Schools funded to work together on Experimental Projects, as Minister Bruton rewards Excellence and Innovation

Minister opens second call to School Excellence Fund – DEIS and invites applications to School Excellence Fund - Creative.

Speaking ahead of the teacher conferences, the Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD, today (Monday) reaffirmed his commitment to encouraging innovation and excellence in our education system, by announcing that over 265 schools are to be funded through the School Excellence Fund for Digital, STEM and tackling disadvantage.

The Minister also announced a second call to School Excellence Fund –DEIS and that applications to School Excellence Fund – Creative are open.

The School Excellence Fund is an initiative in the Programme for Government, pioneered by Minister Bruton to encourage and recognize excellence and innovation in our schools. Never before have schools been funded to work together on innovative solutions and given the freedom to experiment with new projects to see what works and what doesn’t.

The benefit of this approach is that it gives school leaders on the ground the support to collaborate on ideas based on their local experience and unique perspective. It allows them to work together, in some cases with higher education institutions and enterprise, and experiment to find creative solutions to complex problems. Successful approaches can then be shared across the school sector.

The Minister has set the ambition to make Ireland’s Education and Training service the best in Europe by 2026. This transformative approach to supporting local innovation will be key to realizing this vision.

Schools Excellence Fund – Digital

Children are naturally creative, curious and adaptable. SEF- Digital seeks to nurture these qualities by supporting schools to work together on projects which will use inventive methods to enhance teaching and learning through digital technology.

The Minister today announced that over 200 schools in 32 clusters have been chosen from what has been a huge demand. Each cluster will receive up to €20,000 funding over the course of the programme.

Sample of projects to be funded:

a cluster of 6 post-primary schools in Dublin, Cork, and Westmeath will work together on a project that will use drones to record footage of the local areas surrounding the schools. This footage will then be used to inform core elements of the Junior and Senior Cycle Geography curricula
a mixed cluster of 9 primary and post-primary schools are partnering with Trinity College and UCD to work on the maths curricula in the transition from primary to post-primary. The cluster will investigate activities using IZAK9 cubes, Geogebra and other technologies to engage students in collaborative learning, problem solving, hypothesis development and testing. Digital portfolios will be used to track progress and outcomes
an Educate Together national school and 4 DEIS primary schools will collaborate on a project which will use technology to facilitate pupils working together and sharing knowledge and information, enhancing their communication skills. There are different projects for defined class groups, beginning at introductory level for infant classes, up to a website project for 6th class, with newspaper/book project, photo gallery project, among others, in between
a cluster of 6 Gaelscoileanna, in Dublin and Kildare will work on a project which aims to improve Computational Thinking Skills through the use of Robotic materials, with a particular emphasis on expanding the range of resources available in Irish
a cluster of midlands post-primary schools’, project will use industry leading training in MoJo (mobile journalism) video content creation to enhance teaching, learning and digital literacy among educators and students in the cluster schools
a DEIS post-primary school will work with 4 primary schools (3 DEIS and one special school) on a coding project

Schools Excellence Fund – DEIS

SEF-DEIS will support participating clusters of schools to explore new, innovative solutions to tackle educational disadvantage and improve learning outcomes for students.

The Minister today announced that 35 pre-schools, primary and post primary schools in 10 clusters around the country are being supported in the first iteration.

Example of projects to be funded:

a post primary school and 3 feeder primary schools in Athlone will be working towards improving student attitudes to and attainment in the STEM subjects. The cluster will build on links with Athlone Institute of Technology and will explore the development of links with local businesses working in the technology sector
a cluster in north east inner city Dublin, made up of 4 primary schools and 3 pre-schools is working on how they can collaborate with each other and with external agencies to better improve language skills of students from a young age and at important transitions
a post primary school and 2 feeder primary schools in Rathangan, County Kildare are collaborating to develop a programme to improve the uptake of Leaving Certificate Higher Level Mathematics. The programme will be delivered to students in 5th and 6th classes in the primary schools, all the way up to junior cycle in the post primary school

The Minister announced that applications for the second phase of the School Excellence Fund – DEIS are now open. Approximately 40 additional schools in a further 10 clusters will be selected to participate in this phase of the programme from September 2018. The Minister also announced that a third phase will commence in September 2019.

