About Us
St Conleth's National School is located in Derrinturn in Carbury, County Kildare.
The School has 13 mainstream classes from Junior Infants to 6th class with 325 students enrolled. 4 teachers work as a Special Educational
Needs Team, and we also have access to two other SEN teachers that are shared with other schools in the parish. The school also has 2
special classes for children with autism. Síolta is a pre-school class and Síoga caters for older children With the administrative principal this
makes a total of 19 teachers in the school.
The school proudly flies the Green Flag, having been awarded its first Green Flag in 2006. It received subsequent Green Flags in 2008, 2010,
2012, 2014 and 2017. The school is now participating in the fourth level of this environmental programme.
Our school won the prestigious Cumann na mBunscoil “School of the Year” award in 2010, having won county tiltles in Boys Gaelic Football,
Girls Gaelic Football and Camogie.
Derrinturn National School is a Reading Recovery School, and is also part of the European Erasmus Programme. Our current Erasmus Project
runs from 2019 to 2021. St. The school is partnered with schools in Turkey and Northern Ireland. A new project is being investigated currently, which
would involve schools from Italy, Finland, Spain & Poland.
School Facilities
St Conleth’s N.S. Derrinturn has 12 mainstream classes and two special classes. Over 325 pupils are enrolled in these 15 classes, with a pupil-
teacher ratio of 25:1.
The school has a purpose-built A.S.D. Suite. All the pupils of the school use the facilities within this newly-built extension. The general
purposes area has hosted meetings, training sessions, cookery classes, choir rehearsals and P.E. lessons. The large room accommodates large
groups and we are delighted to have such a wonderful facility. The sensory room is a specially designed room that contains a range of stimuli
to help children develop and engage their senses. Resources in our sensory room include lights, colours, sounds,
music and soft play objects, all within a safe environment, that allows the children to explore and interact without risk. This vast array of
resources can be electronically controlled so as to respond to the individual needs of the child or children in the sensory room at any given
time.
The school is part of the Reading Recovery Programme. Acting as a safety net within a good literacy programme, Reading Recovery can be a
component of a strong, comprehensive approach to bring all students to literacy. After 12-20 weeks of lessons most Reading recovery pupils
will return to average performance in their classroom and continue their literacy learning with their classmates. For a small number of children
Reading Recovery will serve as an intensive period of diagnostic teaching prior to referral for diagnostic testing. Both of these outcomes are
very positive for children in our school. We currently have two Reading Recovery Teachers at the school.
The school has two soft play areas, both of which have safe and solid play equipment. All of the children have access to these playground areas.
There are also two other playgrounds, one for the infant classes and one for older children
Both of these used at play times and each playground has age appropriate facilities and markings. The Parents Association funded
playground markings in the infant playground during the 2016 - 2017 school year and have recently received a Drehid grant which they
invested in Buddy Benches for each yard. We are deeply indebted to the Parents Association for their support and generosity. The school
also has an outdoor basketball court and a football field. Our pupils take part in Gaelic games, swimming, tag rugby, gymnastics, cross-
country running and basketball.
The school has a sizable hall with a stage, which is used for P.E. classes, coaching, drama classes, choir rehearsals, assemblies and
performances. The hall is used in the evenings by community groups that engage with the school and provide activities for children in the
locality. These groups include St. Conleth's Boxing Club, Derrinturn Cub Scouts and Dance classes. The hall is being used as a classroom during the
2020 - 2021 school year.
School History
Our school was opened in 1961.
The school was originally in the centre of Derrinturn Village, beside the church, where Today's Extra now
stands. In those days it was really two schools: a boys' school and a girls' school. Probably the best known former
pupil of this school is Bishop Flanagan.
When the present school was built, on a site beside the Parochial House, it remained 2 separate schools. Even
today, the sign “Buachaillí” is written over one front door, and “Cailíní” is written above the other front door.
In 1960, there were 4 teachers in the school, 2 in the girls school, and 2 in the boys school. Miss Abbin was
principal teacher of the girls school, with Mrs O’Neill as the assistant teacher. Mr McGonnigle was principal of the
boys school, with Mrs Darcy, and later Mrs Nuala Dempsey as assistant teacher. Mr Maurice Culhane succeeded Mr
McGonnigle as Principal teacher of the boys school.
