Photo: NTF30 · CC BY-SA 4.0Sandyford has 8 fee-paying secondary schools in and around it
For Sandyford, that is below both Co. Dublin’s towns (40%) and Irish towns (35%). 13 of its 24 secondary schools take only boys or only girls. Ireland publishes no school results, and the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing them, so these schools are described here, never graded or ranked.
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 Sandyford’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: St Andrews College (1,011), Wesley College (942), Mount Anville Secondary School (726) and Alexandra College (664), and 4 more. Every school ↓
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: St Benildus College (949), Mount Anville Secondary School (726), Alexandra College (664) and Loreto College Foxrock (660), and 9 more. Every school ↓
A wide choice at twelve
91 post-primary schools lie within 10 km, so families here have a real choice at twelve; each admits on its own policy. The nearest: St Benildus College (0.9 km), St Raphaela's Secondary School (1.1 km) and St. Tiernan's Community School (1.5 km). Post-primary choices ↓
Few schools in DEIS
Just 5 of the 67 schools here get DEIS support for disadvantaged areas; 30% do across Ireland. In DEIS: Ballinteer Community School (415), St. Tiernan's Community School (368), Queen of Angels Primary School (224), Scoil Naisiunta an Dea Aoire (209) and Our Ladys N.S. (176). Who goes there ↓
Drawn from the Department of Education’s lists; none of it judges how well a school teaches.
The 67 schools in and around Sandyford
Each school in or within 3 km of Sandyford links to a page of its own. These schools carry no letter or result: Ireland doesn’t release them school by school.
Show all 41 primary schools
Where the 67 schools in and around Sandyford 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 Sandyford’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 Sandyford
The schools by teaching language, with Ireland’s share as the black tick.
8 of Sandyford’s 67 schools teach every subject through Irish: Gaelscoil Thaobh na Coille, Gaelscoil na Fuinseoige and Gaelscoil Laighean.
Who Sandyford’s schools serve
How the area’s pupils divide, against Co. Dublin’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 Sandyford | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at DEIS schools | 5% | 28% | 27% |
| Pupils at all-Irish schools | 10% | 6% | 6% |
| Girls | 54% | 49% | 49% |
| Post-primary pupils at single-sex schools | 54% | 38% | 29% |
| Post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools | 38% | 18% | 6% |
5% of the pupils around Sandyford are at a DEIS school, fewer than the 27% across Ireland (28% in Co. Dublin). The biggest difference from Ireland is in post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools: 38% here, 6% there. Of the DEIS schools here, Ballinteer Community School is the biggest: 415 pupils.
Each of the 67 schools
| School | Pupils | Girls | DEIS | All-Irish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST Olaf's National SchoolPrimary | 591 | 48% | ||
| Queen of Angels Primary SchoolPrimary | 224 | 47% | ✓ | |
| St. Mary's National SchoolPrimary | 242 | 49% | ||
| St Benildus CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 949 | 0% | ||
| St Michaels Hse Spec ScSpecial | 68 | 22% | ||
| Taney N.S.Primary | 384 | 47% | ||
| St. Tiernan's Community SchoolPost-primary · Community school | 368 | 42% | ✓ | |
| Ballinteer Educate Together National SchoolPrimary | 399 | 46% | ||
| St Raphaelas N.S.Primary | 375 | 100% | ||
| Holy Cross N.S.Primary | 260 | 44% | ||
| St Raphaela's Secondary SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 637 | 100% | ||
| Rosemont SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 307 | 100% | ||
| S.N. Cnoc AinbhilPrimary | 434 | 100% | ||
| Wesley CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 942 | 49% | ||
| Stepaside Educate Together National SchoolPrimary | 542 | 48% | ||
