Shellybanks ETNS and Ardee ETNS mark significant progress as purpose-built facilities take shape
Educate Together is delighted to announce significant progress in the delivery of two new permanent school buildings for its school network, marking major milestones for Shellybanks Educate Together National School in Sandymount, Dublin, and Ardee Educate Together National School in County Louth.
Shellybanks Educate Together National School
In 2021, planning permission was granted for two new schools on the Roslyn Park site in Sandymount—one of which is Shellybanks ETNS (primary school), alongside a new secondary school (Sandymount Park ETSS).
BAM builders commenced construction in summer 2024. The new buildings allow the school to move out of its temporary premises into a purpose-built, full-scale facility. The structure is set to deliver a substantial increase in space, including ample room for both mainstream and special education classrooms.
Since opening in 2014, Shellybanks ETNS has grown from strength to strength thanks to the partnership of pupils, staff, parents/guardians, the PTA and Board of Management. This spirit of collaboration is central to the school’s identity as an Educate Together school.
Twelve years later, the school community boasts 290 students, 22 teachers and 9 additional needs assistants. The national school has 17 classes, including three autism classes and has needed a new school building for some time now.
Speaking about the new building, Principal Aiveen Carr said:
“The new building is an incredible milestone for Shellybanks. The facilities are outstanding, and we are thrilled that our whole school community can enjoy them. Since opening in 2014, our amazing school has grown and developed through the hard work, dedication and support of our staff, parents and children. We are delighted to now be in our permanent home and are incredibly proud of how far we have come. We look forward to continuing to grow, learn and create wonderful memories together as we begin this exciting new chapter at Shellybanks.”
Ardee Educate Together National School
Ardee ETNS is celebrating its 25th anniversary at the end of this school year, marking a quarter-century of inclusive, equality-based education in County Louth. An equality-based and inclusive school, Ardee ETNS caters for all levels of diversity and was the only primary school in the town of Ardee to cater for both girls and boys from Junior Infants to 6th class for many years.
The school opened in September 2002 with just 17 pupils and two teachers in the Old School House on the Dundalk Road. It has since grown to approximately 200 pupils, 20 full-time teachers and 15 Special Needs Assistants.
Speaking about the school, Principal Ann Middleton said:
“Our Vision Statement is ‘Learn Together to Live Together’ and our Mission Statement is ‘No Child an Outsider.’ As a multi-denominational, multi-cultural, co-educational, child-centred and democratically run school, our pupils actively engage in academics, arts, sports, culture, information technology, citizenship and environment. Our overall aim is for every child to reach their absolute potential in a nurturing, caring and encouraging environment—as one parent described it, ‘this is much more like a big family than a school.'”
Ardee ETNS is a very active Green School with five Green Flags and has won numerous awards for its environmental and health work, including three Louth County Council Environment Awards, both Regional and National SuperValu Tidy Towns Awards, the National Woodies DIY School Vegetable Garden Award, and both Regional and National Lidl Fit Factor Awards. The school also holds the Yellow Healthy School Flag, the first Blue Activity Flag awarded in County Louth, and the Yellow Diversity Flag, which fits perfectly with its ethos as an Educate Together school.
However, the biggest prize of all is the granting of a new purpose-built, state-of-the-art school building on its own grounds. A full-size school complete with four special needs classes has been built and moved into. The modern design of the new school includes eight spacious mainstream classrooms as well as four specialist classes, a multi-purpose hall, sensory room, central activity spaces and outdoor ball court and play areas, which will allow children to learn, play and exercise in state-of-the-art educational facilities for many years into the future.
The last 25 years have been a story of success for Ardee ETNS and the next 25 years promise to be even better.
Educate Together’s Commitment
Equality-based school patron Educate Together will continue to advocate for school communities such as Ardee ETNS and Shellybanks ETNS, and to work closely with the Department and other stakeholders to ensure that the children and young people in our schools can learn in modern, appropriate and safe educational facilities.