Photo: Jonathan Thacker · CC BY-SA 2.0Bishopstown has 3 fee-paying secondary schools in and around it
The DEIS programme includes 50% of the schools around Bishopstown, above both Co. Cork’s towns (35%) and Irish towns (35%). DEIS, the extra support for schools in disadvantaged areas, reaches 27 of its 54 schools; across Ireland, 30%. These schools are described rather than graded, because Ireland publishes no school results and the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing them.
Schools in the town or within 3 km of its outline, Department of Education lists for 2025/26; the Ireland figures cover all schools listed.
What stands out about Bishopstown’s schools
Fee-paying secondary schools
Several of the secondary schools within reach charge fees; the others are free. Fee-paying schools are listed with the rest below, each with its own page. Fee-paying: Christian Brothers College (919), Presentation Brothers College (692) and Scoil Mhuire (432). Every school ↓
Extra support for many schools
Many schools here are in DEIS, which gives schools in disadvantaged areas more teachers, money and help; across Ireland, 30% of schools are. In DEIS: Coláiste Éamann Rís (811), Gaelcholáiste Mhuire (690), Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal B (403) and Scoil Naomh Mhuire (312), and 23 more. Who runs them ↓
Mostly single-sex at secondary
Most secondary schools here take only boys or only girls; the mixed ones are marked on the cards below. Single-sex: Christian Brothers College (919), Mount Mercy College (811), Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh (715) and Christ King Girls' Secondary School (700), and 6 more. Every school ↓
A wide choice at twelve
Within 10 km of the town there are 32 post-primary schools to choose from, of different kinds; each sets its own admission policy, and many families apply to several. The nearest: Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh (0.3 km), Bishopstown Community School (0.3 km) and Mount Mercy College (0.8 km). Post-primary choices ↓
Drawn from the Department of Education’s lists; none of it judges how well a school teaches.
The 54 schools in and around Bishopstown
Each school in or within 3 km of Bishopstown links to a page of its own. You won’t find letters or results below: Ireland publishes none for single schools.
Show all 32 primary schools
Who runs Bishopstown’s schools
Who runs each school, as listed for 2025/26; the bars give the share of schools of each kind.
46 of Bishopstown’s 54 schools have a Catholic ethos, against 80% across Ireland. The patrons with most schools here: Bishop of Cork & Ross (30), CEIST (5) and Edmund Rice Schools Trust (4). 27 of the 54 are in DEIS, the extra support for schools in disadvantaged areas (30% across Ireland).
Department of Education school lists: ethos 2025/26, patron 2024/25 (the 2025/26 lists don’t give it). DEIS list 2025/26.
Where the 54 schools in and around Bishopstown are
Each school where the official list places it, shaded by who runs it and sized by pupils; squares are secondary schools, triangles special schools. The dashed shape is Bishopstown’s outline; schools within 3 km of it count.
Places from the Department of Education’s school lists (its own coordinates for all but a handful); map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Teaching through Irish in and around Bishopstown
Schools by the language they teach in; the black tick is Ireland’s share.
6 of Bishopstown’s 54 schools teach every subject through Irish: Gaelscoil Ui Riada, Gaelscoil an Teaghlaigh Naofa and Gael Scoil Ui Riordain.
Who Bishopstown’s schools serve
How the area’s pupils divide, against Co. Cork’s and Ireland’s, 2025/26
Each bar is the area’s share; the tick marks Ireland’s.
DEIS by stage: pupils at DEIS schools
| Share of pupils | Around Bishopstown | Co. Cork | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at DEIS schools | 40% | 18% | 27% |
| Pupils at all-Irish schools | 12% | 8% | 6% |
| Girls | 50% | 49% | 49% |
| Post-primary pupils at single-sex schools | 59% | 33% | 29% |
| Post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools | 20% | 7% | 6% |
More of the pupils around Bishopstown are at DEIS schools than across Ireland: 40% against 27% (Co. Cork: 18%). Where this area differs most from Ireland is post-primary pupils at single-sex schools, at 59% against 29%. Coláiste Éamann Rís, with 811 pupils, is the largest school here in DEIS.
