Longford
37 primary schools and 5,201 pupils in 2025/26.
- Pupils in 2025/26
- 5,201
- −76 on 2024/25
- Schools
- 37
- No change on 2024/25
- Average school size
- 140.6
- −2.0 on 2024/25
- Average class size
- 20.45
- −0.09 on 2024/25
Trends in Longford
Counts every school that reported in each year, including schools that have since closed. Dotted lines bridge 1983/84 to 1992/93. 1974/75 is left out because that year's source file is missing five counties.
Pupils
5,201
−76 on 2024/25
Schools
37
45 in 1975/76
Average pupils per school
140.6
107.7 in 1975/76
Average class size
20.45
−0.09 on 2024/25
Growing and falling since 2015/16
Each school's change in pupils over 10 years, from 2015/16 to 2025/26. A change of 10% or more either way counts as growing or falling.
37 schools with figures for both years
Average class size in these schools went from 24.2 in 2015/16 to 20.4 in 2025/26. 9 of the 15 schools that fell by 10% or more kept or added classes. A fall in pupils can mean smaller classes rather than fewer children wanting places. Smaller classes
Grown most
Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26
- 1 The Sacred Heart Primary NSGranard, Co. Longford 162 → 250 +54.3%
- 2 St Matthews Mixed N.SBallymahon, Co. Longford 276 → 373 +35.1%
- 3 Scoil Naomh MichealLongford, Co. Longford 174 → 224 +28.7%
- 4 S N Naomh ColmcilleAughnacliffe, Co. Longford 125 → 155 +24.0%
- 5 St Josephs ConventLongford Town, Co. Longford 443 → 527 +19.0%
Fallen most
Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26
- 1 Scoil MhuireGranard, Co. Longford 89 → 45 −49.4%
- 2 Gaelscoil an LongfoirtAn Longfort, Co. Longford 187 → 112 −40.1%
- 3 S N Naomh MhuireBaile Nua An Chaisil, Co. Longford 100 → 64 −36.0%
- 4 St PatricksBallinamuck, Co. Longford 94 → 63 −33.0%
- 5 Colehill Mixed N SColehill, Co. Longford 136 → 96 −29.4%
Ranked by percentage change. Only schools with 50 or more pupils in 2015/16 are ranked, leaving out any still filling their classes then, because a few pupils make a big percentage in a small or new school. An amalgamation, a new school nearby or smaller classes can also explain a big rise or fall.
Break Longford down
Select a group to see its schools, pupils and class sizes.
Planning areas
| Longford–Newtownforbes | 15 | 209.2 | 20.67 | 147 |
−3.2%
−0.2%
+39.0%
|
+39.0%
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballymahon | 7 | 108.1 | 21.47 | 34 |
−7.1%
−2.7%
+34.9%
|
+34.9%
| |
| Moyne | 4 | 135.2 | 22.87 | 23 |
−4.1%
−3.9%
+48.2%
|
+48.2%
| |
| Granard | 7 | 74.6 | 17.38 | 29 |
+11.3%
+15.2%
+30.5%
|
+30.5%
| |
| Lanesboro | 4 | 60.8 | 17.85 | 13 |
−0.4%
−3.2%
+25.3%
|
+25.3%
|
Changes count today's schools and any that closed from 2023/24; earlier closures aren't in any planning area, so changes run high, more so since 2005/06. Known data issues · All planning areas in Ireland
Patrons
| Bishop of Ardagh & Clonmacnoise | 32 | 154.9 | 20.83 | 230 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| An Foras Pátrúnachta | 1 | 112.0 | 17.67 | 6 | |
| Bishop of Kilmore Elphin & Ardagh COI | 3 | 36.3 | 13.62 | 8 | |
| Bishop of Meath | 1 | 23.0 | 11.50 | 2 |
Class sizes
Mainstream class groups only. The source does not identify which standard/year group each class group belongs to. Figures for 2025/26: 5,030 pupils in mainstream classes.
- Average class size
- 20.45
- Mainstream classes
- 246
- Largest class
- 36
- Classes of 30 or more
- 17
- Schools with a class of 30+
- 6
Teachers
Teachers in the 37 mainstream primary schools here, 2006/07 to 2025/26. Class teachers are counted every year; all teaching posts where they're known.
- Class teachers in 2025/26
- 246
- Up 72 since 2006/07, while pupils rose 28%
- Teaching posts in 2025/26
- about 394
- Estimate: 246 class teachers, 17 principals and deputies, 101 special education and 30 special class teachers
- Teachers in 2015/16
- 309
- The Department's last count of every teacher
Class teachers since 2006/07
One for each mainstream class, every school year
Special schools and special classes
1 special school in Longford, and the special classes in its 37 mainstream schools. Special schools aren't counted in the pupils, class sizes or teachers above.
