Growing and learning
Creating a supportive learning environment where every pupil is encouraged to reach their full potential.
Introduction
We believe in the education of the whole child; intellectual, moral, physical, aesthetic, social and spiritual. As teachers, we prepare children for further education and would like to see all our pupils grow up to live full and useful lives as adults in society.
Our aim is to provide a learning environment in which each pupil is encouraged to develop his capabilities to the fullest possible extent.
The pupils in our school are expected to give of their best and to achieve high standards of work and behaviour. We believe that a child who is content in school makes the best progress.
Through co-operation and mutual support, we can help each pupil live a full and happy life as a child and at the same time acquire the skills which will help them on the road towards adulthood.
History
St. Laurence’s Boys' National School (BNS) can trace it's past back to the founding of the first boy's national school in Stillorgan Village, opposite the present day Shopping Centre, on 25th May 1840. It began modestly, with just 56 pupils, yet laid a strong foundation for over 180 years of local education.
In 1931, the school relocated to its present site in Upper Kilmacud Road and has undergone three significant expansions in 1931, 1986, and 2007. These developments transformed the campus to provide enhanced learning spaces that support modern education.
In 1959, a public meeting in St. Laurence’s Hall led to the founding of Kilmacud GAA Club, the club later adopted the school’s gold and purple colours, a nod to their shared place in local sporting heritage.
Today, St. Laurence’s BNS remains a cornerstone of the Stillorgan community, combining a proud heritage with a forward-looking approach to education. Rooted in local traditions yet embracing innovation, it continues to nurture confident, capable, and caring young people who carry the school’s values into the wider world.
A Living Legacy: How a Century-Old Tree Became a Symbol of St Laurence’s
On March 1st, 2024, a heavy snowstorm struck Ireland, causing significant damage in Dublin and Kilmacud. A much-loved evergreen tree, over 100 years old, was blown down on the school grounds. After assessing it, the ESB engineers confirmed the tree was unsafe and needed to be removed.
The school community consulted the Board of Management, teachers, and students and decided to save part of the trunk and turn it into something meaningful. Sixth Class 2024 were invited to help choose a design. They selected acorns and oak leaves, symbols of growth and the school’s role in nurturing pupils from Junior Infants to Sixth Class.
Local sculptors Conleth and Paul worked with the pupils’ ideas and shaped the trunk into a beautiful sculpture that reflects the spirit of St Laurence’s.
The school community — the consultant, Board of Management, teachers, and students — decided to save part of the trunk and turn it into something meaningful. Sixth Class 2024 were invited to help choose a design. They selected acorns and oak leaves, symbols of growth and the school’s role in nurturing pupils from Junior Infants to Sixth Class.
Local sculptors Conleth and Paul worked with the pupils’ ideas and shaped the trunk into a beautiful sculpture that reflects the spirit of St Laurence’s.
It was unveiled on May 2nd, 2025, alongside our school motto: ag gáire, ag spraoi, ag foghlaim le chéile.