In 1972, the two schools were amalgamated as St Conleth’s Mixed National School, with Miss Abbin as its first
principal teacher. Mr Maurice Culhane succeeded her as principal teacher in 1977 and remained as principal
teacher until 2005.
8 new classrooms were added in the 1980’s, and the original classrooms became the school hall.
In 2005 Mr. Declan O' Brien succeeded Mr. Culhane as Principal and as the population of Derrinturn expanded,
new classrooms were needed. Temporary accomodation was provided by the Department of Education and
prefabs were erected to the left of the school building. The first Autism Pre-school class in Co. Kildare was opened
at the school and this was housed in one of the classrooms until funding was granted for a new building in 2011.
Mrs. Finnuala Kirk became Principal of the school just as the new building was completed. As the school continued
to grow, funding was sought for an extension to replace the pre-fabs. When this was granted, it was decided to link
the new extension with the existing school in the interest of security and safety. The new extension was opened for
business in 2016. The school celebrated the memory of local heroes of 1916
during the centenary year with the opening of the memorial garden. Plans are in place to open other specially
designated gardens in the future as the school continues to grow 'Ar aghaidh le chéile.'
Board of Management
Functions of the Board.
The Boards main function is to manage the school on behalf of the patron and for the benefit of the students and to provide an appropriate
education for each student at the school.
In carrying out its functions, the Board must
Act in accordance with Ministerial policy
Uphold the ethos of the school and be accountable to the patron for this. The word ethos is not used in the Education Act 1998. It is
described in the Act as the "characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, linguistic
and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school".
Act in accordance with the law and with any deed, charter, or similar instrument relating to the school.
Consult with and inform the patron of decisions and proposals
Publish the school's policy on admission to and participation in the school, including its policy on expulsion and suspension of students,
admission and participation by students with disabilities or with other special educational needs
Ensure that the school's admissions policy respects the choices of parents and the principles of equality and that it complies with
Ministerial directions, having regard to the school ethos and the constitutional rights of all concerned
Have regard for the principles and requirements of a democratic society and promote respect for the diversity of values, beliefs, traditions,
languages and ways of life in our society
Have regard to the efficient use of resources (particularly the grants provided by the state), the public interest in the affairs of the school
and accountability to students, parents and the community
Use the resources provided by the state to make reasonable provision and accommodation for students with disabilities or special needs,
including, if necessary, the adaptation of buildings or provision of special equipment
The Board of Management
Patron’s Nominees: Rev. Fr. John Fitzpatrick and Mrs. Moyra Carey(Chairperson)
Parents’ Nominees: Mrs. Angela Daniels and Mr. Derek Blake
Staff Nominees: Mrs. Finnuala Kirk (Secretary) and Mr. Greg Dunne
Community Nominees: Mr. Donal Hanley and Mrs. Teresa Sullivan (Treasurer)
Staff
Principal Teacher: Finnuala Kirk
Deputy Principal: Mrs O'Donoghue
The Teachers ....
Síolta: Ms. Walsh
Síoga: Ms. Healy
Junior Infants: Mrs. Byrne
Junior & Senior Infants: Ms. Rowe
Senior Infants: Mrs. Grogan
First Class: Mr. Farrell
First & Second Class: Mr. Dunne
Second Class: Ms. O' Brien
Third Class: Ms. Cooney
Third & Fourth Class: Ms. Howe
Fourth Class: Mr. Freeman
Fifth Class: Mr. Hughes
Fifth & Sixth Class: Ms.O' Neill
Sixth Class: Mrs. O Donoghue
S.E.N. Teachers: Ms. Walshe, Mrs. Kenny, Ms. Keown, and Mrs. Colleary.
Secretary: Carol Duffy.
Special Needs Assistants: Teresa Kelly, Audrey Stack, Catherine Coyne, Helen Douglas, Margaret Logan ,Angela Brereton, Del Groome,
Frances Daniels.
Caretaker: Darren O’Reilly.
Hygiene Specialists: Jayne Morrissey & Olive Herbert.
Lunch Ladies: Biddy, Jacqueline & Sandra.