Special Schools

What are special schools?

Special schools support students with significant complex special educational 
needs. Special schools are national schools that provide primary and or post-primary education for children and young people from ages 4 to 18. 
 
To get a place in a special school, a child must have a professional report stating that: 
– The child has a special educational need 
– The need is so complex a special school place is recommended

Special schools have a lower student-teacher ratio according to category of disability. This means that classes have small numbers of students.  

A special school for students with a moderate general learning disability has one teacher for every eight students.

Each special school has a specific designation. This means that a student must have a diagnosed disability in line with the school’s specific designation.  For example, autism, moderate or profound general leading disabilities and deaf/hard of hearing.