Letterkenny's largest all-girls' primary school has announced it will begin teaching boys from September 2018.

Scoil Mhuire gan Smál will be a co-educational mixed school from next year onwards after recent consultations with parents and the school community.

Fr Eamonn Kelly today announced that next year’s Junior Infants will be a mixed group of boys and girls. All other classes, from senior infants to 6th class will be girls only in 2018 until the co-ed plan is rolled out for subsequent years.

The board said the decision was made after listening “to the voices of all in the school community to help it discern what is best for our school.”

A statement said:

“The Board of Management is delighted to announce that, with the approval of Bishop Alan McGuckian, from September 2018 Scoil Mhuire gan Smál will enrol girls and boys in Junior Infants and will continue to enrol girls from Senior Infants – 6th class.  

“The Board of Management looks forward to working together with everyone in our school community to continue to build on the great Loreto tradition of excellence in education in Scoil Mhuire gan Smál.  There will be regular newsletters to keep the school community updated about the process. The Board would like to thank the school community for its support.”