S N Muire gan Smal
Ardara · Roll number 18131O
- Catholic ethos
- DEIS
- Pupils in 2025/26
- 94
- +5 on 2024/25
- Over 10 years
- +109%
- Up 49 from 45 in 2015/16
- Girls and boys
- 55 / 39
- 59% girls
Pupils since 1974
Total enrolment each school year
Shaded: the last 10 years, 2015/16 to 2025/26. 1983/84 is left out because its source file is incomplete, and no files exist for 1984/85 to 1992/93. Known data issues
Pupils by class
Published for each class from 2020/21.
This year, 2025/26
94 pupils across 8 classes
Every class, every year
Darker cells have more pupils. A group of pupils moves down one class and right one year.
| 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Infants | 9 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 14 | 12 | 10.8 |
| Senior Infants | 3 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 7 | 14 | 10.3 |
| 1st Class | 16 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 9 | 11.0 |
| 2nd Class | 9 | 17 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 11.0 |
| 3rd Class | 5 | 9 | 19 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 9.7 |
| 4th Class | 7 | 5 | 12 | 18 | 4 | 10 | 9.3 |
| 5th Class | 8 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 4 | 8.7 |
| 6th Class | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 19 | 9.3 |
JI and SI are Junior and Senior Infants.
Started Junior Infants in 2024/25
14 in Junior Infants (2024/25), 14 in Senior Infants (2025/26): no change.
- 14Junior Infants2024/25
- 14Senior Infants2025/26
Started Junior Infants in 2023/24
6 in Junior Infants (2023/24), 9 in 1st Class (2025/26): 3 pupils more.
- 6Junior Infants2023/24
- 7Senior Infants2024/25
- 91st Class2025/26
Started Junior Infants in 2022/23
12 in Junior Infants (2022/23), 15 in 2nd Class (2025/26): 3 pupils more.
- 12Junior Infants2022/23
- 15Senior Infants2023/24
- 151st Class2024/25
- 152nd Class2025/26
Started Junior Infants in 2021/22
12 in Junior Infants (2021/22), 11 in 3rd Class (2025/26): 1 pupil fewer.
- 12Junior Infants2021/22
- 13Senior Infants2022/23
- 121st Class2023/24
- 112nd Class2024/25
- 113rd Class2025/26
Started Junior Infants in 2020/21
9 in Junior Infants (2020/21), 10 in 4th Class (2025/26): 1 pupil more.
- 9Junior Infants2020/21
- 10Senior Infants2021/22
- 101st Class2022/23
- 102nd Class2023/24
- 103rd Class2024/25
- 104th Class2025/26
In Senior Infants in 2020/21
3 in Senior Infants (2020/21), 4 in 5th Class (2025/26): 1 pupil more.
- 3Senior Infants2020/21
- 41st Class2021/22
- 42nd Class2022/23
- 43rd Class2023/24
- 44th Class2024/25
- 45th Class2025/26
In 1st Class in 2020/21
16 in 1st Class (2020/21), 19 in 6th Class (2025/26): 3 pupils more.
- 161st Class2020/21
- 172nd Class2021/22
- 193rd Class2022/23
- 184th Class2023/24
- 185th Class2024/25
- 196th Class2025/26
In 2nd Class in 2020/21
9 in 2nd Class (2020/21), 10 in 6th Class (2024/25): 1 pupil more.
- 92nd Class2020/21
- 93rd Class2021/22
- 124th Class2022/23
- 105th Class2023/24
- 106th Class2024/25
In 3rd Class in 2020/21
5 in 3rd Class (2020/21), 6 in 6th Class (2023/24): 1 pupil more.
- 53rd Class2020/21
- 54th Class2021/22
- 55th Class2022/23
- 66th Class2023/24
In 4th Class in 2020/21
7 in 4th Class (2020/21), 7 in 6th Class (2022/23): no change.
- 74th Class2020/21
- 75th Class2021/22
- 76th Class2022/23
In 5th Class in 2020/21
8 in 5th Class (2020/21), 8 in 6th Class (2021/22): no change.
- 85th Class2020/21
- 86th Class2021/22
Biggest one-year changes in a class
- +103rd Class in 2022/23 (9 to 19)
- −153rd Class in 2023/24 (19 to 4)
Class sizes
Mainstream class groups, 2006/07 to 2025/26.
Why these won't match pupils by class
Mainstream class groups only. The source does not identify which standard/year group each class group belongs to. So these figures won't match the pupils-by-class figures exactly.
In 2025/26. Choose a figure to chart it.
Class sizes over time
Average class size, 2006/07 to 2025/26
Teachers
Who teaches at S N Muire gan Smal, 2006/07 to 2025/26.
How we count teachers
Class teachers come from the Department of Education's class sizes: one for each mainstream class. Special education and special class teachers are the posts the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) allocates. We add a principal who doesn't teach a class where the Department's rules give the school one. These are posts, not people: part of a post can be a teacher shared with another school. Up to 2015/16 the Department counted every teacher itself. Known data issues
In 2025/26
5teaching posts
Our estimate: about 5 teachers.