| Gaelscoil Thaobh na CoillePrimary | 402 | 52% | ✓ | |
| S.N. Naomh LorcanPrimary | 390 | 0% | ||
| St Brigids N.S.Primary | 100 | 44% | ||
| Goatstown Educate Together Secondary SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 366 | 45% | ||
| Mount Anville Secondary SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 726 | 100% | ||
| Holy Trinity National SchoolPrimary | 586 | 46% | ||
| St Attractas Senior N.S.Primary | 371 | 41% | ||
| Oatlands Primary School, An Edmund Rice SchoolPrimary | 428 | 33% | ||
| Goatstown Stillorgan Primary SchoolPrimary | 170 | 46% | ||
| St Attractas Junior N.S.Primary | 337 | 54% | ||
| Gaelscoil na FuinseoigePrimary | 441 | 49% | ✓ | |
| Stepaside Educate Together Secondary SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 741 | 44% | ||
| Gaelscoil LaigheanPrimary | 130 | 55% | ✓ | |
| Loreto College FoxrockPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 660 | 100% | ||
| Oatlands CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 623 | 0% | ||
| S.N. San TreasaPrimary | 430 | 49% | ||
| Ballinteer Community SchoolPost-primary · Community school | 415 | 48% | ✓ | |
| Scoil NaithiPrimary | 231 | 51% | ✓ | |
| St Patricks GNSPrimary | 478 | 100% | ||
| Our lady's Grove Primary SchoolPrimary | 409 | 52% | ||
| Our Lady's Grove Secondary SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 295 | 100% | ||
| Scoil Padraig Naofa BPrimary | 499 | 0% | ||
| Scoil an Maighdine Mhuire BoysPrimary | 176 | 0% | ||
| Na Maighdine Muire GirlPrimary | 200 | 99% | ||
| St Augustines SchoolSpecial | 157 | 42% | ||
| All Saints N.S.Primary | 51 | 41% | ||
| Our Ladys N.S.Primary | 176 | 47% | ✓ | |
| Islamic National SchoolPrimary | 414 | 50% | ||
| Gaelscoil Shliabh RuaPrimary | 359 | 52% | ✓ | |
| St Kilian's Deutsche SchulePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 475 | 43% | ||
| St Brigids Boys N.S.Primary | 406 | 0% | ||
| De La Salle CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 463 | 22% | ||
| Newpark Comprehensive SchoolPost-primary · Comprehensive | 884 | 47% | ||
| Scoil Naisiunta an Dea AoirePrimary | 209 | 47% | ✓ | |
| Marley Grange N.S.Primary | 461 | 44% | ||
| Coláiste EoinPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 517 | 0% | ✓ | |
| Coláiste ÍosagáinPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 488 | 100% | ✓ | |
| Kill-O'-The-Grange N.S.Primary | 208 | 53% | ||
| Carysfort N.S.Primary | 583 | 57% | ||
| Rathfarnham Educate TogetherPrimary | 188 | 54% | ||
| Scoil na nAingealPrimary | 410 | 48% | ||
| St Columba's CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 357 | 45% | ||
| Booterstown N.S.Primary | 85 | 54% | ||
| Rockford Manor Secondary SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 273 | 100% | ||
| Dominican CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 521 | 100% | ||
| Clochar Loreto N.S.Primary | 445 | 99% | ||
| St Andrews CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 1,011 | 52% | ||
| Our Lady of Mercy Convent SchoolPrimary | 247 | 100% | ||
| Clonkeen CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 635 | 0% | ||
| Alexandra CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 664 | 100% | ||
| St Brigids Girls N.S.Primary | 499 | 100% | ||
| Gaelcholáiste an PhiarsaighPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 296 | 55% | ✓ |
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.
Who runs Sandyford’s schools
Who runs each school, as listed for 2025/26; the bars give the share of schools of each kind.
43 of Sandyford’s 67 schools have a Catholic ethos, against 80% across Ireland. The patrons with most schools here: Archbishop of Dublin (28), Educate Together (6) and Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COI (5). 5 of the 67 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.
The 20 patrons of Sandyford’s schools
The patron owns the school and sets its ethos; a board of management runs it day to day.
