DÁTHEANGACH | DÉLITEARTHA | GAELACH

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“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”

NELSON MANDELA

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Sruth na Gaeilge, Scoil Iósaef, was founded in September 2010 to provide high quality post-primary Irish Medium Education in the Mid-Ulster area. The aim of the IMS was to promote and develop a curriculum tailored to bilingual students in a supportive and caring environment. Since its inception fifteen years ago, students from ‘An Sruth’ continue to excel in all aspects of school life. We have grown from our first intake of 15 and now have 280 students in Sruth na Gaeilge. Past pupils of An Sruth have now graduated from university and are excelling in teir chosen field of work/industry.

 

Scoil Iósaef provides a holistic education that caters for the academic, cultural and extra-curricular progression of our students. We are immensely proud of the contribution that all our IMS students bring to our school. Sruth na Gaeilge is staffed by eight experienced members of staff, trained in Irish medium education.

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Rath Acadúil / Academic Success

 

Our IMU students consistently achieve exceptional results in GCSE and A-level examinations, surpassing Northern Ireland averages year after year. Their outstanding academic performance opens doors to excellent career opportunities and diverse university pathways. Our IMS leavers of 2024 have obtained their third level choices and are currently studying a range of subjects including Engineering, Real Estate, Maths and Applied Physics, Veterinary Medicine and Irish and Linguistics.

 

In public examinations 77% of our IMS students achieved a minimum of three A*-C grades at A-Level in 2025. 84% of our Year 12 IMS students achieved at least 5 GCSE A*-C grades, including English, Maths and Gaeilge in 2024. Our topperforming IMS students of 2024 achieved 11 GCSE grades. Meanwhile, our Year 10 Irish Medium students achieved 100% A*-B in their GCSE Irish exams, with 92% A*-A grades.

 

Soláthar / Provision

 

Sruth na Gaeilge is an all-ability stream which provides an opportunity for children from local bunscoileanna to continue with their Irish medium education. Our vision is to offer a ‘bilingual, biliterate and Gaelic’ education, to provide our pupils with the best education, life-skills and life-long learning opportunities for an ever-changing world. At Key Stage 3, we offer 50% of the curriculum through the medium of Irish. Our IMS students sit their GCSE Irish examination at the end of Year 10 and at KS4, Scoláirí an tSrutha benefit from a full choice of subjects as well as the opportunity of achieving an additional GCSE in Gaeilge.

 

Litearthacht / Literacy

 

​Developing bilingual and biliterate students is central to all that we do in Scoil Iósaef. We continue to invest a substantial amount of money to provide a wealth of enjoyable and modern Irish Medium books for our school library. IMS students spend one period per fortnight reading and are encouraged to immerse themselves in Irish language books and novels. We recognise that excellent oracy and literacy skills are essential in the modern workplace. Through the Gael-Linn public speaking competition, Abair and Feis Dhún Geanainn, all our IMS students are encouraged to build their confidence in public speaking and thus prepare themselves for the world of work.

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Turais / Trips

 

​In March of this year, our Year 10 students will head to the Gaeltacht in Donegal for an immersive few days of fun and trips, and to get a taste of our native language and culture.

 

We actively promote attendance in Gaeltacht summer courses and all Year 8/9 students can attend a two week course at the end of June.

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Gairmoideachas / Careers Education

 

​As well as following the excellent Employability & Careers programme in St. Joseph’s, senior students have the opportunity to attend university seminars both in the North and in the Republic of Ireland and can consider degree courses through Irish. We regularly have Irish language guest speakers to provide relevant and up to date careers advice on current job opportunities with Irish at home and abroad.

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An Ghaeilge / Irish

 

Scoláirí an tSrutha are encouraged to use Irish outside of the classroom and this is facilitated through the organisation of a range of events throughout the school day such as Tae agus Plé, An Cumann Gaelach, Gaeilge 24, Seachtain na Gaeilge and An Cumann Scoildrámaíochta agus An Cumann Díospóireachta. This year our newly formed Coiste na Gaeilge has been an excellent asset to our students: led by our senior pupils, all students have the opportunity to learn music, cookery skills, drama skills and play sport through the medium of Irish. In partnership with Cairde Uí Néill pupils are recognised on a weekly basis as ‘Gaeilgeoirí na Míosa’ and ‘An Rang is Gaelaí’ and are rewarded with termly class trips.

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