1st Year 2026-2027
We’re looking forward to welcoming the newest members of the Ratoath College family in August 2026.
On this page, you will find important information and updates ahead of the new school year.
On this page
Options Subject Preferences
Alongside their core subjects and short courses, all Junior Cycle students are assigned to two additional subjects, their Options Subjects.
Forms for incoming first year students to indicate their preferences for Options Subjects were issued by email on Friday 23rd January 2026. The closing date for this form was Friday 6th February 2026 at midday.
Please note that the options subject form email is an automated email that issues from our scheduling system, which is called Griddle. As such, it may appear different to other communications you have received from the school.
If you have accepted a place in First Year for 2026-2027 and have not compelted a subject preference form, please contact the Main Office – [email protected].
Please note that while every effort is made to assign students to their two highest preference subjects, this will not be possible for everyone. Places in all subjects are limited based on the resources available, including qualified teachers, available specialist spaces and available specialist resources and equipment. As such, care should be taken when completing the options preference form with the understanding that students may be assigned to any subject listed.
Similarly, please note that students may not receive any notification of the options subjects to which they have been assigned until the start of the new school year.
Click here to learn more about the Junior Cycle Curriculum at Ratoath College.
Modern Foreign Language Preference
All Junior Cycle students at Ratoath College study a Modern Foreign Language (MFL), either French or Italian.
A form for students to indicate their MFL preference was issued by email on Wednesday, 18th March 2026. The deadline for completion of this form was Wednesday 25th March at 17.00.
Please note that while every effort is made to assign students to their preferred MFL, this will not be possible for everyone and students may be assigned to either French or Italian depending on available resources.
Please note that, unlike Irish where an exemption is available in certain very limited circumstances, there is no such exemption available for MFL. The study of a MFL is mandatory for all students at Junior Cycle.
Parent Information Evening
An information evening for parents of all incoming First Year Students took place on Tuesday 26th May at 18.00 here in the school.
You can find the information presented at this meeting below.
Entrance Assessments
Entrance assessments for incoming First Year students took place on Saturday 7th March 2026.
Click/Tap here for more information.
School Uniform
School uniforms are available from SchoolUniformsDirect.ie and from Blondelles.
SchoolUniformsDirect visited the school on Saturday 7th March 2026, which was the same day as the entrance assessments, and were available for fittings and to take deposits.
Click/Tap here to view our Uniform Policy, which includes information on the various items of uniform required and clear guidance on footwear that is and is not acceptable.
School Transport
The school transport scheme is operated by Bus Éireann.
For post-primary school students to be eligible for school transport, they must live more than 4.8 kilometres from their school, and the school must be the nearest to their home. You can find more information on the scheme and eligibility on the Department of Education and Youth website.
The application process for new applicants for the 2026-27 school year opened on 27th March 2026 and the closing date for payments or to enter medical card details was Friday, 8th May 2026.
Click/tap here for more information and links to the DEY website with information for parents and the Bus Éireann application/payment website.
School Books & Equipment
The Department of Education and Youth has informed us that the school books scheme will operate again for the 2026-2027 school year.
This means that most school books and equipment for all students will be provided by the school under the Department of Education & Youth’s Schoolbooks Scheme.
Guidance and information on the scheme for 2026/27 has not yet been made available by the department. Any relevent information will be accessible here once it is made available.
Compass
The school’s information and administration management system is called Compass. You will use Compass to manage information about your child in school in much the same way as you currently use Aladdin in primary school, including all school communications, monitoring attendance, notification of absences, early excuse notes and access to school reports and assessment information.
If you already have children in the school, your incoming First Year child will be added to your existing Compass account.
If you are new to the school, information and training will be provided once your child starts school on how to download and use the Compass app.
Parent Portal
All school communication with parents happens through the Compass app.
Information for parents that you may find useful from time to time is available on the Parent Portal on our website.
Summary of Important Dates & Deadlines
| Date | Information |
|---|---|
| Friday 6th February 2026 | Deadline for completion of Options Subject Preference form |
| Saturday 7th March 2026 | Entrance Assessments (individual timeslots issued by email) |
| Wednesday 25th March 2026 | Deadline for completion of Modern Foreign Language Preference form (issued by email) |
| Tuesday 26th May 2026 | Parents Information Evening, 18.00 at the school |
Applications for Admission
If you would like to apply for a place in First Year for 2026-2027 but have not yet done so, click/tap below for more information: