NKETS Celbridge
In 1990, a group of people, most of whom lived in the North Kildare area, and who believed in educating children of all creeds and backgrounds together, founded the North Kildare National School Project now known as North Kildare Educate Together School (N.K.E.T.S.)
The school opened in September 1994 at Ballymakealy Lower, Celbridge. It received permanent recognition from the Department of Education in 1995, an early acknowledgement of the school's long term viability. Like all other National Schools in the country, it is subject to the rules of the Department of Education.
On 25th November 1998 confirmation was received from the Department of Education & Science that under the new arrangements for funding for school building projects, the Department would meet the full cost of purchasing our new site and 95% of building costs.
On 9th April 1999, the Department of Education & Science advised that our long-term accommodation would consist of a principal plus eight class teachers. (a single stream school). In June 2003, the school relocated to our present building which includes a unit for children with autism.
For a more detailed account of the school's first decade, check out our Tenth Anniversary Newsletter
The Outreach Classes for children with Autism opened in the school year 2006/2007. Since moving to permanent premises beside the Celbridge Athletics Club track, the school has earned a reputation for excellence in athletics with many trophies being won by children at the annual Cumann na mBunscol games in Santry each year.
2010 saw a major IT upgrade to the school's facilities with each classroom now equipped with a digital projector and some of the rooms equipped with interactive white boards.
In 2011 the school was asked by the DES to open a second stream to cater for increased demand for places. The Board of Management, after consultation, agreed to this request and the extension to the building is currently being planned with a target opening date of September 2013.
This will allow the school to double its capacity and make multi-denominational education available to many more parents and children in North Kildare.