Schools Excellence Fund – STEM

SEF-STEM supports schools to work together on projects in accordance with the government’s ambitious plans to promote the teaching and learning of the STEM subjects.

The Minister today announced that at least 30 schools in 10 clusters have been chosen and each cluster will receive up to €20,000 funding over the course of the programme.

Sample of projects to be funded:

4 Kerry primary schools will promote STEM and develop STEM spaces in the participating schools, with significant industry support from Liebherr, a major local manufacturing company. The project will use a wide range of projects to support this, including programming drones, with a pilot's license to be awarded by Kerry Airport to any pupil who can fly a specified route
a cluster comprising 5 primary schools and 1 DEIS post-primary school from Kilkenny, Tipperary and Laois will conduct an outreach programme to local primary schools to increase the uptake, particularly of girls, in the JC Short Course in Coding. The overall aim of the project is to increase the numbers pursuing the suite of STEM subjects
a cluster of 1 post-primary school and 5 primary schools in Offaly, intends to build on the legacy of Birr town as a former site of a Weather station, and the tradition of engineering innovation and space exploration through Birr Castle and the Lofar project (TCD). The project aims to create a two-way active learning environment through the establishment of a STE(A)M hub for all schools in the midlands. Outcomes include learner-built weather stations in each school, plant communicators, and GPS tracking systems

School Excellence Fund – Creative

School Excellence Fund – Creative will support clusters of schools to use art and creativity to address shared challenges or to achieve better learning outcomes.

The scheme will provide an opportunity for clusters to experiment, innovate and collaborate on the design, implementation and evaluation of bespoke arts and creative projects.

Applications are now open. Interested schools can find out more information here:

Speaking ahead of the INTO conference, Minister Bruton said:

“We have an ambitious plan to make Ireland’s education and training service the best in Europe by 2026. I believe that in order to get there, we need to be actively supporting and recognising excellence and innovation among our education leaders."

“I am encouraged and inspired by the projects that we will be supporting through SEF- Digital, SEF- STEM and SEF – DEIS. Each Fund was substantially over-subscribed and exceeded our expectations. There are some very novel approaches being taken in some really important spheres and it is fantastic to see such creative solutions being applied to these complex problems. I look forward to seeing what we can learn from each and share more broadly across the school sector."

“This is a step change in education. Never before have we put funding and resources in place to support schools in working together locally to trial new ideas and experiment with what works and what doesn’t. I am committed to building on this initiative and expanding on this approach during my time as Minister."

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the teachers, school leaders, students, schools, higher level institutions and businesses who came together to work on these really exciting projects. Leadership is the key to making this approach work and we are very lucky in Ireland to have excellent school leaders.”

ENDS

Notes to the Editor:

SEF – Digital

The Digital Strategy for Schools outlines a vision for the embedding of digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment in primary and post primary schools.

The Strategy outlines a programme of work across a number of themes:

teaching, learning and assessment using Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
teachers' professional learning
leadership, research and policy
ICT infrastructure

Significant investment and resources are being deployed to support the implementation of the Strategy including the development of The Digital learning Framework (DLF), which is designed to assist school in embedding digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment. In addition, significant additional grant funding is being made available to schools to upgrade ICT equipment.

One of the proposed actions to achieve this vision is the creation of a scheme that would further enhance the teaching and learning environment in schools using digital technologies and which would encourage collaboration and innovation between teachers and schools. The School Excellence Fund – Digital Programme provides for the opportunity for schools to work together in clusters in a supported way for a period of three years. The programme was launched in December with a closing date of February 2nd for receipt of applications.

A cluster is defined as a collection of schools who collaborate in the design, delivery, evaluation and dissemination of the outcomes of these innovative projects. It was also open to individual schools to apply under the Programme and some of those schools are being added to existing clusters approved.

A Working Group was established to oversee implementation of the Programme and consider and advise on the applications to be selected for inclusion under the Programme.

