About
Welcome from our Principal, Anne Marie
At Dún Laoghaire ETNS, everyone is welcome. We are made up of a diverse community of people from all over the world — different backgrounds, genders, races, and religions. We take pride in our strong sense of community and we foster a sense of belonging where everyone feels valued and supported.
We are an equality-based, co-educational school. Unlike traditional Irish primary schools, we are not affiliated with any religion. Instead of faith instruction, we have an ethical curriculum called Learn Together.
Our progressive approach to learning puts an emphasis on well-being and inclusivity. We make sure students and parents feel seen and heard. And we believe this ethos helps children feel happier, more settled, and therefore better set up to embrace their full potential.
Our Vision
In the words of our children, our parents and our staff, our school vision is…
To have a school that is full of happy children, who are friendly, kind and caring to each other. Children who are respectful and who are respected; children that are good listeners and who are listened to; children who can give their opinions and have them considered by all. Our children all come from different backgrounds and different families and these differences are respected and celebrated so that we all feel we belong.
To have a school that is full of adults who are helpful, understanding and friendly. School staff who you can talk to, who are nice and fun and fair. To have a school with parents who are involved in the school and are supportive of creating a diverse learning environment.
To have a school that has a rich learning environment, where the learning is fun, interactive and creative. The learning takes place inside & outside, is active and is quiet, and where we all learn from each other, not just the teachers.
We use a lot of play and games to learn; we invent, design and create things; we do experiments and investigations to learn. We learn lots of different things and children feel both supported and challenged. In school, we have a focus on looking after our environment and looking after ourselves; we learn how to look after our bodies and our minds.
Ethos and Principles
Co-Educational
All children are encouraged to explore their full range of abilities and are provided with equal opportunities regardless of their gender or identity.
Equality Based
All children have equal access to the school and no one religion or worldview is given priority over another within the school.
Democratically Run
We run schools on a democratic basis, encouraging active participation by parents and students, whilst positively affirming the professional role of the teachers.
Child Centred
Our child-centred approach means that we put children at the heart of all policies and practices and involve them in decision-making where appropriate.
Our Team
At DLETNS, trust between children and teachers is very important. Children call teachers by their first names — and they were even trusted to draw the portraits of the team that you see below!
Aisling
Additional Needs Assistant
Emma
Additional Needs Assistant
Louise
First Class Teacher
Líadan
Senior Infants Class Teacher
Fiona
Deputy Principal and AEN Teacher
Anne Marie
Principal
Tomás
Fourth / Fifth Class Teacher
Katherine
Second Class Teacher
Nikki
Additional Needs Assistant
Catherine
School Secretary
Seán Óg
English Language Teacher
Sarah-Louise
Assistant Principal and Junior Infant Class Teacher
Karen
Additional Education Needs Teacher
Ed
Additional Needs Assistant
Katie
Additional Needs Assistant
Lauren
Additional Needs Assistant
Stephanie
Third Class Teacher
Allison
Additional Needs Assistant
Helena
Second Class Teacher
Trinity
Additional Education Needs Teacher
Rachel
Fifth / Sixth Class Teacher
Student Council
At Dún Laoghaire Educate Together, we empower student voices. Our Student Council, which is made from representatives from 2nd to 6th class, provides a platform for students to share ideas, represent their peers, and actively shape our school community.
Student Council members meet regularly to discuss and implement projects that improve school life, such as organising events, supporting local causes, and enhancing our school environment.
By participating in the Student Council, children develop valuable leadership, communication, and teamwork skills while learning about democracy and active citizenship. We are incredibly proud of the creativity and positive impact our student leaders have on our school.
Board of Management
The Board of Management (BOM) is the employer of the school and is legally responsible for everything that happens in the school. There are eight members on our BOM. These are:
● Paula Flinter, Chairperson
● Fergus Redahan, Patron Nominee
● Anne Marie Lillis, Principal & Board Secretary
● Fiona O’ Brien, Teacher Nominee
● Zoe Donnelly, Parent Nominee
● Ronan Gaughan, Parent Nominee
● Eimear Shanley, Community Nominee
● Ronan MacMuiris, Community Nominee
Green Schools
DLETNS is proud to be a Green School, committed to promoting environmental awareness and sustainability. We’re thrilled to have received our first Green School Flag, which recognises our efforts in managing waste effectively. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and the entire community in reducing waste and fostering a culture of recycling.
We’re excited to keep building on this success as we strive to make our school an even greener and more sustainable place for future generations. Together, we can make a positive impact on our environment!
We love our current school building. The new one will be even better.
-
This building project will provide state of the art facilities. It will comprise a new 16-classroom primary school, including two classrooms for children with additional educational needs, and a generous rooftop play area.
-
The new school will be located on the site of the old Dun Laoghaire fire station at 9 Bently Villas, Dún Laoghaire.
-
The Department of Education is responsible for building schools in Ireland. The current status of our school building project is that planning permission has been granted. The Department of Education is currently preparing the documents to go to tender, which we hope will happen in early-mid 2025.