February 2026
Dear parents and guardians of 6th Class pupils,
Children starting Post Primary school in September ’26 may have their Open Mornings/ Assessment Tests coming up.
Your child’s school will have been in contact with you with specific details. The arrangements for each school varies greatly. There are specific arrangements for some schools due to a clash with our Peace Proms event in RDS. Some of the schools only have an Open Morning and complete the assessments in September.
It is very important that the pupils understand that there is no work they need to do in preparation for this test. These are not Entrance Exams. The students have already been accepted into First Year. Remind them that they cannot fail, the assessment just informs the school of their individual strengths and the type of learning that supports them best.
Please check what time your child’s test is at and arrive 15 minutes early. Schools have different requirements on the day. Some require you bring stationery, some ask you bring wired headphones, some ask you bring a snack and a drink for a morning break. Prepare for this in advance, you do not want a panic in the morning when headphones don’t work etc. Children should be well slept and have a good breakfast before they go in. Choose an outfit which will make a positive first impression.
Schools are using Cognitive Ability Tests for this assessment. As far as I know, they use a test by GL Assessment (or similar). Most schools use a digital version which will be carried out on a computer, others use a paper test.
Wilma has been doing some prep work with the children. This will mainly focus on visualisation. They will discuss what to expect from the day, test environment, staying calm, what to do if you can’t answer a question etc. GL Assessment have a range of 11+ CAT 4 Familiarisation Materials. Teachers will use these to explain to the children what to expect in the test. You can reinforce the type of questions which will be asked: https://11plus.gl-assessment.co.uk/free-materials/
This short video gives a good insight into the C.A.T. 4
I hope all pupils are excited about the prospect. For many it will be their first time in the school building. They will meet the school management, their year head, teachers and they might even see some familiar faces or make some new friends.
I wish our pupils the best of luck. We are extremely proud of you all.
Go get ’em,
Wilma & Darragh
September 2025
Dear Parents of 5th & 6th Class pupils,
Selecting the right post-primary school is an important milestone for every family. We are proud that children from Ard Rí CNS have been accepted into all of the post-primary schools in Navan.
Most schools begin their enrolment process in early October, usually launched at their Open Evening.
Please find the Open Evening times listed below. Further details will be available on each school’s website and social media channels.
Remember: Parents are responsible for making applications to Post Primary Schools on behalf of their children. Acceptance is not guaranteed, so I advise you to apply to more than one school.
Enrolment can only be secured for pupils in 6th Class, however I encourage you to gather as much information as you can when your child is in 5th Class so you can make the best decision.
If you require any support printing or filling out forms please do not hesitate to contact us. We would be delighted to help you.
Beaufort College:
Open night for incoming 1st years for the school year 2026/27 takes place on Tuesday 23rd September from 6.00-8.00pm.
Coláiste na Mí:
Open night for incoming 1st years for the school year 2026/27 takes place on Thursday 25th September from 4.30-7.00pm
St Joseph’s Mercy Secondary School:
Open night for incoming 1st years for the school year 2026/27 takes place on Thursday 2nd October from 5.00-7.00pm.
Loreto St Michael’s Secondary School:
Open night for incoming 1st years for the school year 2026/27 takes place on Thursday 25th September from 6.00-8.00pm.
St Patrick’s Classical School:
Open night for incoming 1st years for the school year 2026/27 takes place on Thursday 25th September from 7.00-9.00pm. (Please note only parents attend St Pat’s Open Evening)
Coláiste Ríoga, Dunshaughlin:
Although Coláiste Ríoga is not in Navan, it is a popular choice for families in our school. Open night for incoming 1st years for the school year 2026/27 takes place on Thursday 9th October 4.30-7.30pm.
