Ballinakill Mixed NS, Co. Laois, was awarded €5,000 to collaborate with four schools* to engage in targeted leadership development, through engagement with LIFT (Leading Ireland’s Future Together).
In facilitated workshops, peer-learning sessions and roundtable conferencing, teachers reflected on leadership values, meeting with leaders from within and outside of education to explore approaches to leadership challenges and build shared leadership capacity. This project aimed to strengthen leadership cultures that enhance teaching and learning and enables the creation of a sustainable leadership network across this rural community.
*List of collaborating schools:
- Heywood Community School
- Holy Cross National School
- Scoil an Chroí Ró Naofa
- Clonenagh National School
School's reflection
The teacher professional learning project, Leading Together: Building Leadership Capacity in Rural Schools, provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen collaborative leadership across participating schools. Through personal reflection on their pre-existing understanding and practice of leadership, followed by engagement in a LIFT (Leading Ireland’s Future Together) training workshop and roundtable discussions, teachers developed a deeper understanding of leadership as a shared and inclusive practice rather than a role confined to formal positions.
A key aspect of the experience was the creation of a professional learning network across rural schools. Peer-learning sessions fostered meaningful collaboration, enabling teachers to reflect on their practice, share challenges, and co-develop leadership strategies. The structured training and opportunities to act as facilitators empowered teachers to take ownership of their professional growth, increasing confidence and promoting a culture of distributed leadership.
The impact on teachers was evident in enhanced leadership capacity, improved professional dialogue, and a stronger sense of agency. This, in turn, positively influenced students through more reflective teaching practices, improved classroom environments, and a greater emphasis on wellbeing and collaboration. The project also laid the foundation for sustained impact by establishing ongoing partnerships between schools and embedding leadership practices into everyday teaching. Overall, the initiative successfully promoted teaching as a dynamic, collaborative profession and significantly enhanced teacher professional learning through the development of leadership capacity and a shared culture of reflective practice.