Each of the 54 schools
| School | Pupils | Girls | DEIS | All-Irish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Mercy CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 811 | 100% | ||
| Coláiste an Spioraid NaoimhPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 715 | 0% | ||
| Scoil Naomh CaitrionaPrimary | 414 | 100% | ||
| Scoil an Spioraid Naomh (Boys)Primary | 398 | 0% | ||
| Bishopstown Community SchoolPost-primary · Community school | 306 | 49% | ✓ | |
| S N an Spioraid Naomh CPrimary | 258 | 100% | ||
| Gaelscoil Ui RiadaPrimary | 254 | 47% | ✓ | |
| St Gabriels Special SchoolSpecial | 54 | 30% | ||
| Cork University Hos SchoolSpecial | 17 | 47% | ||
| Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal BPrimary | 403 | 0% | ✓ | |
| Muire Gan Smal CPrimary | 297 | 99% | ✓ | |
| S.N. Athair Maitiu CPrimary | 252 | 100% | ✓ | |
| S.N. B Togher CorkPrimary | 252 | 0% | ✓ | |
| Terence Mac Swiney Community CollegePost-primary · ETB | 302 | 52% | ✓ | |
| S.N. Iosef NaofaPrimary | 215 | 0% | ||
| Scoil Maria AssumptaPrimary | 168 | 100% | ✓ | |
| Scoil Mhuire ar Chnoc hAoinePrimary | 195 | 51% | ✓ | |
| South Lee Educate Together National SchoolPrimary | 162 | 56% | ||
| S.N. Barra NaofaPrimary | 75 | 47% | ||
| Realt na MaidinePrimary | 107 | 0% | ✓ | |
| Presentation Secondary SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 190 | 87% | ✓ | |
| Presentation Brothers CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 692 | 0% | ||
| St Aloysius SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 323 | 100% | ||
| Gaelscoil an Teaghlaigh NaofaPrimary | 193 | 53% | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scoil Naomh MhuirePrimary | 312 | 55% | ✓ | |
| Greenmount Monastery N.S.Primary | 240 | 45% | ✓ | |
| Scoil ColmcillePrimary | 264 | 32% | ✓ | |
| Clogheen Mxd N.S.Primary | 181 | 51% | ||
| Scoil Padre Pio N.S.Primary | 264 | 48% | ✓ | |
| S.N. Baile NoraPrimary | 328 | 48% | ||
| Cork Educate Together National SchoolPrimary | 193 | 54% | ||
| Coláiste Éamann RísPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 811 | 44% | ✓ | |
| Gael Scoil Ui RiordainPrimary | 724 | 49% | ✓ | |
| St Vincents Convent N.S.Primary | 208 | 71% | ✓ | |
| Bunscoil Chriost RiPrimary | 453 | 47% | ||
| Scoil Mhuire Fatima Boys SeniorPrimary | 207 | 33% | ✓ | |
| St Vincent's Secondary SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 283 | 100% | ✓ | |
| North Monastery Secondary SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 271 | 14% | ✓ | |
| Scoil IosagainPrimary | 222 | 0% | ✓ | |
| North Presentation Primary SchoolPrimary | 288 | 52% | ✓ | |
| Gaelcholáiste MhuirePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 690 | 47% | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nano Nagle CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 161 | 51% | ✓ | |
| Coláiste Chríost RíPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 502 | 0% | ||
| Christ King Girls' Secondary SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 700 | 100% | ||
| Scoil Aiseiri ChriostPrimary | 232 | 100% | ✓ | |
| Coláiste DaibhéidPost-primary · ETB | 151 | 54% | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coláiste ChoilmPost-primary · ETB | 1,357 | 50% | ||
| St Kevins SchoolSpecial | 10 | 10% | ||
| St. Angela's CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 606 | 100% | ||
| Scoil MhuirePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 432 | 100% | ||
| Christian Brothers CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 919 | 0% | ||
| Gaelscoil Peig SayersPrimary | 280 | 58% | ✓ | ✓ |
| S.N. Naomh Eoin BPrimary | 352 | 0% | ||
| Our Lady of LourdesPrimary | 215 | 100% |
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary): enrolments by sex and the DEIS list. Shares are of pupils, not of schools; a county’s are the schools listed with its towns.
The 14 patrons of Bishopstown’s schools
Each school has a patron that owns it and sets its ethos; its board of management runs it.