- Class teachersOne for each of the 4 mainstream classes 4
- PrincipalAlso teaches one of the classes, so is counted with the class teachers in a class
- Special education teachers25 hours of support teaching a week 1
1.83 special needs assistants (SNAs) also work with pupils.
The NCSE has allocated 1.1 special education teachers and 1.83 SNAs for next year.
Teachers since 2006/07
Teachers each school year, by role
To 2015/16: the Department of Education's count of every teacher. From 2019/20: our estimate, from class sizes and the NCSE's allocations. Dashed boxes: no special education figures were published for those years, so only class teachers and the principal are shown. Where there's no principal bar, the principal also taught a class. Known data issues
Sources: Department of Education class sizes and teacher counts; NCSE school allocations and special classes (CC BY 4.0).
Nearby schools
The 6 primary schools closest to S N Muire gan Smal, measured in a straight line. Pupil numbers are for 2025/26.
| Number on map | School | Distance | Pupils | Since 2015/16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S N Muire gan SmalThis school | – | 94 |
+108.9%
|
|
| 1 | Ardara Mixed N S0.3 km · Ardara · Church of Ireland · DEIS | 0.3 km | 12 |
−42.9%
|
| 2 | S N an Bhreacaigh2.6 km · Ard A Ratha · Gaelscoil · DEIS · Gaeltacht | 2.6 km | 24 |
−36.8%
|
| 3 | Gortnacart N S2.6 km · Ardara · DEIS | 2.6 km | 16 |
−48.4%
|
| 4 | S N Mhin Teineadh de3.9 km · Ard an Rátha · Gaelscoil · Gaeltacht | 3.9 km | 21 |
−30.0%
|
| 5 | S N Crannaighe Buidhe4.7 km · Ardara · DEIS | 4.7 km | 54 |
+80.0%
|
| 6 | St Riaghans NS5.4 km · Glenties · DEIS | 5.4 km | 26 |
−18.8%
|
About this school
Inspection reports open on gov.ie, under the name the school had when it was inspected. They describe specific areas of the school's work rather than giving an overall grade. Newer schools may not have one yet.
Contact
- Principal
- Anita Finnerty
- Phone
- 0749541903
- [email protected]
- Address
- Hillhead, Ardara, Co. Donegal, F94 X348
School
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Patron
- Bishop of Raphoe
- School type
- Ordinary
- School level
- All Through
- DEIS
- DEIS
Language and area
- Irish classification
- No subjects through Irish
- Gaeltacht
- Non-Gaeltacht
- Island
- Not on an island
- Local authority
- Donegal County Council
- Planning area
- Glenties
Each detail is the latest one the Department of Education has recorded for this school. If a detail was left blank in 2025/26, we show it from an earlier year, so some details may be older than the pupil numbers. Known data issues
Data by year
42 school years from 1974/75 to 2025/26. Class figures start in 2020/21.
| Year | Total | Girls | Boys | JI | SI | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | 94 | 55 | 39 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 19 |
| 2024/25 | 89 | 46 | 43 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 18 | 10 |
| 2023/24 | 81 | 42 | 39 | 6 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 18 | 10 | 6 |
| 2022/23 | 82 | 42 | 40 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 19 | 12 | 5 | 7 |
| 2021/22 | 72 | 36 | 36 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 8 |
| 2020/21 | 63 | 32 | 31 | 9 | 3 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| 2019/20 | 69 | 36 | 33 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2018/19 | 74 | 37 | 37 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2017/18 | 56 | 28 | 28 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2016/17 | 52 | 28 | 24 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2015/16 | 45 | 21 | 24 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2014/15 | 38 | 19 | 19 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2013/14 | 34 | 15 | 19 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2012/13 | 34 | 16 | 18 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2011/12 | 28 | 13 | 15 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2010/11 | 30 | 12 | 18 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2009/10 | 31 | 13 | 18 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2008/09 | 35 | 16 | 19 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2007/08 | 36 | 19 | 17 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2006/07 | 35 | 21 | 14 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2005/06 | 39 | 23 | 16 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2004/05 | 44 | 26 | 18 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2003/04 | 51 | 30 | 21 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2002/03 | 54 | 30 | 24 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2001/02 | 55 | 31 | 24 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2000/01 | 59 | 32 | 27 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1999/00 | 61 | 33 | 28 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1998/99 | 58 | 29 | 29 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1997/98 | 58 | 30 | 28 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1996/97 | 59 | 32 | 27 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1995/96 | 63 | 33 | 30 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1994/95 | 67 | 36 | 31 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1993/94 | 74 | 37 | 37 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1982/83 | 111 | 45 | 66 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1981/82 | 117 | 48 | 69 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1980/81 | 106 | 45 | 61 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1979/80 | 106 | 46 | 60 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1978/79 | 108 | 50 | 58 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1977/78 | 122 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1976/77 | 114 | 54 | 60 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1975/76 | 121 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1974/75 | 133 | 73 | 60 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |