School patron in Offaly

Bishop of Meath

Schools in County Offaly under this patron.

Other patrons in Offaly Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin · 17 Bishop of Killaloe · 11 Bishop of Ardagh & Clonmacnoise · 9 Educate Together · 1 Bishop of Meath & Kildare COI · 2 An Foras Pátrúnachta · 2 Bishop of Limerick, Killaloe & Ardfert COI · 1 Bishop of Clonfert · 1 Bishop of Ossory · 1

Schools: 22; of 67 in Offaly
Pupils: 3,381; 36% of Offaly's pupils
Average school size: 153.7; Offaly: 138.7
Average class size: 20.20; Offaly: 20.89

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.

Every school's change

22 schools with figures for both years

9fell by 10% or more

7within 10%

6grew by 10% or more

Down 25% or more · 5Down 10 to 25% · 4Within 10% · 7Up 10 to 25% · 1Up 25% or more · 5

Average class size in these schools went from 23.8 in 2015/16 to 20.2 in 2025/26. 7 of the 9 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 Arden Boys NSTullamore, Co. Offaly 140 → 215 +53.6%
2 S N Naomh EoinBirr, Co. Offaly 109 → 148 +35.8%
3 S N SeosamhTullamore, Co. Offaly 72 → 97 +34.7%
4 S N BhrideKilcormac, Co. Offaly 88 → 111 +26.1%
5 S N MhuireBlueball, Co. Offaly 61 → 72 +18.0%

Fallen most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

1 Castlejordan Central NSTullamore, Co. Offaly 116 → 79 −31.9%
2 Scoil MhuireTullamore, Co. Offaly 357 → 249 −30.3%
3 S N Chartaigh NaofaTullamore, Co. Offaly 200 → 147 −26.5%
4 S N Naomh Brighde BuachTullamore, Co. Offaly 154 → 116 −24.7%
5 S N Phroinsiais NaofaClara, Co. Offaly 232 → 186 −19.8%

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.

Class sizes

Mainstream class groups only. The source does not identify which standard/year group each class group belongs to.

Average class size: 20.20
Mainstream classes: 158
Classes of 30 or more: 6
Schools with a class of 30+: 5

Teachers

Teachers in the 22 mainstream primary schools here, 2006/07 to 2025/26. Class teachers are counted every year; all teaching posts where they're known.

How we count teachers

Class teachers in 2025/26: 158; Up 33 since 2006/07, while pupils rose 5%
Teaching posts in 2025/26: about 280; Estimate: 158 class teachers, 16 principals and deputies, 76 special education and 30 special class teachers
Teachers in 2015/16: 230; The Department's last count of every teacher
Since 2024/25: 1 / 2; 1 school gained a class teacher, 2 lost one

Class teachers since 2006/07

One for each mainstream class, every school year

What parents would prefer

895 of the 2,413 households with children at the 21 schools here answered the Department of Education and Youth's Primary School Survey, November–December 2025. 1 more school had too few answers for its own results. These are preferences, not applications.

About these figures

The Department's own results: Interactive map Summary report with county figures (PDF)

Prefer a multi-denominational patron: 31%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 44%
Prefer teaching through Irish: 15%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 20%
Prefer single-sex: 6%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 5%

0 schools where half or more of parents would prefer a multi-denominational patron
2 schools where a quarter or more would prefer teaching through Irish
6 of 6 single-sex schools where most parents would prefer co-educational

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

22 schools, largest first.

Change over

Select a column heading to sort

	Roll number
St. Joseph's N.S.Tullamore	18797W	360	−12.6%	+11.5%	20	16.90	19	0
Scoil Colmain NaofaTullamore	17746A	322	+6.3%	+46.4%	13	23.38	32	2
Scoil MhuireTullamore	18057F	249	−30.3%	−39.7%	14	16.43	24	0
Arden Boys NSTullamore	19713S	215	+53.6%	+49.3%	9	23.22	27	0
Ballykilmurry N STullamore	15656M	199	−6.6%	−16.7%	8	22.62	25	0
S N Naomh CholumchilleTullamore	17508H	197	−6.2%	+26.3%	8	23.88	30	1
S N Phroinsiais NaofaClara	18406E	186	−19.8%	−7.5%	8	21.00	27	0
Gaelscoil an Eiscir RiadaAn Tulach Mhor	19990V	185	−10.6%	−8.0%	8	23.12	26	0
Clara Convent N SClara	13118U	180	−4.3%	−14.3%	9	18.67	22	0
S N MhanachainMoate	17540D	176	−5.9%	+46.7%	7	25.14	32	1
S N Naomh PhilomenaTullamore	16928B	164	+7.2%	+41.4%	8	19.88	26	0
S N Naomh EoinBirr	02413L	148	+35.8%	+29.8%	6	24.67	35	1
S N Chartaigh NaofaTullamore	20273A	147	−26.5%	–	7	16.71	27	0
S N Naomh Brighde BuachTullamore	18524K	116	−24.7%	−34.5%	6	17.50	23	0
S N BhrideKilcormac	18399K	111	+26.1%	+19.4%	5	22.20	29	0
Scoil Mhuire Agus ChormaicKilcormac	20387P	109	−0.9%	–	5	19.40	24	0
S N SeosamhTullamore	07191V	97	+34.7%	+36.6%	4	21.25	27	0
Castlejordan Central NSTullamore	19300Q	79	−31.9%	−49.4%	4	19.75	25	0
S N MhuireBlueball	18795S	72	+18.0%	+33.3%	3	24.00	31	1
S N Chiarain NaofaBirr	17753U	29	+52.6%	−35.6%	2	14.50	18	0
Mount Bolus N STullamore	15395K	25	−32.4%	−37.5%	2	12.50	14	0
S N Peadar agus PolMoate	18068K	15	−40.0%	−51.6%	2	7.50	9	0