On acceptance of your child’s enrolment application, Parents will attend an information evening in May of the year their child will be starting First Year.

The student themselves will be called to the school on a Saturday in early 2026 for an assessment test. This is merely to ascertain if your child needs extra resources as a gifted student or to provide your child with extra help in areas that they are struggling with. Students are not streamed in First Year. Their First Year classes will be mixed ability groupings.

First Year students will begin their first year in CNC with an introduction to senior students called Cairde members. The Cairde members will help them get a feel for the place and each student will be assigned a Cairde member, who will be their mentor throughout the year. Each student will also be assigned a class tutor and year head, which will be their first point of contact.

A bonding day is organised in September. This aims to help students develop friendships and transition to secondary school.