Lead School Roll Number	Participating School RN	Name	Summary
17508H		Scoil Naomh Colmcille	Cluster of primary schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, using coding, Graphic Design (in collaboration with a local printing company), and Digital Storytelling, and to children in utilising their own devices in a "best practice" approach to inform policy in that area.
	18406E	St. Francis Boys School
	13118U	Scoil Bhride
	18068K	Scoil Naisiunta Peadar agus Pól
	20063M	Scoil an Chlochair
	17903N	Cornamaddy National School
62540I		Deerpark CBS	Project comprising one lead DEIs post-primary school, collaborating with local primary schools on two projects, one in robotics, the other to build a renewable energy source, with post-primary students acting as trainers and mentors for primary pupils. Not only will this equip all of the learners with key skills, but a priority focus will be to advance our knowledge regarding bridging and supporting the transition from primary to post-primary school.
	13828F	St. Columba's BNS
	20106E	Scoil Nicolas
	12473M	Greenmount National School
	18734V	Morning Star National School
19465C		St. Kevin's Boys' School	Project comprising 7 primary schools which are reflective of the broader school environment - urban, rural, single sex, and mixed gender, with targeted inputs to encourage creative problem solving.
	17230L	St. Brigid's National School
	19466E	St. Kevin's G.N.S.
	19319O	St. Olaf's NS
	19465C	St. Kevin's Boys School
	20190T	Holy Trinity National School
20181S		Gaelscoil an Ráithín	This project will encourage children to enhance their knowledge and skills in STEM subjects through a fun, appropriate and interactive stimulus. Primary school pupils and post-primary students will be encourage to build their STEM robotic projects in pairs in challenging lessons.
	20175A	Limerick East Educate Together
	16712B	Adare Boys National School
	18516L	Lisnagry N.S.
	76476F	Mungret Community College
	20101R	Sacred Heart Primary School Granard
	19965W	Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge
	14636B	Scoil Naomh Éanna
17281F		Togher N.S.	Project comprising 3 small rural primary schools, 2 DEIS, with a focus on using Visual Block programming which allows children to create personally meaningful interactive content.
	17011W	Cappabui
	19918N	Drinagh N.S.
		Dept. of Computer Science UCC
13203L		St. Patrick's National School, Loch Gowna	Mixed primary and post-primary cluster, supported by a local PLC, intended to develop a structured approach to areas such as computational thinking, sequencing and numeracy which will have its beginnings in junior classes in primary and continue right through the senior cycle computer science in secondary school.
	70380I	Breifne College
	19586M	Bruskey NS ( St. Patrick’s)
	19378H	Ballynarry NS
	17479D	Lacken NS
		Cavan Institute (PLC) 76087R
17845C		Scoil Mhuire - Brierhill National School	Project aims to involve learners in creating digital resources in the broad area of wellbeing.
	20350P	Merlin Woods Primary School
	76096S	Merlin College
	13365O	Scoil Mhuire, Oranmore
	76293U	Kingswood Community School
	71050P	St. Colman's Community College
	62640M	St Angela’s College
19755L		Sacred Heart of Jesus National School, Huntstown	Primary school cluster including one gaelscoil, focusing on using digital technology to address the T1 and T2 aspects of competencies of the PLC for oral language in both Gaelscoileanna and non-Gaelscoileanna and to support the ongoing development of a whole-school PLC plan for T1 and T2 languages
	19505L	Scoil Oilibhéir, An Chúil Mhín, Clonsilla
	20137P	Mary Mother of Hope Senior National School, Littlepace
	13447Q	Scoil Muire GNS, Lucan, Co. Dublin
19798g		St Colmans Derrinabroc NS	Cluster involving 4 primary and one post-primary school (2 DEIS), aims to enhance the Physical Education Programme at both Primary and Secondary School level in our cluster through the use constructivist pedagogies with mobile devices for students to give effective peer assessment and feedback in their PE lessons.
	17904P	Scoil Mhuire, Brusna N.S
	19651W	Scoil Íosa, Carracastle N.S.
	15255R	The Don N.S., Cortoonmore N.S.
