Primary Schools

Tipperary ETB is the Patron of Nenagh Community National School, the county’s only multi-denominational and co-educational primary school. We are also Patron of Coláiste Shliabh na mBan, a high-support primary school for students with an identified Special Educational Need or whose diverse needs have not been met in mainstream education.

We are also Patrons of the new Nenagh Community Special School (CSS), opening for the 2025/26 academic year. We are committed to growing the presence of Community National Schools across Tipperary, offering a greater choice of education for young children and their parents.

Mary Hanna at Nenagh Community National School

Policies and information

Data and Records Retention Schedules

Nenagh Community National School (CNS)

Coláiste Shliabh na mBan

Nenagh Community Special School (CSS)

Community National Schools

Community National Schools (CNS) are State, co-educational, multi-denominational primary schools underpinned by five core values: Excellence, Care, Equality, Community and Respect.

CNSs are under the patronage of Education and Training Boards (ETBs), including Tipperary ETB. These schools give equal opportunities to all children in the communities they serve, and strive to provide high quality education through respectful, positive, supportive and responsive learning environments.

Woman speaking at a microphone with three people sitting listening

The Benefits

Community National Schools are publicly funded and publicly managed.
A primary school that recognises and celebrates the identity of all children equally.
Strives to provide all students with equal opportunities to engage with the curriculum and school life.
Our schools provide a safe physical and social environment that reinforces a sense of belonging to the school community and wider society.
They strive to enable every student to realise their full potential regardless of any aspect of their identity or background.
Our schools promote a fully inclusive education that recognises the plurality of identities, beliefs and values held by students, parents and staff.

Group of young children in Nenagh Community National School uniform with adults in the background

Goodness Me, Goodness You (GMGY)

Like all primary schools in Ireland, Community National Schools follow the Primary School Curriculum. As CNSs have a multi-denominational ethos, children also engage in a multi-belief and values education curriculum, Goodness Me, Goodness You! (GMGY).

New Community National Schools

Community National Schools open in new communities through one of two processes:

The establishment of a new school in areas of demographic growth,
The transfer of existing school patronage from another patron body to the local ETB.

The Department of Education (DE) decides where and when new schools are needed in areas of demographic growth. Parents who are eligible are asked to express their preference for the type of school they would like to be established through an Online Patronage Process System. If the majority of parents express their preference for a Community National School through this process, a CNS will be established in their area. For information on upcoming patronage competitions visit https://patronage.education.gov.ie/

Parents and local community members can support Community National Schools in upcoming patronage determination processes by expressing their interest on the CNS website – www.cns.ie

In communities where there is an interest in opening a CNS, but the establishment of a new primary school is not feasible, an existing school in the area may transfer patronage to the local ETB.

Where another patron, school or local community wishes to explore this option, they should visit the CNS Website https://cns.ie/becoming-a-cns/ and review the ETBI publication Becoming a CNS as well as contact their local ETB for more information.

More Information

https://cns.ie/

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