Mission Statement

St. Paul’s Secondary School, which was founded in 1964, is a Catholic Secondary School, which aims:

• To nurture the academic and personal development of each individual in a caring and safe environment within our school community
• To enhance the self-esteem of each individual in an atmosphere of mutual respect
• To strive as a Catholic school to apply the core values of the gospel through all aspects of school life
• To foster good relationships with parents, guardians and the wider community

School History

In 1964, the Mercy Sisters established St. Paul’s Secondary School, in Oughterard. The School was the third co-educational school in Co. Galway and began as two rooms in St. Joseph’s Convent. As the school expanded, the Sisters provided more rooms in the Convent and new prefabricated classrooms were added.

These included a Woodwork Room, Science Room and a Home Economics Room. However, as numbers increased, it soon became obvious that at completely new school building would be necessary. On October 15th, 1990, Mrs. Mary O’Rourke, Minister for Education, laid the foundation stone for the new St. Paul’s Secondary School which opened on 12th December, 1991.

The new building includes the most modern facilities available with two specialised Science Laboratories, a Demonstration Room, a Woodwork Room, a fully equipped Computer Room, Home Economics Room and an Art Room, as well as a Careers Office and dining areas, Sporting facilities include a beautiful Sports Hall, three outdoor courts and a football pitch.

In September 1999, a new extension was opened. This extension, which includes a well equipped Canteen, a new Technical Drawing Room, a student Careers Office, as well as extra toilet facilities, has maintained the design features of the existing school and is located in the centre of the cloister.