20 patrons run the 67 schools around Sandyford; the largest, Archbishop of Dublin, has 28 of them and 37% of the pupils. 2 are ETB schools. Educate Together runs 6.
| Patron | Ethos | Schools | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop of DublinST Olaf's, Holy Trinity, Carysfort, Scoil Padraig Naofa B, St Brigids Girls, St Patricks GNS, Marley Grange, Clochar Loreto, S.N. Cnoc Ainbhil, S.N. San Treasa, Oatlands Primary School, An Edmund Rice School, Scoil na nAingeal, Our lady's Grove Primary School, St Brigids Boys, S.N. Naomh Lorcan, St Raphaelas, St Attractas Senior, St Attractas Junior, Holy Cross, Our Lady of Mercy Convent School, St. Mary's, Scoil Naithi, Queen of Angels Primary School, Scoil Naisiunta an Dea Aoire, Na Maighdine Muire Girl, Scoil an Maighdine Mhuire Boys, Our Ladys, St Augustines School | Catholic | 28 | 10,254 |
| Educate TogetherStepaside Educate Together, Stepaside Educate Together, Ballinteer Educate Together, Goatstown Educate Together, Rathfarnham Educate Together, Goatstown Stillorgan Primary School | Multi-denominational | 6 | 2,406 |
| An Foras PátrúnachtaGaelscoil na Fuinseoige, Gaelscoil Thaobh na Coille, Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua, Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh, Gaelscoil Laighean | Multi-denominational, Catholic | 5 | 1,628 |
| Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COITaney, Kill-O'-The-Grange, St Brigids, Booterstown, All Saints | Church of Ireland | 5 | 828 |
| Edmund Rice Schools TrustClonkeen College, Oatlands College, Coláiste Eoin, Coláiste Íosagáin | Catholic | 4 | 2,263 |
| Le Chéile Schools TrustSt Benildus College, Dominican College, De La Salle College, Our Lady's Grove | Catholic | 4 | 2,228 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB & Carmelite Order (Irish Province)Ballinteer, St. Tiernan's | Inter-denominational | 2 | 783 |
| Board of Governors of St Andrew's CollegeSt Andrews College | Presbyterian | 1 | 1,011 |
| Conference of the Methodist Church in IrelandWesley College | Methodist | 1 | 942 |
| Minister for EducationNewpark Comprehensive School | Church of Ireland | 1 | 884 |
| Mount Anville Sacred Heart Education TrustMount Anville | Catholic | 1 | 726 |
| Council of Alexandra CollegeAlexandra College | Church of Ireland | 1 | 664 |
| Loreto Education TrustLoreto College Foxrock | Catholic | 1 | 660 |
| Handmaids of the Sacred HeartSt Raphaela's | Catholic | 1 | 637 |
| Der Deutsche SchulvereinSt Kilian's Deutsche Schule | Inter-denominational | 1 | 475 |
| Islamic Foundation of IrelandIslamic | Muslim | 1 | 414 |
| Body of Fellows of St Columba's CollegeSt Columba's College | Church of Ireland | 1 | 357 |
| FamedRosemont School | Catholic | 1 | 307 |
| CEISTRockford Manor | Catholic | 1 | 273 |
| St Michael's HouseSt Michaels Hse Spec Sc | Catholic | 1 | 68 |
Department of Education school lists: patron 2024/25, ethos 2025/26.
How children get a place in Sandyford
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 8 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
19 schools here have grown by 5% or more since 2019/20, 23 have shrunk by as much, out of 62; across Ireland: +5%.
All 62 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 Sandyford’s schools
The Department of Education’s Inspectorate: every school’s reports linked, none rated
Each school is visited by inspectors from time to time, for a whole-school evaluation of teaching, learning and leadership, for one subject, or to follow up earlier advice, and every report is posted on gov.ie with the school’s response.
The reports describe what inspectors saw and what each school should do next. They give no overall grade, so none is shown here; the 67 schools below each link their own.
Department of Education Inspectorate reports on gov.ie, found by each school’s roll number.
Post-primary schools within reach of Sandyford
Post-primary schools within 10 km of the town; children move at about twelve, and families apply to each school
91 post-primary schools are within 10 km of Sandyford: 75 voluntary secondary schools, 9 ETB schools, 6 community schools and one comprehensive school. 41 of them are single-sex, 23 for girls and 18 for boys. Fees are charged at 31 of them. Every subject is taught through Irish at 4 of them.
