St Eithne’s Primary School ‘fosters every child’s abilities’

“In St Eithne’s Primary School we foster every child’s abilities. We support all types of learners. We have great Special Educational Needs provision. The most important thing is the children, they are at the core of everything we do.”

This was the thoughtful mission statement of St Eithne’s vice principal Mr Sean Conaghan, speaking to The Derry News.

“No matter what you do, kindness is the most important thing for children,” he added. 

Mr Conaghan, who has been vice principal of St Eithne’s since 2019, previously taught in Faughanvale Primary in Greysteel for 13 years. 

Describing the St Eithne’s school community as “tight-knit”, Mr Conaghan said that was what was unique about St Eithne’s.

“Everybody knows each other. Everybody is aware of the children, their family, their needs, their backgrounds,” he added. 

“At St Eithne’s we take great pride in the development of our school community - getting to know the families, getting to know the parents. 

“Within the school, we are providing the children with an excellent quality of education. We are looking at their academic ability, as well as their special education needs and their nurturing needs because St Eithne’s is a big advocate or nurture, particularly through our Umbrella Room which we established during covid-19.

Sean Conaghan, vice principal.

“I think that is one of our unique selling points really but the most important thing we do is to support our families and ensure that they are aware that their children are well looked after and cared for in a holistic way - academically, socially and emotionally.

“For example, this year again, St Eithne’s will be involved in Santa's Grotto, which will run on December 16 and 17. This will provide a great opportunity for families and children to come in, visit Santa, get their photographs taken and get a selection box. It’s all about giving back really. Everyone in our local community is very welcome to come along and visit Santa,” said Mr Conaghan, who smiled, “There is definitely nowhere better to be in the run up to Christmas than a primary school.”

St Eithne’s is also an award winning school, an achievement of which Mr Conaghan is rightly proud.

“We have quite a few awards within the school. We have the ICT Mark Award, which we worked hard to achieve, which is about developing children’s awareness of anti-bullying and online safety,” he said.

“St Eithne’s is a welcoming school and is inclusive of children from all faith backgrounds and all abilities. This is why we have also obtained School of Sanctuary recognition last year, from the North West Migrants’ Forum.

“That is not to mention, in June we won the Local Women Magazine Primary School of the Year, which was judged by a 10-strong panel in Stormont. We were nominated anonymously by a member of our school community - a relative or parent or grandparent. That was a fantastic accolade for St Eithne’s as a school,” said Mr Conaghan, who was also very proud of the school choir. 

Laughing, he said: “I am the music co-ordinator in St Eithne’s and I’m heavily invested in music. I am from this parish originally, so for me, coming back into the Parish of the Holy Family is lovely because it is where I was educated.

“It is where I grew up. It’s just great to be back within the Parish now, working in the community. 

“I know the history of the Holy Family. I sang in the gospel group since I was about eight or nine, so now we are giving back through music - St Eithne’s sings at Mass once a month.

“We also compete in Derry Feis every Easter and we always come away with something. We are very lucky with our music provision. Our annual productions are the stuff of legend. We do a full-blown production. Over the years we have performed Peter Pan, Cinderella Rockafella, Moana, Matilda and The Little Mermaid. 

“The school shows really are a core memory for our primary seven leavers. We do it at a time when the books are put away and we are looking at that whole area of the curriculum that hasn’t been developed, maybe when students have been doing transfer tests. We have parents that volunteer who come on board with sets and everything else,” said Mr Conaghan, who also praised what he described as “the great arts and creativity within the St Eithne’s staff”. 

“It is absolutely fantastic,” he added, “and it is just a brilliant experience for the children. We will be announcing this year’s school production on January 28, 2026, so everyone should keep their eyes peeled”.

Also a parent at St Eithne’s, Mr Conaghan invited the families of prospective students to come and have a look around St Eithne’s and have a chat with any member of staff.

He added: “I can guarantee you that when you come across the door of St Eithne’s, your instinct will take over. You will see that we are a Catholic-based school, which fosters everybody's abilities.”