Our Vision

St. Patrick’s Boys’ National School is a happy, bustling place of learning where chatter and laughter are a constant backdrop. In our school, the children are the focus of everything we do. As a Catholic school, we welcome children of all faiths and none. Central to our ethos, we passionately believe in nurturing children in a holistic way. The children’s academic, social and spiritual development are all equally important. Here in St Patrick’s Boys’ National School, children will learn academically, but they will also learn how to become a confident and capable member of our community and the wider society.

We’re a very inclusive school, scaffolding the learning of the child who struggles and the learning of the high achiever who needs to be challenged. An inclusive school creates well-rounded individuals who grow up with greater empathy and a deeper understanding of how differences make our world a brighter and more interesting place.

Our students and their holistic development is our priority. We work hard everyday to provide a learning environment that is happy, energetic and positive. A happy boy learns more quickly. To enhance this further, we listen carefully to our pupil’s voices. We ensure that pupils play an active role in the development of our school through our School Council. Partnership with parents is central to what we do in our school. ‘Ní neart go cur le chéile’ is our school motto. This phrase is translated as “We are stronger together” and neatly sums up our vision as a school.

St. Patrick’s Boys’ National School has a long and proud tradition of educating boys in Donabate, Portrane & Balheary. Originally founded and endowed by Sophie Evans, grand-aunt of Charles Stuart Parnell and resident of Portrane House in 1824, the school was formerly known as Portrane Boys’ National School and housed in what now forms part of College Court on the Portrane Road. The school moved to its present site in 1980 and was further extended in 2000. We are very proud of our fine, modern facilities and well equipped, spacious classrooms.

We are a Catholic School under the patronage of His Grace Archbishop Dermot Farrell. We aim to promote the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the person of the pupil: intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual, including a living relationship with God and with other people. The school models and promotes a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

As a Catholic school we promote the formation of our pupils in the Catholic Faith. It is also an expression of our philosophy to welcome children to our school whatever their origin, language, religion. We provide an open, welcoming, tolerant and democratic environment for all our pupils.