St. James's Primary School

St James’s Primary School is a safe, happy and friendly place where our children are given every opportunity to develop and grow physically, spiritually, intellectually and socially.

Our aim is to be a centre of academic excellence with great concern for children at risk. We strive to ensure that we discover at least one strength of each child before they leave our care.

Our school aims to instil in all our pupils a great sense of worth and uniqueness, thereby enabling them to develop to their full potential.

Our school welcomes parent involvement and participation at every level through Parent’s Association, Board of Management and Home School Liaison Activities.

Our School Provides

• A quality holistic education in a welcoming school environment.
• An excellent academic programme ensuring that each child reaches his her potential.
• Experienced, committed and caring staff.
• Opportunities for active parental participation in the education process, with support from the Home School Community Liason Coordinator.
• Stimulating classroom environments that appeal to the sensory development of your child.
• Creative teaching styles to suit all types of learners.
• A book rental scheme for textbooks.
• Whole school promotion of social and emotional well-being.
• Pre-school and after school facilities on campus.
• Links to community breakfast and afterschool clubs.
• Adult education centre on campus.

Creativity in the classroom grew out of the Canal Communities Partnership’s attempt to address social and educational disadvantage in a dynamic way, with the hope of eventually impacting on early school leaving endemic in our area. As a result of consultation with local schools, it was felt that through the visual arts children could be given the opportunity to have new learning experiences, an exposure to learning in a creative way, and at the same time exploring concepts and ways of working individually and collectively.

The project runs for thirty weeks in total in each of the six schools. This is divided into three groups of ten-week sessions. Therefore, three classes in each school are facilitated each year.

The basic materials used are paint, clay, fabric and fibre, chalk and oil pastels. Each school receives a budget for materials, documentation and transport.