14 patrons run the 54 schools around Bishopstown; the largest, Bishop of Cork & Ross, has 30 of them and 43% of the pupils. 4 are ETB schools. Educate Together runs one.
| Patron | Ethos | Schools | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop of Cork & RossGael Scoil Ui Riordain, Bunscoil Chriost Ri, Scoil Naomh Caitriona, Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal B, Scoil an Spioraid Naomh, S.N. Naomh Eoin B, S.N. Baile Nora, Scoil Naomh Mhuire, Muire Gan Smal C, North Presentation Primary School, Gaelscoil Peig Sayers, Scoil Colmcille, Scoil Padre Pio, S N an Spioraid Naomh C, Gaelscoil Ui Riada, S.N. Athair Maitiu C, S.N. B Togher Cork, Greenmount Monastery, Scoil Aiseiri Chriost, Scoil Iosagain, S.N. Iosef Naofa, Our Lady of Lourdes, St Vincents Convent, Scoil Mhuire Fatima Boys Senior, Scoil Mhuire ar Chnoc hAoine, Gaelscoil an Teaghlaigh Naofa, Clogheen Mxd, Scoil Maria Assumpta, Realt na Maidine, St Kevins School | Catholic | 30 | 8,186 |
| CEISTMount Mercy College, Christ King Girls', St Aloysius School, Presentation, Nano Nagle College | Catholic | 5 | 2,185 |
| Edmund Rice Schools TrustChristian Brothers College, Coláiste Éamann Rís, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire, North Monastery | Catholic | 4 | 2,691 |
| Presentation Brothers Schools TrustColáiste an Spioraid Naoimh, Presentation Brothers College, Coláiste Chríost Rí | Catholic | 3 | 1,909 |
| Cork ETBColáiste Choilm, Terence Mac Swiney, Coláiste Daibhéid | Inter-denominational, Multi-denominational | 3 | 1,810 |
| Le Chéile Schools TrustSt. Angela's College | Catholic | 1 | 606 |
| Named IndividualScoil Mhuire | Catholic | 1 | 432 |
| Cork ETB & Bishop of Cork and RossBishopstown | Inter-denominational | 1 | 306 |
| Religious Sisters of CharitySt Vincent's | Catholic | 1 | 283 |
| Cork School ProjectCork Educate Together | Multi-denominational | 1 | 193 |
| Educate TogetherSouth Lee Educate Together | Multi-denominational | 1 | 162 |
| Bishop of Cork, Cloyne & Ross COIS.N. Barra Naofa | Church of Ireland | 1 | 75 |
| Brothers of Charity (Southern Services) Brother John O'SheaSt Gabriels Special School | Catholic | 1 | 54 |
| CEO of Cork University HospitalCork University Hos School | Multi-denominational | 1 | 17 |
Department of Education school lists: patron 2024/25, ethos 2025/26.
How children get a place in Bishopstown
Starting primary school
Children can start primary school once they are four, and must be in school by six. Families apply to each school directly. Every school publishes an admission policy and a yearly admission notice; a school with more applicants than places admits on the criteria in its policy. Since the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, a Catholic or other majority-faith primary school can’t put baptised children first; a school of a minority faith still can, to keep its ethos.
Moving to secondary school
Children move to post-primary school at about twelve, after sixth class. Again, families apply to each school, usually a year or more ahead, and an oversubscribed school admits on its published criteria, often brothers and sisters and its feeder primary schools. The 3 fee-paying schools here set their own fees and admissions.
Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018; each school’s admission policy and notice are on its own website.
Which schools are growing
9 schools here have grown by 5% or more since 2019/20, 22 have shrunk by as much, out of 50; across Ireland: +5%.
All 50 schools
Department of Education enrolments at 30 September, 2019/20 and 2025/26 (preliminary). No capacity is published, so how full a school is can’t be shown.
Inspection reports for Bishopstown’s schools
The Inspectorate’s published reports for each school, linked, without ratings
The Inspectorate inspects schools in several ways: a whole-school evaluation covers teaching, learning and how the school is led; a subject inspection looks at one subject; a follow-through checks on earlier advice. Reports go on gov.ie with the school’s reply.
Reports say what inspectors found and what should improve, without an overall grade, so none appears here; each of the 54 schools below links its own.
Department of Education Inspectorate reports on gov.ie, found by each school’s roll number.
