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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How many pupils are there in each class?
  2. How many classes are there?
  3. What subjects do you teach?
  4. What time does the school open at?
  5. Are there any extra-curricular activities?
  6. Do public buses run by the school?
  7. What private buses serve the school?
  8. Where is the school located in Celbridge?
  9. Is there carparking space for parents?
  10. Is there space for children to park their bicycles?
  11. Do you have special needs teachers?
  12. What is the difference between an Educate Together school and a denominational school?
  13. Is religion taught in the school?
  14. What do parents do if they wish their children to receive First Communion and Confirmation?
  15. How is misbehaviour dealt with?
  16. Is there a fee to send my child to NKETNS?
  17. When should I enrol my child in NKETNS?
  18. When enrolling, do you need a copy of my child’s baptismal certificate?
  19. When do immunizations take place and what are they?
  20. When will I know if my child has a place in the school?
  21. Can I enrol my child for two seperate years?
  22. How much is it to hire a room in the school?
  23. What rules must I adhere to when hiring a room?
  24. What secondary schools do the children who go to NKETNS subsequently attend?
  25. Is there a lot of parental involvement?
  26. How many times a week do the children have PE?
  27. Is music taught in the school?
  28. Is there another language taught in the school apart from English and Irish?


1. How many pupils are there in each class?
The number of pupils in each class is largely determined by the schedule of appointments issued each year by the Department of Education and Science. At this point (2020-21), the average number of pupils in each class in the NKETNS is 29 to 30.

2. How many classes are there?
There are currently 14 classes in the school; double stream from Junior Infants to Fourth Class and single stream in Fifth and Sixth Class. There are also two outreach classes for children with Autism. The school will be fully two-stream by 2022.

3. What subjects do you teach?
The curriculum followed in the school is the Revised Curriculum laid down by the Department of Education and Science and the New Primary Language Curriculum. This is the same as any other primary school. The main curricular difference is in the teaching of Religious Education as opposed to Religious Instruction. This is what we refer to as the Learn Together Programme

4. What time does the school open at?
The school opens at 8.40am every day. Classes end for the Infants at 1.20pm and for First to Sixth classes at 2.20pm.

5. Are there any extra-curricular activities?
Extra-curricular activities vary from year to year and include sports such as tennis and soccer. In “normal times’ there are also classes for drama, yoga, science, art and ‘Stretch ‘n’ Grow’ organised on a year to year basis. The school is also used as a practice venue for the Liffey Valley orchestra and many pupils from the school are part of the orchestra. Any parent who wishes to organise an extra-curricular activity can take this up with the Board of Management.

6. Do public buses run by the school?
The 67 bus serves Celbridge village which is a 15-20 minute walk from the school. The Bus Eireann services to Clane, Straffan and Edenderry stop outside St Wolstan’s Girls’ School which is a 5 minute walk from the NKETNS.
There is a subsidised bus service for children who live in outlying areas of Celbridge such as Castletown and Crodaun and for children who live in Leixlip and Maynooth. Parents have to get their children to the nearest pick-up point and please note that this service operates in the morning and at 2.20pm only – it does not operate at 1.20pm.

7. What private buses serve the school?
There are a number of local creches who pick children up from the school at 1.20pm and again at 2.20pm. The arrangements change on a year on year basis so contact the office for up to date information.

8. Where is the school located in Celbridge?
The school is off the Clane Road, behind St Wolstan’s Girls’ Community School. Go to the Home Page to find us on Google Maps.

9. Is there carparking space for parents?
Yes. There is a public car park just outside the school gate.

10. Is there space for children to park their bicycles?
Yes. Children can park their bicycles inside the school grounds and since our new bike racks arrived in 2021 there’s even more space for bikes!

11. Do you have special needs teachers?
Yes. The allocation of Special Needs teachers (SETs) is determined by the Department of Education based on the number of children enrolled in the school. Some children with specific learning needs may be accorded individual teaching time and this is on a case-by-case basis. See Staff List

12. What is the difference between an Educate Together school and a denominational school?
Check out www.educatetogether.ie  for the answer to this question.

13. Is religion taught in the school?
Educate Together schools teach religious education. This means that we offer children information about all the major belief systems such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Humanism. We do not prepare children to receive sacraments as is the case in denominational schools. NKETNS does not promote any one religion or belief system.

14. What do Roman Catholic parents do if they wish their children to receive First Communion and Confirmation?
There are Catholic Religious Instruction classes held in the school on Wednesday nights. Children who attend these classes can make their First Holy Communion and Confirmation with other local schools. These classes are organised by parents and are completely separate from the curriculum taught in the NKETNS. The Board of Management would be happy to facilitate any other group of parents who wish to organise instruction in their particular faith on the same basis as that currently used by the Roman Catholic group.

15. How is misbehaviour dealt with?
Misbehaviour is dealt with by referring to our Code of Behaviour.

16. Is there a fee to send my child to NKETS?
No.

17. When should I enrol my child in NKETNS?
As soon as you can. Many people enrol their children shortly after birth and we have waiting lists for classes up to 2021.

18. When enrolling, do you need any documentation?
We don’t need any documentation at the time you enrol your child, but we will need a copy of your child’s Birth Certificate if your child secures a place in the school. We never require a baptismal certificate as this is only the practice in denominational schools.

19. When will I know if my child has a place in the school?
We contact parents in January of the year in which their child is due to start school. If we offer a place and don’t hear back from you we will offer it to someone else and that place will be lost. If you don’t hear from us and believe you should receive an offer, it is up to you to contact the school. It is the responsibility of parents to advise the school of any change in your contact details e.g. address, telephone number etc.

20. Can I enrol my child for two separate years?
No.

21. How much is it to hire a room in the school?
Our standard charge is €20.00 per room per hour. The rate for hiring the school hall is €30.00.

22. What secondary schools do the children who go to NKETNS subsequently attend?
Pupils from the NKETNS attend a large number of Post-Primary schools. Among the most popular would be Celbridge Community School which is under the joint patronage of ET and the ETB, St Wolstan’s and the Salesian College which are all in Celbridge, Coláiste Ciaran and Confey College in Leixlip, Maynooth Post Primary in Maynooth and King’s Hospital in Palmerstown.

23. Is there a lot of parental involvement?
Yes. It’s one of the features of our school; we welcome and encourage parental involvement at many levels of school life.

24. How many times a week do the children have PE?
The children generally have PE twice a week.

25. Is music taught in the school?
Yes. Music is one of the subjects in the Revised curriculum and therefore it is taught in the NKETNS. We hold an annual Music Week in the first term at which we invite performers into the school and run a talent show for the children, amongst other things. This is a good opportunity for parents to share their love of music with the children in the school.

26. Is there another language taught in the school apart from English and Irish?
No.