St. Mary's Secondary School New Ross

What St. Mary's Secondary School New Ross does

St. Mary's Secondary School, New Ross is a voluntary Catholic secondary school located in Irishtown, New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland, founded in 1856 by the Sisters of Mercy and currently operating under the trusteeship of CEIST (Catholic Education, an Irish Schools Trust). It serves approximately 670 students aged roughly 12–18 across six year groups, delivering Ireland's standard three-stage secondary education: a three-year Junior Cycle, an optional one-year Transition Year, and a two-year Senior Cycle offering the Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), and Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP). Day-to-day operations are led by a Principal (John Michael Porter, since 2011) and Deputy Principal, supported by approximately 50+ staff including teachers, SNAs, and administrative/caretaking personnel, on a single campus comprising 23 classrooms, specialist rooms, an international-sized Sports Hall, and extensive grounds.

The school's core product is the curriculum plus pastoral and extracurricular services, rather than a commercial technology platform. Its technology footprint is modest and operational: a WordPress-based school website with Google Analytics, a multi-feature School App (iOS and Android) handling sign-in/out, digital forms, online payments and parent communications, and integration links to third-party career and higher-education resources (CareerPortal.ie, CAO, UCAS, Qualifax, StudyClix, iRevise). There are no proprietary AI/ML systems or data products. Revenue is not commercially driven — Ireland provides free secondary education, and the school is funded primarily through Department of Education capitation grants. Ancillary recurring streams include a book rental scheme, term-based supervised study fees (Monday–Thursday and Friday), canteen services (including a free breakfast club), and donations plus Parents' Council fundraising. Marketing is community-led through open nights, a school website, Facebook, Instagram (@mercynewross123), Twitter/X (@mercynewross), and earned media for student achievements; admissions are handled directly via application forms and an Annual Admission Notice.

Strategically, the institution is in a steady-state with several maintenance-level signals rather than growth or contraction: a 2026 Principal succession process, a 2021 EU Digital Divide grant under the Irish National Recovery and Resilience Plan for student PCs, a 2025 Schools of Sanctuary Champion designation, and ongoing extracurricular achievement across sports, music and the arts (including SIAB international athletics silver and European U18 silver in 2026). Governance is consolidated under CEIST alongside 110+ other voluntary Catholic schools, and the school holds Fairtrade School status. The overall footprint is single-site domestic with no geographic expansion evident; growth, if any, is in depth of digital and pastoral service rather than scale.

Name

St. Mary's Secondary School New Ross

Legal name

St. Mary's Secondary School, New Ross

Website

https://stmarysnewross.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1856

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

St. Mary's Secondary School, New Ross is a voluntary Catholic secondary school in County Wexford, Ireland, founded in 1856 by the Sisters of Mercy and now under CEIST trusteeship, serving approximately 670 students through Junior Cycle, Transition Year and Senior Cycle programmes on a single campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

Keywords

• Secondary education
• Catholic school education
• Leaving Certificate preparation
• Extracurricular activities
• Student welfare support

Headquarters

HQ city

New Ross

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As a voluntary Catholic secondary school in Ireland, St. Mary's receives government funding under the Department of Education for secondary education provision. Ireland provides free secondary education for all students.
2. Book Rental Scheme: School operates a book rental scheme where books are provided to first-year students in core subjects and returned at end of third year. Senior cycle students receive Maths books. Revenue from rental fees.
3. Supervised Study: Supervised study available Monday-Thursday 4-6pm and Friday 1.45-3.45pm. Open to all year groups with payment on a term basis.
4. Canteen Services: School canteen provides breakfast club (cereal, tea, toast free of charge) and hot/cold lunches at reasonable charge daily.
5. Donations and Fundraising: School accepts donations to fund school resources via principal email. Parents' Council organizes fundraising events for school.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

St. Mary's is a Catholic voluntary secondary school delivering the Irish national curriculum across Junior Cycle (3 years), Transition Year (1-year bridge programme), and Senior Cycle (Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), and Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP)) to approximately 670 students aged 12-18. The school complements academic instruction with pastoral care, guidance counselling, additional educational support, supervised study, a book rental scheme, and a broad extracurricular programme in sports, music, social justice, and school tours.