- Pupils in special schools
- 49
- In 1 school, up from 27 in 2015/16
- Allocated for 2026/27
- 35
- In 14 schools: 5 new classes, 3 schools with their first
- Autism classes
- 27
- 90% of special classes
Special classes since 2020/21
In Longford's mainstream schools, from the NCSE's yearly lists
- 2020/21 14
- 2021/22 17
- 2022/23 19
- 2023/24 25
- 2024/25 30
- 2025/26 30
- 2026/27 35
2026/27, dashed: allocated for next year.
| Special school | Pupils | Since 2015/16 | Teaching posts | SNAs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Christophers S SLongford · Moderate general learning disability | 49 |
+81.5%
|
9.6 | 28 |
Sources: Department of Education enrolment lists; NCSE special class lists and special school allocations (CC BY 4.0).
What parents would prefer
1,173 of the 3,315 households with children at the 33 schools here answered the Department of Education and Youth's Primary School Survey, November–December 2025. 4 more schools had too few answers for their own results. These are preferences, not applications.
- Prefer a multi-denominational patron
- 30%
- Parents of children at school · Ireland 44%
- Prefer teaching through Irish
- 13%
- Parents of children at school · Ireland 20%
- Prefer single-sex
- 3%
- Parents of children at school · Ireland 5%
By school planning area
The Department publishes the answers of parents of children not yet at school by planning area only, so these are whole areas, including any part in another county.
| Planning area | Schools here | Households answered | Multi-denominational | Through Irish | Single-sex | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At school | Not yet | At school | Not yet | At school | Not yet | |||
| Longford–NewtownforbesAlso in Co. Roscommon | 15 | 976 (36%) | 30% | 33% | 12% | 15% | 4% | 5% |
| BallymahonAlso in Co. Westmeath | 7 | 341 (41%) | 34% | 30% | 14% | 19% | 1% | 4% |
| GranardAlso in Co. Cavan, Co. Westmeath | 7 | 372 (60%) | 32% | 23% | 15% | 21% | 2% | 1% |
| LanesboroAlso in Co. Roscommon | 4 | 218 (48%) | 32% | 39% | 16% | 19% | 2% | 3% |
| MoyneAlso in Co. Cavan | 4 | 320 (54%) | 30% | 27% | 17% | 20% | 0% | 1% |
Grey: fewer than 60 parents of children not yet at school answered in that area, so a handful of answers moves the figure a long way.
- 2 schools where half or more of parents would prefer a multi-denominational patron
- 4 schools where a quarter or more would prefer teaching through Irish
- 2 of 2 single-sex schools where most parents would prefer co-educational
Each count opens those schools in Find schools, with each school's figures.
Source: Department of Education and Youth, Primary School Survey results, published 23 June 2026. Figures here add up the parents at each school with its own results.
Schools in Longford
37 schools with 2025/26 figures, largest first.
Select a column heading to sort
| Roll number | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Josephs ConventLongford Town | 18178R | 527 |
+2.5%
+19.0%
+133.2%
|
+133.2%
|
28 | 17.75 | 23 | 0 |
| St Matthews Mixed N.SBallymahon | 20128O | 373 |
+3.0%
+35.1%
– |
– | 15 | 23.27 | 31 | 2 |
| St Marys N.S.Edgeworthstown | 20124G | 352 |
−6.6%
−11.6%
+73.4%
|
+73.4%
|
15 | 21.13 | 25 | 0 |
| Scoil Mhuire N SNewtownforbes | 19987J | 317 |
−7.3%
−8.6%
+32.6%
|
+32.6%
|
