Joining Our School

If you wish to apply for a place in FIRST YEAR 2026 please complete the application form here. We will be in touch if a place becomes available.

Please note applications for First Year 2026 should only be completed for students who are currently in Sixth Class or equivalent.

Click here to read our Annual Admissions Notice for 2026/27 school year

Click here to read our Admissions Policy.

If you are re-locating to Dublin and require a place in our school for your child:

First Year applications - please complete form above for admission to First Year

Second to Sixth Year applications - please complete our application form here and we will be in touch should a place arise for the school year 2026-27.

Our admissions notice for the school year 2027-28 will be published on our website in September 2026. Applications for First Year will be accepted online from October 1st, 2026. Further details to follow.

If your child needs a place in our Autism Class for September 2027, you must notify the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) by September 1st  and apply for a letter of eligibility. Without it, we cannot offer a place.

Complete the ‘Parents Notify’ online form on the NCSE website by September 1st 2026 and submit all required documents by Sept 15th 2026 (or as soon as possible after). Visit the NCSE website for full details here: Parents Notify – Special Class/Special School Placement – NCSE

You can read our Transfer and Repeat Policy here.

Please contact the office at office@goatstownetss.ie for further information.

FAQs - Joining our School

Parents are advised to read the school Admissions Policy and Notice as well as the answers to the following FAQs.

How many places are there available?

For 2026/2027 school year, there will be a maximum of 72 places in First Year.

The Board of Management decides each year on the number of places available in First Year.

Who decides who gets a place?

The order of priorities in allocating places has been determined by our patron, Educate Together.

Priority One offers are made to siblings of existing students of Goatstown ETSS. If there are more sibling applications than the total number of places available, then the names in this priority group are randomised numerically to determine who is allocated a place. If there are places remaining after the allocation of places in this priority group, then the process moves to the next priority.

Priority Two offers are made to students who live in the school catchment area as determined by the Department of Education. If there are more Priority Two applications than places, then these names are randomised to determine who is allocated a place. If there are places remaining after Priority Two then the process moves to Priority Three. 

Priority Three offers are made to students who live outside the school catchment area. The randomising process is followed again if there are more applicants than places.  

When all of the places are allocated the remaining applicants are placed on a waiting list. This waiting list is used to allocate places if any family rescinds their place or does not return their completed enrolment papers on time. When the waiting list is exhausted, the process moves to late applications received.

Are there feeder schools?

No. The concept of automatic admission to a child from any named school is not in our Admissions Policy.

Do you have a waiting list?

Children who are not offered a place in the first round will remain on the waiting list for that academic year only. If a family no longer wishes for their child to attend the school then the place will be offered to the next person on the waiting list as identified by the original random selection process.

When do I apply for a place for my child?

Applications are accepted when your child is in Sixth Class (or its international equivalent). The window for applying runs from early October for a three week period. (See Admissions Notice for relevant year)

Is there anything I can do to improve my chances of getting a place?

No. Places are offered according to the specific criteria identified in the Admissions Policy.

What happens if I accept places in a number of schools?

Your child's place may be forfeited if you accept and enrol your child in another school while retaining a place with us. We understand that parents apply to a number of schools. However, we expect that you will be fair to us and to children on the waiting list.