The Irish school year for primary school children stretches from 1 September to 30 June approximately. The school day starts at about 9.20 and ends at 3pm.

Children start school from around the age of 4 or 5 years and leave when they are 12 or 13 years of age.The primary school cycle is 8 years long.

Schools generally have 2 years of infant classes, followed by class 1 to class 6.
Compared to the UK - children will leave primary school 1 year later than they would in the UK.
State primary schools used to be known as "national schools" and they are still called this by many people.
Find an Irish primary school near you.

Curriculum - The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has plenty of detail of what the Primary curriculum is supposed to cover. Irish Language is compulsory if you arrive in Ireland before you are eleven years old.

The curriculum covers - Languages, Mathematics, Social, environmental and scientific education, Arts, (including visual arts, music and drama) Physical education, Social, personal and health education .

There are no formal exams or SATS as there are in the UK. There is less pressure and more emphasis on an all round education rather than just passing tests.

Books are not supplied by the school - text books or books for writing (known as copies)

Books are either purchased from a shop or "rented" from the school. This extra cost needs to be included in your budget. People with Medical Cards (on lower income) can apply for a back to school grant each year - which helps. You can try and buy secondhand books on Book Exchange

To apply to a school - just apply directly to the school of your choice. Ask for their admissions policy and check whether you need to register your child's name on a waiting list.

More information about Irish primary schools can be found on the excellent Scoilnet website