Many things contribute to the success of a school. The attitudes of teachers, parents and pupils are all crucial. Sometimes, these all come together to create something more than the sum of its parts. The Sacred Heart School, Tullamore, Co Offaly, is such a school.

"The school has always cared for its students," says principal Sheila McManamly. "It was the first thing I noticed when I came here." This concern manifests itself in many ways, not least in the provision of a pastoral counsellor.

"Eight or nine years ago the board decided that we needed more than a careers teacher," the principal explains. "We felt that schools couldn't handle all the changes in society. Sometimes, instead of adopting an authoritarian approach to a discipline problem, there could be an underlying problem and this could be dealt with on a pastoral level."

According to Sister Columba, chairperson of the board of management, this care illustrates the ethos of the school which is that "the most important thing is the relations in the school - this means treating the pupils like human beings."

This ethos has driven the school's thinking for many years and, as a result, it has been at the forefront of new ideas. They are in the first wave of schools to offer the Leaving Cert Applied programme. A book rental scheme has enjoyed great parental support since 1991 and there has been a students' council since 1973. The council recently played a key role in the drafting of a new discipline code.

Another example of innovation was last year's Leaving Cert Vocational Programme. "99 per cent of schools were running mini-companies, so we decided to do something different," says Elaine O'Doherty, the teacher who ran the programme.

The girls on the programme studied the biology of trinomia, a chromosomal abnormality, and then raised money for the Support Organisation For Trisomies (SOFT), the charity which supports families of children born with Patau's Syndrome and Edwards' Syndrome, two chromosomal disorders. The girls then set up their own charity, organised collections and events and raised over £2,000 for SOFT.

Brenda Garry, one of the students on the project, says she got her place on a highly sought after occupational therapy course in England as a result of the knowledge she gained. "About 600 people were interviewed for the 50 places on the course," she says. "At my interview I was able to talk about trinomia and I felt confident."

The school has deep roots in Tullamore, having been founded in 1841 by the Sisters of Mercy. It now has about 700 pupils and is the largest all-girls school in Offaly.

McManamly agrees that this size gives the school a great pool of talent, but it also brings its own challenges. "I usually work from 8.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. - it's a long day."

The day can be even longer. At the moment she is preparing for the school's St Valentine's Day Disco, one of four held there each year. "We couldn't do any of this if the staff were not flexible and prepared to go for a challenge," she says. "It's challenging but, when something goes right, it's very rewarding also."

Things, it seems, have a habit of going right. Sacred Heart reached new sporting heights last year when their basketball team became senior all-Ireland champions. A large part of this was due to the inspirational Susan Moran, one of the most talented Irish players of her generation. Susan was introduced to the sport at the school. She was headhunted by an American university and now plays at inter-varsity level in the United States.

The school also boasts a successful choir. Although it hasn't won the Schools' Choral Competition - "yet," says the principal - it consistently performs well and was awarded the overall award at last year's Cork International Choral Festival.

The choir will be going to Austria next month where it will give two performances in Vienna. "This little trip," as McManamly calls it, has been in large part funded by the choir itself. It is in great demand in the area and has performed with local artists such as Dave Lawlor.

The school does very well academically. Careers teacher Rosaleen Lynch estimates that around 70 per cent are in some form of higher or continuing education.

One of last year's pupils is now studying in the Royal College of Surgeons after being awarded one of only five scholarships. "For me the most striking thing about the school is the level of motivation", says Lynch.

Exceptionally able pupils can sit the SAT student aptitude test which may qualify them to attend summer schools in DCU - last year five were successful.

Despite having such a good record, Sister Columba is keen to stress that Sacred Heart is not elitist. "We have an open enrolment policy and that is practised, not just on paper." She points to the fact that the school has a learning support teacher for the Travelling community and caters for disabled students also.

McManamly is mindful of the challenges her pupils will face in the workplace. She sees the school's purpose as being to enable students to do what they can and realise their potential. "There is no glass ceiling put upon them here," she says.