	68067P	St. Nathy's Secondary School
20131D		Dublin 7 Educate Together National School	Primary cluster comprising mainly DEIS schools, with an emphasis on pupils working together and sharing knowledge and information. Different projects for defined class groups, beginning at introductory level for infant classes, up to a website project for 6th class, with newspaper/book project, photo gallery project, among others, in between.
	05933G	Presentation Primary School Georges Hill
	16695E	St. Paul's Primary School
	20436C	St. Mary's Primary School
	12448N	Gardiner Street Convent
20223I		Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada, Lucan, Co. Dublin	All-Irish cluster of gaelscoileanna aiming to develop Computational Thinking Skills in a Constructionist and Inquiry-Based Science Learning Environment through the use of Robotic materials, with a particular emphasis on expanding the range of resources available in Irish.
	19898I	Scoil Uí Riada, Kilcock, Co. Kildare
	20058T	Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich, Maynooth, Co. Kildare
	19680G	Scoil Chearbhaill Uí Dhálaigh, Leixlip, Co. Kildare
	19940G	Gaelscoil Naomh Phádraig, Lucan, Co.Kildare
	19991A	Gaelscoil na Camóige, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
60872A		Mercy Secondary School, Inchicore, Dublin 8	Post-primary cluster, 2 DEIS, 2 non-DEIS schools, project focuses on the Junior Cycle Framework, intends to develop assessment frameworks for teachers and students to use for the explicit assessment of skills, and show how to utilise state-of-the-art ICT tools (such as https://www.nomoremarking.com/ which is based on Adaptive Comparative Judgement ) to support the assessment of skills/competences.
	91335U	Tallaght Community School, Tallaght Dublin 24.
	68262N	Bremore Educate Together Second Level School
	68241F	Stepaside Educate Together Second Level School.
65450W		CBS Thurles Secondary School	7 primary schools with one lead post-primary school, focus on enhancing STEM capacity through cross-sectoral collaboration, with post-primary students interacting with primary pupils in relevant subject areas.
	17634M	Scoil Ailbhe, CBS Primary School.
	16211C	Two Mile Borris National School
	04005G	Moycarkey National School
	18343G	Littleton National School
	01569O	Ballycahill National School
	19968F	Gaelscoil Bhríde
	18775M	Holycross National School
68081J		Temple Carrig School, Greystones, Co Wicklow	Post-primary cluster, with a broad geographical and demographic spread, project will use high definition drone cameras to record footage of the local areas surrounding the schools. The core focus of footage will surround the core elements of the Junior and Senior Cycle curriculums, namely, Physical Processes (Rivers, Coasts, Geology), Human Geography (Urbanisation, Population growth, Historical) and Field Studies (Rivers, Coasts, Traffic Studies). This will facilitate content creation to show a variety of land uses in different areas of the country.
	60910F	Alexandra College, Dublin 6
	60272W	King’s Hospital School, Dublin 20
	62370J	Midleton College, Cork
	60640C	Sandford Park School, Dublin 6
	63300Q	Wilson’s Hospital School, Co Westmeath
70390L		Virginia College	10 post-primary schools, 6 DEIS, using a variety of specific projects (including a collaboration with Monaghan Institute to design, develop and implement transition year modules in Micro:bit programming and App Invention) supported by Cavan Monaghan ETB, to develop a consolidated approach on the Integration and embedding of technology to enhance teaching, learning and STEM practices in CMETB schools.
	72170H	Ballybay Community College
	72210Q	Beech Hill College
	72171J	Largy College
	72190N	Castleblaney College
	70360C	St Mogues College
	70350W	St. Bricins College
	76313A	Coláiste Dun an Rí
	76091I	Coláiste Oiriall
	72180K	Inver College
71140Q		Crana College	2 Primary, 2 post-primary schools, 3 DEIS, This project will aim to support schools and teachers in their introduction of coding/computer science across the curriculum, to provide students across various year levels (primary and secondary) with the opportunity to learn about and use algorithmic thinking, computational thinking and coding creativity to understand and change the world.
	62830R	Saint Eunan's College
	20235P	Letterkenny Educate Together National School
	17469A	Cloughfin National School
71220O		Mulroy College	7 post-primary schools, Under this proposed project, a group of selected teachers from the identified schools, including one island school, will come together in partnership under curriculum planning to explore ways of enriching and enhancing the teaching and learning in their classrooms. Project will develop curricular content in consultation and collaboration with students.
	71140Q	Crana College
	71230R	Deele College
	71200l	Errigal College
	76083J	MaghEne Bundoran
	71242B	Gairmscoil Chú Uladh
	71150T	Colaiste na Carraige
	71244F	Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada
71840V		Cloister Chiaráin	Post-primary DEIS lead school with 4 primary schools, STEM ROOTS is a project that encompasses primary, secondary and third level. Students and teachers from across the sectors will collaborate to produce group ePortfolios that will showcase STEM development through web design, hardware and software projects.
	09306W	Croom NS
	20133H	Scoil Dean Cussen
	18872K	Scoil Íde
	15680J	Roxboro
76101i		Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh	Post-primary - all-Irish cluster of Gaelcholaistí, using Video Blogs: to promote, refine and sustain the Irish language through technology in Irish-Medium Schools
	70560K	Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí
	76102K	Gaelcholáiste an Eachréidh
	76273O	Gaelcholáiste Charaigh Uí Leighin
	71124S	Coláiste Dáibhéid
	91511O	Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne
76105q		Banagher College – Colaiste na Sionna	Post-primary cluster, rural towns, The project aims to use industry leading training in MoJo (mobile journalism) video content creation to enhance teaching, learning and digital literacy among educators and students in the cluster schools; while also being central to AFL (assessment for learning) and blended learning approaches in the respective schools.
	63270k	Colaiste Mhuire, Mullingar
	65610s	Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore
	68325L	Coláiste Chiarain, Summerhill, Crannagh, Athlone
91400F		Mayfield Community School	Lead by DEIS post-primary, with 4 primary schools (3 DEIS), project uses coding animated webcasts and robot challenges to reinforce the learning of our students by coding what they have learned, sharing what they have coded, assessing the effectiveness of their efforts and then reflecting on the whole process to learn how to do it better the next time around.
	20497W	Scoil Mhuire agus Eoin N.S.
	19410A	St. Killian's Special School
	19426P	St. Mark's N.S.
	19427R	St. Brendan's G.N.S.
76474B		Dunamase College	Mixed primary and post-primary, number of DEIS schools, one Gaelcholaiste, strong third level involvement, education centre support and industry participation, through a series of cross sectoral workshops will explore the maths curricula in the transition from primary to post-primary, and investigate activities using IZAK9 cubes, Geogebra and other technologies to engage students in collaborative learning, problem solving, hypothesis development and testing. Digital portfolios will be used to track progress and outcomes in this project.
	19747M	Scoil Bhride
	20081O	Gaelscoil Phortlaoise
	65620V	Sacred Heart
	16928B	St Philomena's NS
	18057F	Scoil Mhuire
	91530S	Kildare Town CS
	20427B	St Brigid's
	20403K	Kildate Town ET
91494R		St Louis Community School	Post-primary cluster, with a focus on the area of career guidance, improving senior cycle student’s awareness of how key skills relate to diverse study and career paths using artificial intelligence.
	61681V	Patrician Secondary School
	65170Q	Summerhill College
20295K		Carlow Educate Together NS	Educate Together primary school cluster, This project aims to create an online classroom to teach Educate Together’s Ethical Education curriculum to 6 schools where children will collaborate to build up a complete programme of work for all schools to use. Methodologies used will be applicable to other content
	20177E	Newbridge Educate Together NS
	20402I	Citywest Educate Together NS
	20347D	Portlaoise Educate Together NS
	20403K	Kildare Educate Together NS
	20411J	Firhouse Educate Together NS
71620H		Bunclody Vocational College	A cluster of 10 post-primary schools, the project will create a professional network of Music teachers, to facilitate the use of additional music software, video conferencing for student and teacher collaboration and creation of Class Notebooks as Digital portfolios as part of assessment.
	71610E	Bridgetown College
	76127D	Creagh College
	71600B	Coláiste Abbáin
	71650Q	Coláiste an Átha, Kilmuckridge
	71680C	Selskar College
	72241E	St. Paul's Community College
	72230W	St. Declan's Community College
	71630K	Enniscorthy Vocational College
	76066J	Meanscoil San Nicolás an Rinn
	62990Q	Dominican College	Project will use digital technologies to facilitate and enhance the Classroom based assessment piece for Junior Cycle initially, across a number of curricular areas, including P.E, and modern languages. To note, this cluster has been expanded, by the addition of 5 individual applicant post-primary schools proposing similar projects.
	62960H	St. Joseph's College "The Bish"
	63001G	Jesus and Mary Secondary School, Salerno
		NUI Galway School of Education
	68141b	Ardscoilnamara
	61820J	Loreto Secondary School
	60770P	St. Mary's Secondary School Glasnevin
	61141M	Presentation College, Carlow
	64660F	Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh
19951L		Swinford National School	Project to involve teachers and pupils in the creation of a new 4D model of CPD, which combines Lesson Study, Bridge 21 and Design Thinking models to create a new innovative online experience for teachers working in Teacher Design Teams to collaboratively effect change at a whole-school level to innovate and improve educational practice, through the embedding of a range of digital technologies in teaching and learning. To note, these two clusters were asked to merge based on common theme.
	02912G	Meelick National School
	16780S	Culmore National School
	13389F	Midfield National School
18542M		St Patrick's De la Salle Boys' N.S.
	18880J	Gortskehy N.S.
	12173A	Meelickmore N.S.
19745I		Scartaglen National School	The plan aims to embed coding practices, develop computational thinking and problem solving while encouraging creativity. The coding skills to be taught are divided into four levels, Junior/Senior, First/Second, Third/Fourth and Fifth/Sixth class.
	07317R	Glengurt NS
	10394G	Kilmurry NS (Scoil Mhuire B agus C)
	14839P	Clondrohid National School
		Tralee Institute of Technology
	61301I	Coláiste Ide agus Iosef, Abbeyfeale (Second Level)
19488O		Attymass NS	The aim of this project is to explore and research the impact of a number of professional learning opportunities for all teachers in our schools so that digital technologies will be embedded in teaching, learning and assessment by all teachers. We aim to address this by focussing on teaching and learning approaches and methodologies and exploring /sharing/ researching the range of tools and applications that can deepen the learning for all pupils.
	18003F	St. Attracta's NS
	14051T	Stokane NS
	20230F	Scoil Phádraig, Westport
	14418O	Bofield NS
	18694M	St. Angela's NS
	11725I	Behymore NS
	12467r	Craggagh NS
	20089H	St. Joseph's P.S. Ballinrobe
	17922R	Cloghans Hill NS
	05120L	Lehinch NS
	20457K	Castlebar ETNS
19384C		Ardfert Central N.S	Primary and post-primary school cluster, using Virtual Reality to provide an enhanced learning experience for pupils and students, in a variety of contexts, including the Primary Language Curriculum, wellbeing, and numeracy. To note, these two clusters have been asked to merge based on common theme.
	18665f	Abbeydorney N.S.
	20158a	Tralee Educate Together N.S.
	10957b	Scoil Mhuire de Lourdes
	20237T	Gaelscoil Riada
19390U		St. Mark's Senior National School
	19765O	St. Thomas's Senior National School
	20173T	St. Anne's Primary School
	19543T	Sacred Heart Senior National School
	76098W	Coláiste Pobail Setanta
	19543T	Sacred Heart Senior National School
	76098W	Coláiste Pobail Setanta