Product overview

St. Mary's Secondary School New Ross is an educational institution offering a comprehensive secondary school programme with an inclusive, holistic approach to education. The school provides three core educational programmes: Junior Cycle (3-year), Transition Year (1-year bridge programme), and Senior Cycle (Leaving Certificate, LCA, and LCVP). These are supported by the School App, a digital platform for communications, attendance, and payments. Beyond academics, the school offers extensive extra-curricular activities including Music, Sports, Social Justice initiatives, and School of Sanctuary programme. The school also provides Student Awards ceremonies and uses EU Digital Divide funding to support digital equity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Junior Cycle Programme Three-year junior cycle programme covering English, Irish, Maths, History, Geography, Science, Religion, French/German, C.S.P.E., PE, Wellbeing, Music, Technical Graphics, Visual Art, Business Studies, and Home Economics, culminating in Classroom Based Assessments and the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement. Provided to first-, second-, and third-year students enrolled at the school.
• Transition Year Programme Optional one-year bridge programme between Junior and Senior Cycle focusing on personal, social, academic, and vocational development. Includes taster subjects, work experience, French/German exchanges, certification courses (ICDL, Gaisce President's Award, First Aid), and shared modules with Good Counsel College such as hillwalking.
• Senior Cycle Programme (Leaving Certificate, LCA, LCVP) Two-year senior cycle offering Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), and Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) with optional subjects including Business Studies, Economics, Chemistry, Home Economics, Music, French, PE, History, Accounting, Biology, Physics, Visual Art, DCG, German, and Geography. Provided to fifth- and sixth-year students.
• School Mobile Application Official private and secure mobile platform for current parents/guardians, students, and teachers providing communications, digital sign-in/out for students and visitors, digital forms, online payments, school information, and attendance forms. Available on iOS App Store and Google Play.
• Sports Programme Comprehensive school sports programme covering Gaelic Football, Camogie, Rugby, Soccer, Basketball, Equestrian, Swimming, and Athletics, delivered on the school's international-size Sports Hall, Games Field, Tennis Courts, and Basketball Court, with local, regional, and national competition opportunities.
• Music Programme School music programme including choir for liturgies and events, Open Night performances, carol sings for local care centres, 'The Big Busk' fundraising, 'Trad Tuesdays' for all year groups, and an annual Talent Show.
• Social Justice Programme Social justice initiatives including Fairtrade School status activities (workshops, Fairtrade Fortnight events), Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal, the People are People diversity group, Young St. Vincent de Paul (YSVP) working with the local SVP conference, and John Paul II Awards.
• School of Sanctuary Programme Inclusion programme learning about giving sanctuary to refugees, migrants, and marginalised groups, with activities promoting diversity, cultural understanding, and solidarity with vulnerable students and communities. School holds Champion School of Sanctuary status.
• School Tours and Trips Programme Programme of educational and recreational trips including 5th Year international trips (Paris, Munich, Barcelona, Amsterdam), TY language exchanges to France/Germany, career guidance trips to colleges, coursework trips, school spirit trips, and Transition Year outdoor education activities.
• Student Awards Programme Annual awards ceremony recognising student achievements in academics, sports, music, charitable organisations, and co-curricular activities, including the Catherine McCauley Award for leadership and school spirit.
• EU Digital Divide Funding Initiative Government-funded programme providing PCs and digital equipment to support students' digital participation and ensure equity of access to the curriculum, funded by the Irish National Recovery and Resilience Plan under NextGenerationEU.

Quantifiable outcome

• Strong athletic achievements at regional and international levels including U15 Soccer Leinster Champions, Tailteann Games Gold, SIAB International Championships representation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CEIST (Catholic Education, an Irish Schools Trust)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEIST is the trustee body for St. Mary's and over 110 other voluntary Catholic schools in Ireland. CEIST took over trusteeship from the Sisters of Mercy congregation. CEIST aims to continue nurturing and supporting the Catholic ethos so that values-based education remains available. The CEIST Charter expresses the values lived out in school, focused on wisdom, understanding life beyond knowledge, and appreciation of the dignity of others.
• Sisters of MercycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sisters of Mercy founded the school in 1856 and maintained ownership until transfer to CEIST. Founded by Catherine McAuley with primary objective of relief, education, and protection of the poor. Sister Mary Antonia Doyle was first Principal. The Mercy tradition continues to influence school ethos and values.
• Good Counsel CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransition Year students participate in shared modules and activities with Good Counsel College. Includes hillwalking and BBQ events shared between the two schools.
• Parents' CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStructure through which parents/guardians work together with Principal, Staff, and Board of Management for best possible education. Organises fundraising events for school. All parents/guardians welcome to join.
• Wexford Meitheal AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeitheal is a peer-support programme where 6th Years help 1st Years. Leaders selected through interviews with the Wexford Meitheal Alliance. Leaders spend a week training with other Wexford schools to develop skills.
• Local SVP Conference (St. Vincent de Paul)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerYoung St. Vincent de Paul (YSVP) works with local SVP conference. Organises Christmas hampers donated to local conference. Engages in random acts of kindness for school community.
• New Ross Swimming ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwimmers take advantage of excellent coaching at New Ross Swimming Club to represent the school. Swimmers have attained many individual and relay successes at various levels.
• New Ross Rugby Football ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal rugby coach runs training sessions with students and organises games against other schools. 1st year students participated in touch rugby blitz at Carlow RFC.
• Dunbrody Captain's Table RestaurantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLCA hospitality students visited the restaurant for educational tour. Kevin and Ken shared their experience and information about the hospitality industry with 5th Year LCA students.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CBS Wexford (Christian Brothers Secondary School): Faith-based secondary school in Wexford town under the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, serving a similar 12-18 cohort from the same county. Comparable in faith-based ethos and academic/vocational breadth.
• Coláiste Bríde, Enniscorthy: Co-educational Catholic secondary school in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, also under CEIST trusteeship. Comparable in scale, programme structure, and faith-based ethos, and draws from overlapping Wexford catchment.
• Presentation Secondary School, Wexford: Catholic secondary school in Wexford town under the Presentation Sisters tradition. Competes for the same Southeast Ireland secondary cohort with similar Junior/Senior Cycle programme structure.
• Meanscoil Gharman, Wexford: Community/ETB secondary school in Wexford serving the same Southeast Ireland catchment. Comparable in scale and curriculum (Junior Cycle, TY, Leaving Cert, LCA, LCVP) and a direct alternative for Wexford families.
• Good Counsel College, New Ross: Co-educational Catholic secondary school located in New Ross, directly serving the same catchment as St. Mary's. Already a working partner on Transition Year shared modules, it is the closest peer in size, ethos, and geography.
• Loreto Secondary School, Wexford: Catholic secondary school in Wexford town under the Loreto Sisters tradition. Serves the same 12-18 age band and competes for the same Wexford catchment with broadly parallel Leaving Certificate and LCA offerings.

Regional players

• Scoil Mhuire, Bunclody: Catholic secondary school in Bunclody on the Wexford–Carlow border, serving an overlapping Southeast Ireland catchment. Comparable faith-based ethos and curriculum, though serving a slightly more rural geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mercynewross
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/mercynewross123/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/stmarysnewross

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St. Mary's Secondary School New Ross