School Community

On 18th April, 1825 a school opened on these grounds and became a recognised school ten years later with 90 boys and 89 girls attending. Among those who signed the application to make Newcastle an 'official' school were Lord Cloncurry and John Locke Skeritt. The pupils paid between a halfpenny and a penny per week. Older children had a reading, spelling and arithmetic book as well as book-keeping and measuring books. School was open from 10.00 am - 4.00 pm, six days per week, but on Friday only religion was taught. Eight to ten pupils sat at a desk with an inkwell in front of each pupil. Boys were taught on the ground floor and girls were taught upstairs.
When the old school was built in the 1930's, the firt school continued to be used as a classroom whenever extra space was needed. The building is also the school library.

In the late 1970's the new school with its modern facilities, including a large gym hall, was built and the original school building is currently being used as a parish meeting room.