational community school, with more options nearby in Leixlip and Lucan.
Why Schools Shape the Move to Celbridge
For most families, schools in Celbridge are the first thing they check before they view a single house. That makes sense, because the school run shapes your daily routine for years.
Celbridge is a compact town, so most schools sit within a short drive or cycle of each other. However, each one has its own ethos, size and admission policy. As a result, two homes a kilometre apart can suit very different families.
This guide lists every primary and secondary school in Celbridge, with its type and location. It also explains how admissions work. That said, it doesn’t rank schools, because the right school depends on your child.
Types of Schools in Celbridge
Every Irish school has a patron, and the patron sets the school’s ethos. So it helps to understand the main types before you look at individual schools.
Primary School Types
- Catholic schools: Four of the six primary schools in Celbridge have a Catholic ethos. All four take boys and girls.
- Church of Ireland school: Primrose Hill NS on Hazelhatch Road is a mixed school with a Church of Ireland ethos.
- Educate Together school: North Kildare Educate Together NS on the Clane Road is multi-denominational and co-educational.
Secondary School Types
- Voluntary secondary school: Salesian College is a Catholic school for boys.
- Community schools: St Wolstan’s Community School takes girls, while Celbridge Community School takes boys and girls.
Also note that every school in Celbridge teaches through English. Consequently, families who want Irish-medium education usually look at schools in neighbouring towns.
Primary Schools in Celbridge
Celbridge has six mainstream primary schools. All six are co-educational, and none charges fees.
Celbridge Primary Schools at a Glance
| School | Type / Ethos | Pupils | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoil Naomh Bríd | Catholic | Mixed | Main Street |
| Scoil na Mainistreach | Catholic | Mixed | Oldtown Road |
| Scoil Mochua (Aghards NS) | Catholic | Mixed | Aghards Road |
| Scoil Naomh Pádraig (St Patrick’s NS) | Catholic | Mixed | Hazelhatch |
| Primrose Hill NS | Church of Ireland | Mixed | Hazelhatch Road |
| North Kildare Educate Together NS | Multi-denominational | Mixed | Clane Road |
Schools Near the Village and Oldtown
Scoil Naomh Bríd sits on Main Street, right in the historic centre. It therefore suits families who want a walkable village life close to Castletown House parklands.
Meanwhile, Scoil na Mainistreach sits on Oldtown Road, a short distance from the village. It suits families looking at the established estates on that side of town.
Schools on the Hazelhatch Side
Primrose Hill NS and Scoil Naomh Pádraig both sit on the Hazelhatch side of Celbridge. This area appeals to commuters, because Hazelhatch & Celbridge station is close by.
Scoil Naomh Pádraig has operated from temporary buildings for many years. So ask the school for the latest news on its accommodation when you visit.
Schools on the Clane Road and Aghards Road
North Kildare Educate Together NS opened in 1994 on the Clane Road. It’s the only multi-denominational primary school in the town, so demand for places can be strong.
Similarly, Scoil Mochua on Aghards Road serves the southern side of Celbridge. You’ll see it listed as both Scoil Mochua and Aghards NS.
Secondary Schools in Celbridge
Celbridge has three secondary schools. Together, they give parents a choice of single-sex and co-educational options.
Celbridge Secondary Schools at a Glance
| School | Type / Ethos | Students | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salesian College | Voluntary secondary, Catholic | Boys | Celbridge |
| St Wolstan’s Community School | Community school, inter-denominational | Girls | Ballymakealy, Clane Road |
| Celbridge Community School | Community school, multi-denominational | Mixed | Moortown, Maynooth Road |
What Sets Each School Apart
Salesian College is a long-established Catholic boys’ school with around 880 students. Its ethos draws on the Salesian tradition of education.
St Wolstan’s is often described as the only all-girls community school in Ireland. It has around 820 students and sits on the Clane Road.
By contrast, Celbridge Community School is the newest of the three. Educate Together and Kildare and Wicklow ETB (KWETB) share its patronage. As a result, it suits families who want a co-educational, multi-denominational school.
Nearby Secondary Options
Many Celbridge families also consider Coláiste Chiaráin on the Celbridge Road in Leixlip. It’s a mixed, inter-denominational community school, only a short drive away.
In addition, Lucan has seven secondary schools, including the all-Irish Coláiste Cois Life. For details, see our guide to schools in Lucan.
Special Education in Celbridge
St Raphael’s Special School in Celbridge is a co-educational special school for children with a learning disability. So if your child needs a special school place, contact the school early to ask about its admission process.
Some mainstream schools may also run special classes. However, special-class places are limited across Kildare. Therefore, contact each school directly to ask what it offers before you commit to an area.
How School Admissions Work in Celbridge
Irish schools don’t use fixed catchment maps. Instead, every school sets its own rules under the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018.
The Key Rules for Parents
- Read the admission policy: Every school must publish its policy on its website.
- Watch for the annual admission notice: It sets out the dates, the form and the number of places.
- Apply in the year before entry: Schools can’t start their process before 1 October of the previous year.
- Don’t rely on waiting lists: Schools can no longer give priority based on when you applied.
- Expect no application fees: Schools can’t charge you to apply or enrol.
- Know your right to appeal: If a school refuses a place, you can ask the board to review it and then appeal.
What Happens When a School Is Full
When a school has enough places, it must admit every applicant. When it receives more applications than places, it applies the criteria in its policy instead.
Common criteria include siblings, a defined catchment area and, for secondary schools, feeder primary schools. Furthermore, secondary schools can reserve no more than 25% of places for children of past pupils.
Practical Tips for Families Moving to Celbridge
Moving house and changing school at the same time takes planning. The following steps can help.
- Shortlist schools before houses. Then check which estates sit within a realistic walk or cycle.
- Apply to more than one school. Because each school runs its own process, you can apply to several at once.
- Check feeder links early. Some secondary schools give priority to pupils from named primary schools, so look ahead.
- Diary the autumn dates. Most admission notices appear from October, so plan before you move.
- Ask about mid-year places. If you move during term, phone the school, since places sometimes come up.
- Visit in person. Open days let you meet the staff and get a real feel for the school.
Advice From Team Lorraine
Local Knowledge That Helps
At Team Lorraine, families moving to Celbridge often ask about schools before anything else. In practice, the best approach is to choose two or three schools that suit your child. Then focus your house search around them.
We know the estates, the walking routes and the school runs across Celbridge. For example, we can show you which roads give an easy walk to the Clane Road schools or the village. For a wider view of local prices, see our guide to Celbridge house prices by estate.
Conclusion
Parents have a strong mix of schools in Celbridge, from village primary schools to an Educate Together school and three distinct secondary schools. In addition, Leixlip and Lucan add more choice within a short drive.
Always read each school’s admission policy and annual admission notice before you apply. Once you know which schools suit your family, finding the right home becomes much easier.
Talk to Team Lorraine
Whether you’re moving to Celbridge or selling to move within it, contact Lorraine Mulligan at Team Lorraine for local advice.
📞 +353 1 627 2770
📍 Main Street, Celbridge, Co Kildare
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Celbridge?
Celbridge has six mainstream primary schools and three secondary schools. In addition, St Raphael’s Special School caters for children with a learning disability. The schools cover Catholic, Church of Ireland, Educate Together and community school options, so most families find a suitable school close to home.
Is there a co-educational secondary school in Celbridge?
Yes. Celbridge Community School on the Maynooth Road takes boys and girls. Educate Together and Kildare and Wicklow ETB jointly act as patrons, so the school is multi-denominational. By contrast, Salesian College takes boys only, while St Wolstan’s Community School takes girls only.
Are there Irish-medium schools in Celbridge?
No school in Celbridge currently teaches all subjects through Irish. Instead, families who want Irish-medium education usually look at Gaelscoileanna in neighbouring towns. For example, Lucan has two Irish-medium primary schools and the all-Irish Coláiste Cois Life at second level.
When should I apply for a school place in Celbridge?
Apply in the school year before your child starts. Schools can’t open their admission process before 1 October of the previous year, so most applications open in the autumn. However, each school sets its own dates, so check every annual admission notice and apply to more than one school.
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