St. Joseph's is a primary school situated in the rural parish of Bekan in East Mayo, Ireland. The school, which opened in 1969, replaced the older St. Mary's national school, built in 1889. It currently has a staff of a teaching principal, six mainstream teachers,two special education teachers, one shared special education teacher and three special needs assistants. St. Joseph's is a mixed, vertical mainstream school i.e. it caters for students from Junior Infants to sixth Class . The student enrolment currently stands at 156 pupils.
About our School
St. Joseph's N.S. (also known as Beacan N.S. or Bekan N.S.) is a rural, co-educational primary school situated in the parish of Bekan in East Mayo. It caters for children aged from 4 years to 12 years [approx]. There is a two-year infant cycle, followed by classes 1st to 6th, giving a total eight years attendance. Local pre-school facilities are also available in the parish.
The school was built in 1968 and it opened in 1969, replacing the existing school, St. Mary's which had served the children of the area since 1898. Two amalgamations have taken place since then. A local two-teacher school, Larganboy National School, closed at that time and was amalgamated with the new Bekan school. Another local primary school, Brickens National School was amalgamated in 1973. The main building was refurbished and extended in 1994.
The school is a Catholic School, under the patronage of the Arhbishop of Tuam and has an eight member board of management. The school currently has a staff of seven teachers - a teaching Principal, five mainstream teachers, two special education teachers. The school also shares the services of a Special Education Teacher who is based in Milltown School. We also have three Special Needs Assistants, part-time Secretary and Caretaker. The parents of the children are very involved in the life of the school and a very active Parent Association has been in place for many years.
The enrolment on the 1st Sept. 2017 was 156 pupils.
St. Joseph's N.S. (also known as Beacan N.S. or Bekan N.S.) is a rural, co-educational primary school situated in the parish of Bekan in East Mayo. It caters for children aged from 4 years to 12 years [approx]. There is a two-year infant cycle, followed by classes 1st to 6th, giving a total eight years attendance. Local pre-school facilities are also available in the parish.
The school was built in 1968 and it opened in 1969, replacing the existing school, St. Mary's which had served the children of the area since 1898. Two amalgamations have taken place since then. A local two-teacher school, Larganboy National School, closed at that time and was amalgamated with the new Bekan school. Another local primary school, Brickens National School was amalgamated in 1973. The main building was refurbished and extended in 1994.
The school is a Catholic School, under the patronage of the Arhbishop of Tuam and has an eight member board of management. The school currently has a staff of seven teachers - a teaching Principal, five mainstream teachers, two special education teachers. The school also shares the services of a Special Education Teacher who is based in Milltown School. We also have three Special Needs Assistants, part-time Secretary and Caretaker. The parents of the children are very involved in the life of the school and a very active Parent Association has been in place for many years.
The enrolment on the 1st Sept. 2017 was 156 pupils.
Bekan Old School [St. Mary's N.S.]
This is a photo of the plan of the old St. Mary's National School from 1889.
The school was closed in 1969 when the present school, St. Joseph's, opened.
This is a photo of the plan of the old St. Mary's National School from 1889.
The school was closed in 1969 when the present school, St. Joseph's, opened.