Coláiste Árd Álainn is a school under the auspices of Cork Education & Training Board (CETB) for teenage young people who are in the care of the Child and Family Agency in a Residential Care Unit or in a Special Care Unit. The school was set up in partnership between the former Cork County VEC (now Cork ETB), the HSE (now Child and Family Agency) and the DES in Sept.2001.

Facilities in Coláiste Árd Álainn include two general classrooms, a Technology Room, a Home Economics Room, an Art Room, a Gym and a Library. There are further facilities of two general classrooms in another building on the campus which are used occasionally.

The pupil teacher ratio in Coláiste Árd Álainn is low; where possible on a one-to-one or one-to–two basis. Each student works to an overall Individual Education Plan which feeds into subject specific IEP’s. All IEP’s are reviewed on a regular (minimum termly) basis.