Scoil Náisiúnta Rathain is a Catholic co-educational primary school with a Catholic ethos under the patronage of the Bishop of Cloyne. 

“Catholic Ethos” in the context of a Catholic primary school means the ethos and characteristic spirit of the Roman Catholic Church, which aims at promoting: 

(a) the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the person of the pupil, including the intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual aspects; and 

(b) a living relationship with God and with other people; and 

(c) a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; and 

(d) the formation of the pupils in the Catholic faith, 

and which school provides religious education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrine; Mol an Óige agus Tiocfaidh Sí