SEF – DEIS

SEF-DEIS is designed to ensure that innovative approaches and proposals to tackle educational disadvantage are supported and rewarded.

The overarching aim of the initiative is to improve learning outcomes for young people. In order to achieve improved outcomes, schools in the SEF-DEIS will be challenged to promote innovation by adopting new evidence-based approaches to tackling under-performance in literacy and in the STEM subjects or in the Arts subjects.

There are ten clusters, comprising thirty-five schools, currently involved in the first phase of the SEF-DEIS. They are working on a diverse range of themes including:

a cluster comprising one post-primary school and its two main feeder primary schools working towards ensuring that students learning English as an Additional Language (EAL) develop sufficient higher order language skills to access the full curriculum and to achieve at the level of their ability (Balbriggan)
a cluster comprising one post-primary school and three feeder primary schools collaborating with a local third level institute and local industry to improve student attainment in Science. The schools are working towards improving student attitudes to and attainment in the subject (Athlone, Westmeath)
teachers in a cluster comprising four primary schools and three pre-schools collaborating with each other and with external agencies to ensure improved outcomes in language. This will involve the development and delivery of an evidence-informed programme at the level of the classroom and in the home (Dublin north east inner city)
teachers in a cluster comprising one post-primary school and two feeder primary schools working towards the development of a programme in Mathematics that will be delivered to senior pupils in the primary schools and to junior cycle students in the post-primary school with the ultimate aim of improving the uptake and attainment at higher level in Mathematics in State examinations (Rathangan, Kildare)
a cluster comprising one primary and a post-primary school has decided to develop the students’ computational thinking skills and their problem-solving skills as a means of better supporting the transition of primary pupils into the post-primary school. The work will be supported by a local third level institution (Clonmel, Tipperary)
another primary and post-primary school have collaborated to develop the PEACH project –Physical, Emotional, Active, Cognitive, Health project. This project will focus on the students’ wellbeing by addressing their needs in the areas identified above. Parental involvement will be an important element of the programme, as it will be in most of the other projects (Cork City)
a rural cluster of schools will focus on the development of a cross-sectoral approach to the development of the students’ communication skills. Teachers will engage in collaborative review of their practices with a view to enhancing their communications skills and teaching methodologies while students will be expected to demonstrate improved communication skills over time (West Sligo)
a cluster comprising two primary and one post-primary schools will seek to improve students’ literacy skills by adopting a cross-sectoral approach to the development of their oral language skills. The project will seek to ensure continuity of teachers’ practices and students’ experiences between the two levels (Enniscorthy, Wexford)
a cluster comprising one post-primary and three primary schools is seeking to bring about attitudinal change among students to Science. The schools will work with the local business community to tap into available expertise and teachers will engage in cross-sectoral peer observation as a means of improving practices in the area of Science teaching (Inchicore, Dublin)
three schools, one post-primary and two primary are collaborating to ensure that high ability students achieve to the best of those abilities. Ultimately, the project is aimed at ensuring greater uptake at higher level in senior cycle Physics and Chemistry. The schools will collaborate through the implementation of a cross-sectoral approach to teaching STEM subjects (Limerick city)

Schools have been encouraged to submit applications for inclusion in the second phase of the SEF-DEIS by 18 May. It is envisaged that ten clusters comprising approximately forty schools will be selected to participate in the programme from September 2018. More information, including how to apply can be found here: http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/school-excellence-fund/school-excellence-fund.html.

SEF – Gaeltacht

Schools in the Gaeltacht play a critical role in the preservation of the Irish language in their communities through the provision of high quality Irish-medium education. The Minister launched the Policy on Gaeltacht Education in 2016, which is the first Gaeltacht specific education policy in the history of the state. Funding for the implementation of the Policy has more than doubled in 2018 increasing to €2.3m, indicating this government’s commitment to supporting the Irish language and Gaeltacht schools.

A key feature of Policy implementation was the launch of the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme in April 2017 which provides Gaeltacht schools with the opportunity to access extra supports and resources to assist them in achieving Gaeltacht status through the development of action plans and implementation of specific language-based criteria. Through the school self-evaluation process and Recognition Scheme, 133 schools in the Gaeltacht are moving towards full Irish-medium immersion education with the support of their local language-planning committees.

To support the promotion of innovation and excellence in the delivery of Irish-medium education through the Scheme, schools that achieve Gaeltacht School Recognition over the next few years will also have the opportunity to work towards becoming Irish-medium Gaeltacht Schools of Excellence / Scoileanna Gaeltachta Barr Feabhais. This will enable schools to share their practices with other Gaeltacht schools and become involved in leading communities of practice.

Another exciting and ground- breaking research-based project which is on track for implementation on pilot basis in the 2018/2019 school year is the implementation of a pilot e-hub digital project in four post-primary Gaeltacht schools participating in the Scheme. The roll-out of this project will not only be of great interest to Gaeltacht communities but also to those with an interest in how ICT and online synchronous and asynchronous learning can assist in extending the range of subject options through Irish for post-primary students.

SEF – Step Up

The Inspectorate and the Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) support service are collaborating on a project to support and encourage post-primary schools to use the school self-evaluation process to achieve the highest level of quality in the implementation of the new Junior Cycle framework in specific subject areas. Schools will have access to dedicated support from JCT and to advice from inspectors in order to encourage them to use innovative teaching approaches and to assist them in progressing from providing effective learning experiences to highly effective learning for their students.

SEF – Creative

Creative Clusters is a pilot initiative of the Department of Education and Skills, led by and in partnership with the 21 full-time Teacher Education Centres (ATECI). Creative Clusters provide schools with access to creative people, skills and resources alongside supporting them to draw on their own skills and experiences and those within their wider communities. Creative Clusters is an important initiative of Creative Youth – A Plan to Enable the Creative Potential of Every Child and Young Person, which was published in December 2017 as part of the Creative Ireland Programme.

Applications are now open. Interested schools can find out more information here: Schools Excellence Fund - Creative Clusters.

SEF – STEM

The remaining SEF-STEM clusters will be informed once they return from the Easter Holidays.