Post-primary schools within reach of Bishopstown
Post-primary schools within 10 km of the town; children move at about twelve, and families apply to each school
Families in Bishopstown have 32 post-primary schools within 10 km: 22 voluntary secondary schools, 5 ETB schools, 4 community schools and one comprehensive school. 13 teach girls and boys apart: 8 girls’ and 5 boys’ schools. Fees are charged at 3 of them. Every subject is taught through Irish at 3 of them.
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coláiste an Spioraid NaoimhVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 715 | 0.3 km |
| Bishopstown Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 306 | 0.3 km |
| Mount Mercy CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 811 | 0.8 km |
| Terence Mac Swiney Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 302 | 2.6 km |
| Presentation Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 190 | 2.9 km |
| Presentation Brothers CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 692 | 3 km |
| St Aloysius SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 323 | 3 km |
| Coláiste Éamann RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 811 | 3.4 km |
| Coláiste DaibhéidETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 151 | 3.9 km |
| North Monastery Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 271 | 3.9 km |
| St Vincent's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 283 | 3.9 km |
| Coláiste Chríost RíVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 502 | 4 km |
All 32 post-primary schools within reach
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaelcholáiste MhuireVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 690 | 4 km |
| Nano Nagle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 161 | 4 km |
| Christ King Girls' Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 700 | 4.1 km |
| Coláiste ChoilmETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Irish stream | 1,357 | 4.1 km |
| St. Angela's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 606 | 4.1 km |
| Scoil MhuireVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 432 | 4.2 km |
| Christian Brothers CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 919 | 4.3 km |
| Cork Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 403 | 4.8 km |
| Ashton SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 539 | 4.9 km |
| Regina Mundi CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 564 | 5.3 km |
| St Patricks CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 218 | 5.3 km |
| Douglas Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Boys | – | 605 | 5.4 km |
| Ballincollig Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 987 | 5.6 km |
| Le Cheile Secondary School BallincolligVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 254 | 5.7 km |
| St Aidan's Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 309 | 5.8 km |
| Scoil Mhuire gan SmalVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 1,124 | 6.1 km |
| Mayfield Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 362 | 6.3 km |
| Ursuline College BlackrockVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 352 | 7.4 km |
| Nagle Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 315 | 8.2 km |
| Colaiste An PhiarsaighVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, Boarding | 578 | 9.3 km |
Department of Education post-primary list 2025/26; straight-line distances from the town’s centre point.
Special schools and classes around Bishopstown
3 special schools serve the area: St Gabriels Special School, Cork University Hos School and St Kevins School, 81 pupils between them. 22 of the 32 primary schools have special classes for children who need more support. Their cards ↑
Special schools and primary schools with special classes as the Department lists them; the National Council for Special Education places pupils in special classes.
Bishopstown beside the 82 other Irish towns of 10,200 to 19,600 people
Each town’s schools in or within 3 km, listed by population: Ireland publishes no results, so none is ranked
| Town | People | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crumlin | 19,287 | 124 | 35,375 | 8 | 52% | 0.5 km |
| … | ||||||
| Belmayne | 15,047 | 63 | 17,963 | 5 | 40% | 0.2 km |
| Ashtown | 14,937 | 97 | 28,864 | 8 | 52% | 0.7 km |
| Ballyowen | 14,739 | 68 | 31,032 | 6 | 32% | 1 km |
| Darndale | 14,675 | 85 | 23,703 | 7 | 49% | 1 km |
| Bishopstown | 14,529 | 54 | 18,909 | 6 | 50% | 0.3 km |
| Killarney | 14,412 | 12 | 4,102 | 1 | 8% | 0.8 km |
| Corbally and King's Island | 14,213 | 45 | 15,801 | 6 | 49% | 0.2 km |
| Cobh | 14,148 | 13 | 3,613 | 1 | 23% | 0.8 km |
| Clonskeagh | 14,142 | 106 | 39,846 | 10 | 10% | 0.3 km |
| … | ||||||
| Kilmainham | 10,240 | 106 | 27,472 | 4 | 62% | 0.5 km |
Of the other 82 towns, 45 have more pupils at the schools around them than Bishopstown. Every one of them has an all-Irish school within 3 km.
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary); CSO Census 2022 populations.
Pupil numbers around Bishopstown
Pupils every September at the schools in or within 3 km of the town, each counted at today’s site.
The schools in and around Bishopstown had 18,816 pupils in 2015/16 and 18,909 in 2025/26. Coláiste Éamann Rís grew most: +149% since 2019/20.