13 | 24.38 | 34 | 3 |
| S N Naomh TreasaBallinalee | 19279F | 306 |
−4.1%
+7.0%
+29.7%
|
+29.7%
|
13 | 21.69 | 32 | 3 |
| S N Cnoc an MharcaighLongford | 07518E | 289 |
+6.6%
+7.8%
+35.0%
|
+35.0%
|
12 | 24.08 | 36 | 4 |
| The Sacred Heart Primary NSGranard | 20101R | 250 |
+24.4%
+54.3%
+204.9%
|
+204.9%
|
13 | 17.85 | 22 | 0 |
| Stonepark N SStonepark | 14386E | 239 |
+1.7%
−1.6%
+0.4%
|
+0.4%
|
10 | 23.90 | 32 | 4 |
| Scoil Naomh MichealLongford | 00856M | 224 |
−6.7%
+28.7%
+154.5%
|
+154.5%
|
12 | 18.67 | 25 | 0 |
| St Marys Mixed N SDrumlish | 16665S | 215 |
−6.9%
+2.9%
+138.9%
|
+138.9%
|
9 | 23.22 | 33 | 1 |
| St Emer's National SchoolTemplemichael | 19753H | 215 |
+3.4%
0.0%
−8.9%
|
−8.9%
|
11 | 19.55 | 29 | 0 |
| Saint MelsArdagh Village | 19467G | 180 |
−17.1%
−17.8%
+39.5%
|
+39.5%
|
8 | 22.50 | 28 | 0 |
| S N Naomh ColmcilleAughnacliffe | 19296F | 155 |
+34.8%
+24.0%
+22.0%
|
+22.0%
|
6 | 24.33 | 28 | 0 |
| Samhthann N SBallinalee | 17561L | 145 |
−4.0%
0.0%
+39.4%
|
+39.4%
|
6 | 23.33 | 26 | 0 |
| Fermoyle Mixed N SLanesboro | 13320P | 112 |
−3.4%
+4.7%
+36.6%
|
+36.6%
|
5 | 22.40 | 27 | 0 |
| Gaelscoil an LongfoirtAn Longfort | 20083S | 112 |
−25.3%
−40.1%
−38.8%
|
−38.8%
|
6 | 17.67 | 22 | 0 |
| Naomh Dominic N SKenagh | 15154L | 109 |
−32.3%
−25.9%
+28.2%
|
+28.2%
|
5 | 21.80 | 28 | 0 |
| St Patricks NS LongfordMoyne | 19353O | 108 |
−20.0%
−20.0%
+96.4%
|
+96.4%
|
5 | 21.60 | 27 | 0 |
| Colehill Mixed N SColehill | 14672F | 96 |
−15.0%
−29.4%
−34.2%
|
−34.2%
|
4 | 24.00 | 28 | 0 |
| S N MhuireCloondara | 18733T | 94 |
−7.8%
−1.1%
+118.6%
|
+118.6%
|
4 | 23.50 | 28 | 0 |
| Lanesborough Primary SchoolLanesborough | 18259R | 88 |
+15.8%
0.0%
+76.0%
|
+76.0%
|
4 | 19.25 | 24 | 0 |
| S N an Leana MorLenamore | 05115S | 69 |
+21.1%
+13.1%
−9.2%
|
−9.2%
|
3 | 22.00 | 28 | 0 |
| St. Johns National SchoolLongford | 12683A | 67 |
+11.7%
+15.5%
+28.8%
|
+28.8%
|
4 | 16.75 | 19 | 0 |
| S N Naomh MhuireBaile Nua An Chaisil | 19171I | 64 |
−22.9%
−36.0%
−3.0%
|
−3.0%
|
3 | 21.33 | 28 | 0 |
| St PatricksBallinamuck | 19975C | 63 |
−24.1%
−33.0%
−32.3%
|
−32.3%
|
3 | 21.00 | 25 | 0 |
| Naomh Padraig N SCoolarty | 13752V | 57 |
+32.6%
+32.6%
+58.3%
|
+58.3%
|
3 | 19.00 | 26 | 0 |
| St Columbas MXD N SDring | 12813K | 56 |
+55.6%
+64.7%
+40.0%
|
+40.0%
|
3 | 18.67 | 27 | 0 |
| Scoil BhrídeEdgeworthstown | 12136R | 52 |
+62.5%
+33.3%
+4.0%
|
+4.0%
|
3 | 17.33 | 21 | 0 |
| Scoil MhuireGranard | 17644P | 45 |
−30.8%
−49.4%
−35.7%
|
−35.7%
|
3 | 15.00 | 20 | 0 |
| Naomh Guasachta N SBallinalee | 12736S | 44 |
−2.2%
+10.0%
−27.9%
|
−27.9%
|
3 | 14.67 | 18 | 0 |
| Killasonna Mixed N SGranard | 14300O | 41 |
−22.6%
−19.6%
−6.8%
|
−6.8%
|
2 | 20.50 | 24 | 0 |
| Naomh Earnain N SLongford | 18258P | 29 |
0.0%
+7.4%
+7.4%
|
+7.4%
|
2 | 14.50 | 18 | 0 |
| St Bernards Mixed N SAbbeylara | 15122V | 29 |
+11.5%
−14.7%
−56.7%
|
−56.7%
|
2 | 14.50 | 17 | 0 |
| Forgney N SBallymahon | 00860D | 23 |
+35.3%
−14.8%
+21.1%
|
+21.1%
|
2 | 11.50 | 16 | 0 |
| Tashinny N SBallymahon | 10223C | 23 |
+4.5%
−25.8%
−46.5%
|
−46.5%
|
2 | 11.50 | 12 | 0 |
| St. John's National School,Edgeworthstown | 13313S | 19 |
−24.0%
−26.9%
+11.8%
|
+11.8%
|
2 | 9.50 | 12 | 0 |
| Cloontagh Mixed N SKillashee | 14650S | 14 |
−39.1%
−51.7%
−60.0%
|
−60.0%
|
2 | 7.00 | 9 | 0 |
No schools match that filter.