Planning area in Cork

Skibereen

Schools in County Cork in this planning area.

Other planning areas in Cork Midleton–Carrigtwohill · 21 Glasheen–CorkCity · 18 Ballincollig · 9 Fermoy · 19 Ballintemple–CorkCity · 11 Gurranbraher–CorkCity · 10 South Suburbs–CorkCity · 6 Mallow · 14 Bandon · 15 Carrigaline · 6 Riverstown–Glanmire · 8 Blarney · 8 Youghal · 9 Clonakilty · 13 Kinsale · 8 Cobh · 7 Coachford · 12 Montenotte–CorkCity · 8 Macroom · 10 Bantry · 14 Kanturk · 8 Rath Luirc–Charleville · 6 Dunmanway · 12 Carrignavar · 3 Passage West · 3 Buttevant · 5 Boharbue · 7 Mitchelstown · 6 Doneraile · 5 Crosshaven · 4 Millstreet · 5 Castletownbere · 7 Roscarbery · 5 Ballyvorney · 4 Schull · 2 Ballingeary · 3 Rathmore · 3 Dromcollogher · 2 Lismore · 1

Schools: 18; of 335 in Cork
Pupils: 1,302; 2% of Cork's pupils
Since 2015/16: −9.0%; 1,430 pupils in 2015/16
Average school size: 72.3; Cork: 179.1
Average class size: 18.59; Cork: 21.72

Trends in Skibereen

Each year counts the schools in this planning area today, plus any that closed from 2023/24. Dotted lines bridge 1983/84 to 1992/93. 1974/75 is left out because that year's source file is missing five counties.

Earlier years are incomplete

The Department's files only record planning areas from 2023/24, so schools that closed or amalgamated before then aren't counted in any area. The further back you go, the more pupils are missing, and an amalgamation can look like a sudden rise. Across County Cork, schools with no planning area had 3.2% of pupils in 2015/16, 8.7% in 2005/06 and 29.9% in 1975/76. Known data issues

Pupils

1,302

−39 on 2024/25

1975/762025/26

Schools

12 in 1975/76

1975/762025/26

Average pupils per school

72.3

87.0 in 1975/76

1975/762025/26

Average class size

18.59

−0.31 on 2024/25

2006/072025/26

Pupils in these schools

Junior infants, girls and boys, and Irish-medium schools over time, for the same schools as the trends above.

Area figures by year (CSV) Each school by year (CSV)

Junior infants

Pupils starting school each year. Class-by-class figures start in 2020/21. 146 in 2025/26, −14 on 2024/25.

Girls and boys

From 1976/77: earlier files don't split every school's pupils into girls and boys.

Irish-medium schools

Pupils in schools that teach all subjects through Irish (2 schools today). 81 pupils in 2025/26, 6.2% of the area's pupils, against 5.0% in 2015/16. Each school counts under its current classification for every year.

Growing and falling since 2015/16

Each school's change in pupils over 10 years, from 2015/16 to 2025/26. A change of 10% or more either way counts as growing or falling.

Every school's change

18 schools with figures for both years

11fell by 10% or more

4within 10%

3grew by 10% or more

Down 25% or more · 6Down 10 to 25% · 5Within 10% · 4Up 10 to 25% · 1Up 25% or more · 2

Sort the table below by the change column to see which schools grew or fell most.

Class sizes

Mainstream class groups only. The source does not identify which standard/year group each class group belongs to.

Average class size: 18.59
Mainstream classes: 68
Classes of 30 or more: 0
Schools with a class of 30+: 0

Teachers

Teachers in the 18 mainstream primary schools here, 2006/07 to 2025/26. Class teachers are counted every year; all teaching posts where they're known.

How we count teachers

Class teachers in 2025/26: 68; Up 12 since 2006/07, while pupils rose 5%
Teaching posts in 2025/26: about 108; Estimate: 68 class teachers, 3 principals and deputies, 30 special education and 7 special class teachers
Teachers in 2015/16: 96; The Department's last count of every teacher
Since 2024/25: 0 / 1; 0 schools gained a class teacher, 1 lost one

Class teachers since 2006/07

One for each mainstream class, every school year

Special schools and special classes

0 special schools in Skibereen, and the special classes in the 18 mainstream schools. Special schools aren't counted in the pupils, class sizes or teachers above.

All special schools

Pupils in special schools: 0; No special school here
Special classes in 2025/26: 7; In 4 of 18 schools. 4 in 2020/21
Allocated for 2026/27: 8; In 5 schools: 1 new class, 1 school with its first
Autism classes: 6; 86% of special classes

Special classes since 2020/21

In Skibereen's mainstream schools, from the NCSE's yearly lists

2020/21 4
2021/22 4
2022/23 5
2023/24 6
2024/25 7
2025/26 7
2026/27 8

2026/27, dashed: allocated for next year.

Sources: Department of Education enrolment lists; NCSE special class lists and special school allocations (CC BY 4.0).

Schools

18 schools, largest first.

Change over

Select a column heading to sort

	Roll number
St Patrick's Boys' National SchoolSkibbereen	20477Q	204	−5.6%	9	20.67	28
Scoil Naomh SeosamhSkibberreen	08430S	182	−3.7%	8	22.50	28
Abbeystrewry N SSkibbereen	14433K	142	+34.0%	6	23.67	27
Rathmore N SSkibbereen	19381T	116	+23.4%	5	23.20	27
Castletownsend MXD N SSkibbereen	13728B	90	−30.2%	4	22.50	27
Scoil BhrideBallydehob	14225D	85	−19.0%	4	21.25	24
Gaelscoil Dr M Ui ShuilleabhainAn Sciobairín	20009G	78	+34.5%	4	16.50	18
Union Hall Mixed N SSkibbereen	12383L	67	−15.2%	3	22.33	27
Caheragh NSDrimoleague	19557H	64	−13.5%	3	21.33	25
Lisheen Mixed N SSkibbereen	15563F	56	−12.5%	3	18.67	21
Drimoleague Junior SCHDrimoleague	19801P	54	+1.9%	3	18.00	21
Dromdhallagh N SDrimoleague	18296A	53	−5.4%	4	13.25	19
Kilcoe NSSkibbereen	14227H	32	−42.9%	2	13.00	15
Maulatrahane Central NSSkibbereen	19978I	31	−24.4%	2	15.50	16
St Matthias N SBallydehob	13976U	22	−29.0%	2	11.00	12
S N Muire na DoiriniSkibbereen	18461M	14	−67.4%	2	7.00	8
S N IosephDrinagh	11931L	9	−60.9%	2	4.50	5
S N CleireAn Sciobairín	14303U	3	−76.9%	2	1.50	2