Pupils at schools in and around Bishopstown
Department of Education enrolments at 30 September each year, 2015/16 to 2025/26 (preliminary), for every school placed in the area today; schools that have since closed or merged count where they stood.
Schools in the towns around Bishopstown
Schools in or within 3 km of each neighbouring town; distances in a straight line.
| Town | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishopstown | 54 | 18,909 | 6 | 50% | 0.3 km |
| Inishkenny 1.5 km | 43 | 16,164 | 4 | 35% | 1.4 km |
| Glasheen 2 km | 66 | 21,351 | 6 | 50% | 1.1 km |
| Shanakiel 2 km | 52 | 16,547 | 5 | 54% | 0.6 km |
| Togher 2.2 km | 60 | 20,680 | 6 | 45% | 1 km |
| Gillabbey 2.3 km | 72 | 22,124 | 6 | 50% | 0.7 km |
| Sunday's Well 2.7 km | 69 | 20,909 | 6 | 52% | 0.5 km |
Of Bishopstown’s neighbours, Inishkenny saw the most growth in pupils since 2019/20 (+2%) and Glasheen the least (−1%); Bishopstown itself: +0%.
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Which schools count. Every school in Bishopstown or within 3 km of its outline, as the Department places it: families here use them. Schools further out are on the map of each school’s own page.
- The kinds of school. Primary schools take children from junior infants to sixth class, about ages 4 to 12. Post-primary schools teach the Junior and Leaving Certificate, about ages 12 to 18: voluntary secondary schools (mostly with a religious patron), ETB schools and community colleges run by an Education and Training Board, and community and comprehensive schools. Special schools teach children with particular needs.
- Teaching through Irish. All-Irish: every subject taught through Irish, in the Gaeltacht or, outside it, a Gaelscoil or Gaelcholáiste. Partly in Irish: an Irish stream (some classes entirely through Irish) or some subjects through Irish. Every other school teaches Irish as a subject.
- DEIS. DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) gives schools serving disadvantaged areas more teachers, money and support; the Department decides which schools are in it.
- Ethos and patron. Most Irish schools are owned by a patron, mostly a church; the patron sets the school’s ethos. Multi-denominational schools (Educate Together, many ETB schools) teach children of every faith and none together.
- No grade. Section 53 of the Education Act 1998 lets the Minister refuse to release information that would allow schools’ exam results to be compared, and no results are published school by school. So Ireland’s schools have no letters and its towns no School Grade; nothing on this page ranks them.
- What isn’t here. What the UK and French pages show from results, these can’t: results charts, results against pupils’ backgrounds and towns ranked by their schools (no published results), and how full each school is (no capacity is published). Every post-primary school teaches to the Leaving Certificate, so there is no sixth-form split to show.
- Inspections. The Inspectorate’s reports are linked from each school’s page. They give no overall grade, so none is shown.
- The year. The 2025/26 lists are the Department’s preliminary release; numbers can change a little in the final lists.
Questions about schools in Bishopstown
How many schools are there in Bishopstown?
In Bishopstown or within 3 km of it: 32 primary schools, 19 secondary schools and 3 special schools, with 18,909 pupils between them.
Are there schools in Bishopstown that teach through Irish?
Yes, 6: Gaelscoil Ui Riada, Gaelscoil an Teaghlaigh Naofa and Gael Scoil Ui Riordain teach every subject through Irish.
Are there fee-paying secondary schools near Bishopstown?
3 of the 19: Presentation Brothers College, Scoil Mhuire and Christian Brothers College. The others are free.
What is the best school in Bishopstown?
We don’t say. Ireland publishes no exam results school by school, and section 53 of the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing them; a ranking would rest on guesses. Each school’s page has its own facts and a link to its inspection reports, and visiting the schools you are weighing is still the best guide.
How do I get a place at a school in Bishopstown?
Apply to each school directly: every school publishes an admission policy and a yearly admission notice with its dates. If it has more applicants than places, it admits on the criteria in its policy.
Sources: Department of Education, school lists 2025/26 (preliminary) and enrolments since 2015/16, CC BY 4.0 · one school placed with OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). Under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
Contains Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, Census 2022, and Tailte Éireann boundaries (CSO Urban Areas, Small Areas, local electoral areas, constituencies), under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).