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Benildus CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 949 | 0.9 km |
| St Raphaela's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 637 | 1.1 km |
| St. Tiernan's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 368 | 1.5 km |
| Wesley CollegeVoluntary secondary · Methodist | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 942 | 1.7 km |
| Mount Anville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 726 | 1.8 km |
| Oatlands CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 623 | 2 km |
| Rosemont SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 307 | 2 km |
| Goatstown Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 366 | 2.2 km |
| Stepaside Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 741 | 2.4 km |
| Loreto College FoxrockVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 660 | 2.8 km |
| Our Lady's Grove Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 295 | 2.9 km |
| Ballinteer Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 415 | 2.9 km |
All 91 post-primary schools within reach
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coláiste ÍosagáinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Gaelcholáiste | 488 | 3 km |
| Coláiste EoinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Gaelcholáiste | 517 | 3 km |
| St Kilian's Deutsche SchuleVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 475 | 3.1 km |
| Newpark Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 884 | 3.3 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 521 | 3.3 km |
| St Andrews CollegeVoluntary secondary · Presbyterian | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 3.4 km |
| Blackrock CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 1,041 | 3.5 km |
| Willow Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 206 | 3.6 km |
| St Columba's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 357 | 3.6 km |
| De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 463 | 3.8 km |
| Rockford Manor Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 273 | 3.8 km |
| Clonkeen CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 635 | 4.1 km |
| The Teresian SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 230 | 4.3 km |
| Alexandra CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls | Fee-paying, Boarding | 664 | 4.3 km |
| Gaelcholáiste an PhiarsaighVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 296 | 4.5 km |
| Loreto High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 625 | 4.7 km |
| St Michaels CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 731 | 4.7 km |
| Christian Brothers CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 549 | 4.9 km |
| The High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 811 | 4.9 km |
| Gonzaga CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 576 | 4.9 km |
| Cabinteely Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 512 | 5.1 km |
| Stratford CollegeVoluntary secondary · Jewish | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 189 | 5.2 km |
| Muckross Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 709 | 5.2 km |
| Holy Child Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 275 | 5.4 km |
| Sandford Park School LtdVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 437 | 5.4 km |
| Blackrock Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 236 | 5.5 km |
| Coláiste ÉannaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 618 | 5.5 km |
| Rockbrook Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 186 | 5.7 km |
| Sancta Maria CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 577 | 5.8 km |
| Our Ladys SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 5.8 km |
| St Conleths CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 339 | 5.9 km |
| Rathdown SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 364 | 5.9 km |
| Presentation Community CollegeETB · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 443 | 5.9 km |
| St Louis High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 690 | 6 km |
| St Laurence CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 302 | 6 km |
| Terenure CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 800 | 6.1 km |
| Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 6.2 km |
| Marian CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 319 | 6.3 km |
| St Joseph Of Cluny Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 270 | 6.3 km |
| St. Colmcille's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 727 | 6.4 km |
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., RathminesVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 500 | 6.5 km |
| Harolds Cross Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 6.5 km |
| Templeogue CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 637 | 6.9 km |
| Catholic University SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 544 | 6.9 km |
| Christian Brothers, Synge St.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 256 | 7.1 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 588 | 7.1 km |
| Holy Child KillineyVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 382 | 7.4 km |
| Ringsend CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 191 | 7.4 km |
| Rosary CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 250 | 7.5 km |
| Clogher Road Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 7.6 km |
| C.B.S. Westland RowVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 7.6 km |
| St Mac Dara's Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 915 | 7.6 km |
| Presentation CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 262 | 7.7 km |
| Firhouse Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 411 | 7.7 km |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 302 | 7.8 km |
| Loreto Abbey Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 757 | 7.9 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 7.9 km |
| Tallaght Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 840 | 8.3 km |
| St Pauls Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 466 | 8.3 km |
| Greenhills CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 186 | 8.5 km |
| John Scottus Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 211 | 8.5 km |
| C.B.S. James StreetVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 251 | 8.5 km |
| Firhouse Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 825 | 8.7 km |
| Larkin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 403 | 8.8 km |
| Mount Carmel Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 386 | 9 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 9 km |
| St Pauls C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 244 | 9 km |
| Assumption Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 270 | 9.1 km |
| Coláiste de hÍdeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 266 | 9.1 km |
| Belvedere College S.JVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 9.2 km |
| O'Connell SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 222 | 9.3 km |
| Meanscoil Iognáid RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 521 | 9.3 km |
| Holy Faith Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 647 | 9.3 km |
| St Josephs Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 283 | 9.4 km |
| Woodbrook CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 623 | 9.4 km |
| Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 349 | 9.6 km |
| St Josephs C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 310 | 9.7 km |
| Marino CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 9.8 km |
| St. Gerard's SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 623 | 9.9 km |
Department of Education post-primary list 2025/26; straight-line distances from the town’s centre point.
