Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Catholic Primary Education in Belfast
St Brides Primary School has been nurturing young minds in South Belfast since 1902. Our institution combines a rich heritage with modern educational practices, offering a safe, inclusive, and faith-centred environment where every child is valued as a unique individual. We prioritise academic excellence alongside character development, fostering self-confidence and life-enhancing skills through our comprehensive curriculum. Our dedicated staff work in close partnership with families and the local parish to create a supportive ecosystem that addresses both educational and spiritual needs.With recent facility upgrades enhancing our learning spaces and traffic management systems, we continue to adapt to contemporary requirements while maintaining our core values of respect, inclusivity, and community engagement. Our two-site campus accommodates approximately 870 pupils across nursery and primary year groups, reflecting our enduring commitment to serving diverse family needs.
Services
Primary Education
Nursery Classes
Special Educational Needs Support
After School Activities
Parental Engagement Programs
Details
- Year established: 1902
Highlights and features
- Established in 1902 with continuous educational provision
- Catholic environment fostering Christian values and inclusivity
- Partnership approach with parents and local parish
- Modernised facilities through Department of Education programme
- Diverse community serving South Belfast families
Services
Primary Education
Our primary education programme delivers the Northern Ireland curriculum through engaging, child-centred approaches. Qualified teachers create individualised learning paths while maintaining high academic standards. The programme integrates faith development with core subjects, creative arts, and physical education to nurture well-rounded individuals.
Nursery Classes
Our nursery provision offers full-time early years education for children aged 3-4. The play-based curriculum follows 'Learning Through Play' principles while preparing children for primary school transition. Qualified staff create stimulating environments that develop social skills, basic literacy/numeracy, and emotional resilience through structured activities and free play.
Special Educational Needs Support
We provide tailored support for pupils with special educational needs through our dedicated SEN department. The programme follows Department of Education guidelines and includes individualised learning plans, specialist resources, and collaboration with external professionals. Parents receive regular progress updates and guidance through scheduled meetings with SEN coordinators.
After School Activities
Our after-school activities programme offers diverse enrichment opportunities including sports, arts, and academic clubs. Activities like judo, music ensembles, and code club operate weekly during term time. These programmes extend learning beyond the classroom while developing new skills and interests in a supervised, safe environment.
Parental Engagement
We maintain strong home-school partnerships through regular communication channels and parental involvement opportunities. Services include scheduled parent-teacher meetings, family workshops, and volunteer programmes. Our approach recognises parents as essential partners in their child's educational journey through shared values and collaborative decision-making processes.
People
Ms Cathy Hunter
Principal
With extensive educational leadership experience, Ms Hunter oversees school operations while maintaining close community connections. She champions inclusive education and has guided recent facility modernisation projects to enhance learning environments for all pupils.
Miss Otteran Joyce
Vice-Principal & DT
As Vice-Principal and Designated Teacher for Safeguarding, Miss Joyce ensures child protection protocols and coordinates pastoral care initiatives. She brings specialist expertise in student welfare and curriculum implementation across key stages.
Mrs Mairead Granleese
Vice-Principal & DDT
Mrs Granleese serves as Deputy Designated Teacher, supporting safeguarding procedures and staff training programmes. Her leadership focuses on maintaining safe learning environments while addressing individual pupil needs through targeted interventions.
Mrs Maureen O'Prey
Senior Leader
As Senior Leader, Mrs O'Prey oversees curriculum delivery and staff professional development. She specialises in educational standards improvement and coordinates cross-departmental initiatives to enhance teaching practices and learning outcomes.
Ms Catherine Ward
Head of Nursery
Ms Ward leads the nursery department with expertise in early years education. She implements play-based learning strategies while ensuring smooth transition processes for young children entering primary education through structured readiness programmes.
Questions
What are the school's admission criteria?
Admissions follow Catholic education guidelines with priority given to parish residents. Detailed criteria and application processes are available through our website and Education Authority portal.
Does the school offer special educational needs support?
We provide comprehensive SEN support including individualised learning plans, specialist resources, and collaboration with external professionals to meet diverse educational needs.
What extracurricular activities are available?
After-school clubs include sports, music, coding, and creative arts programmes operating weekly during term time for different age groups.
How does the school communicate with parents?
We maintain regular communication through scheduled meetings, newsletters, and direct contact with class teachers and SEN coordinators as required.
What facilities improvements have been made recently?
The Department of Education's enhancement programme delivered new classrooms, improved traffic systems, and upgraded play areas across our two-site campus.
Is the school environment faith-based?
As a Catholic school, we integrate Christian values into daily activities while respecting diverse backgrounds through inclusive practices and interfaith understanding.
