APPLY NOW!

 

Applications are now open for students joining John Scottus Secondary School in Old Conna for the 2027–2028 school year. 

Thank you to every family who came to our Open Days in September. Many of our current students made up their minds on that first visit, walking the grounds, talking with a teacher, or touring the school with a Sixth Year student who made it feel like home. One of last year’s Head Boys told us he chose John Scottus largely because of the student who showed him around on Open Day. Six years later, he was the one giving the tours. 

If you’re thinking about John Scottus for your child, here’s what school life looks like: 

A school small enough to know every student 

When we ask parents why they chose John Scottus, they give us the same answers year after year: small classes, individual attention, and teachers who know each student by name and notice how they’re really doing. They also mention a kind, inclusive atmosphere where young people feel safe being themselves. 

We stay small on purpose. It means a teacher can spot when a student is doing well and when they need a little more support. Our Care Team, which includes our Guidance Counsellor, looks after students’ wellbeing across all six years. 

Starting secondary school is a big step, and nobody takes it alone. Through our Buddy Programme, incoming First Years are paired with a senior student who helps them settle in from day one. Buddies show them the ropes, answer the small questions that crop up in those early weeks, and make sure there’s always a friendly face in the corridor. The programme is part of our house system, where every student from First Year to Sixth Year belongs to one of six houses. Friendships form across year groups, and the move to secondary school goes smoothly, with plenty of fun along the way. 

Philosophy and stillness in the rhythm of the day 

Three times a week, the whole school gathers for assembly. Along with the usual notices, students and teachers think through questions like What would a wise person do?, Do I give more than I take? and Why be still? Students often contribute their own music and speeches. 

Parents often tell us that the moments of stillness and mindfulness in the school day were what drew them to John Scottus. In a busy, high-pressure world, students learn to pause, gather their attention and give it fully to the task in front of them. That habit helps them in exams, and in life. 

This kind of thinking carries into the classroom too. Last year’s National Philosophy Challenge, run with An Taisce, had the theme “Who Matters on Earth?” Two John Scottus students were shortlisted in the top seven from hundreds of entries across the country. 

Strong results and many paths forward 

We care deeply about academic achievement, and our students go on to excellent things. 

From the Class of 2026: 

• Over 96% were offered places on further and higher education courses 

• 72% accepted Level 7 and Level 8 courses at Trinity College Dublin, UCD, University of Limerick, IADT, TU Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast 

• Their courses include Aeronautical Engineering, Veterinary Bioscience, Biomedicine, Science, Psychology, Art, Film, Humanities, Social Sciences and Sports Management 

• 24% accepted PLC courses as a stepping stone to higher education, and a small number chose a gap year to travel before applying 

From Transition Year onwards, our Guidance Counsellor helps students with work experience, CAO and UCAS applications, apprenticeships and every other route a young person might take. The goal is simple: each student should find the path that suits them. 

Learning goes well beyond the timetable. Theme weeks in Maths, Science, Literacy, Philosophy, Wellbeing and more keep students curious all year. Last year, a team of our students finished 7th out of 30 schools at the first IMTA Oldham Maths Competition for Girls. 

Students who find their voice 

Every May, our Annual Speech Competition gives students the stage. Last May’s speeches covered everything from neurodiversity to the future of politics, from the irony of banning dystopian literature to why everything will be OK. One of the external judges was a past pupil, a former speech competition winner who is now studying at Trinity. 

Students also write poetry and prose for our annual Writing Competition, take part in debating, run a school newspaper and take on leadership roles. We choose our Student Leadership Team by interview, and each year’s team organises Founders’ Day, Halloween and Christmas events, fundraisers and much more. As one outgoing Head Girl put it, the experience taught her “you are capable of so much more than you think.” 

 

Transition Year that opens up the world 

Transition Year at John Scottus is full of real experience. Last year’s TY students: 

• Travelled to China, exploring Beijing and the Great Wall, then taking the bullet train to Xi’an, where a partner school welcomed them and they spent a night in its dormitories 

• Took the train to Galway, managed their own food budget, cooked together in a hostel and cycled to Dún Aonghasa on Inis Mór 

• Staged High School Musical at the Mermaid Theatre in Bray for a record audience of 400 people 

• Completed First Aid and CPR training, driver education and a barista course, and investigated a historical case in a forensics workshop 

Sport, clubs and the outdoors 

Our campus at Old Conna gives students green space, a grass pitch and room to breathe. There’s even a school weather station in the garden. 

Students can choose from a wide range of clubs, including Music, Art, Debating, Film, Book Club, Origami, Board Games, Dungeons and Dragons, Culture Club and Global Citizen Education. Sport is open to everyone, whatever their experience, with Soccer, Hockey, Basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, Athletics, Golf and Badminton on offer. 

Some highlights from 2025–2026: 

• Our Boys’ U16 basketball team won the school’s first-ever basketball trophy 

• Our Third Year girls won the Junior Girls Ultimate Frisbee Cup without losing a game, and also took the Spirit Prize, which every competing team votes on for fair play 

• Three of our girls’ soccer teams reached their Dublin finals 

• One of our athletes finished second at the Leinster Championships 

Six houses compete for the House Cup at Sports Day, and the whole school travels together to Glendalough each autumn for Founders’ Day. Year groups also take trips to the Killary Adventure Centre, Nice, Italy and the ski slopes. 

 

A community of many cultures 

Our students come from 32 different cultures. During Multicultural Week, they fill the school with information stands and homemade food from around the world. Seachtain na Gaeilge brings a week-long Irish-speaking challenge, a whole-school céilí and a pop-up Gaeltacht run by Fifth Year students. 

Our approach to global citizenship follows the principle “May all be happy.” Last year students raised money for Focus Ireland, Pieta House, Make-A-Wish, the Ocean Cleanup, DSPCA and others. Their CSPE projects included a beach clean-up at Brittas Bay, a football tournament, and walking 10,000 steps a day to raise €700 for the Irish Heart Foundation. 

The Happy Pear provides lunch, and a student food committee helps shape the menu. 

 

How to apply 

Entry year(s): First Year, Second Year, and several upper-grade spots available.
Application deadline: October 31, 2026
Apply online: Apply

If you’d like to visit the school or have questions about admissions, please email us at secondary@johnscottusoldconna.ie or call +353 (1) 668 0828 

We look forward to meeting your family and welcoming you into the John Scottus community.