Special schools and classes around Sandyford
2 special schools serve the area: St Michaels Hse Spec Sc and St Augustines School, 225 pupils between them. 13 of the 41 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.
Sandyford beside the 88 other Irish towns of 6,200 to 11,900 people
Schools in or within 3 km of each town, by population; none is ranked, as Ireland publishes no results
| Town | People | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavan | 11,741 | 14 | 4,634 | 1 | 29% | 1.2 km |
| … | ||||||
| Trim | 9,563 | 7 | 3,065 | 1 | 14% | 0.5 km |
| Glasnevin | 9,299 | 145 | 39,626 | 10 | 59% | 0.5 km |
| Portarlington | 9,288 | 5 | 2,657 | 0 | 0% | 1.3 km |
| Waterford City Centre | 9,031 | 33 | 12,411 | 2 | 39% | 0.5 km |
| Sandyford | 8,844 | 67 | 27,808 | 8 | 8% | 0.9 km |
| Lusk | 8,806 | 11 | 4,510 | 1 | 0% | 0.9 km |
| Raheny | 8,734 | 70 | 21,242 | 4 | 34% | 0.9 km |
| Ballyvolane | 8,707 | 60 | 16,728 | 8 | 45% | 1.9 km |
| Kilcock | 8,674 | 4 | 2,202 | 1 | 0% | 0.6 km |
| … | ||||||
| Lisduggan | 6,216 | 29 | 11,782 | 1 | 45% | 0.2 km |
Of the other 88 towns, 19 have more pupils at the schools around them than Sandyford. Teaching through Irish is on offer within 3 km in 85 of the 89.
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary); CSO Census 2022 populations.
Pupil numbers around Sandyford
Each September’s pupils at every school in or within 3 km of the town, counted where the school stands today.
The schools in and around Sandyford had 24,694 pupils in 2015/16 and 27,808 in 2025/26. Stepaside Educate Together Secondary School grew most: +246% since 2019/20.
Pupils at schools in and around Sandyford
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 Sandyford
For each nearby town, its schools in or within 3 km of its outline, with straight-line distances.
| Town | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandyford | 67 | 27,808 | 8 | 8% | 0.9 km |
| Stillorgan 1.3 km | 81 | 32,574 | 8 | 7% | 0.4 km |
| Dundrum 1.9 km | 89 | 35,482 | 10 | 7% | 0.4 km |
| Stepaside 2.1 km | 73 | 25,639 | 5 | 14% | 0.9 km |
| Ballinteer 2.6 km | 72 | 28,624 | 5 | 8% | 0.5 km |
| Blackrock 2.8 km | 66 | 25,764 | 6 | 11% | 0.8 km |
| Clonskeagh 3.2 km | 106 | 39,846 | 10 | 10% | 0.3 km |
Dundrum has the most schools teaching through Irish nearby: 10. Pupils around Sandyford: +7% since 2019/20. Among the neighbours, Stepaside led (+8%) and Ballinteer trailed (+3%).
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Which schools count. Every school in Sandyford 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 Sandyford
How many schools are there in Sandyford?
In Sandyford or within 3 km of it: 41 primary schools, 24 secondary schools and 2 special schools, with 27,808 pupils between them.
Are there schools in Sandyford that teach through Irish?
Yes, 8: Gaelscoil Thaobh na Coille, Gaelscoil na Fuinseoige and Gaelscoil Laighean teach every subject through Irish.
Are there fee-paying secondary schools near Sandyford?
8 of the 24: Rosemont School, Wesley College, Mount Anville Secondary School and Loreto College Foxrock. The others are free.
What is the best school in Sandyford?
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 Sandyford?
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).