Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed, Thurles, was awarded €5,000 to collaborate with Scoil Ruáin Killenaule and Leugh National School. This project focuses on developing a collaborative, student-led learning environment that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving while building strong connections between primary and post-primary schools. The schools aimed to co-host a ‘Student Leadership Summit’ to share best practices and resources developed.
School's reflection
Our participation in Féilte served as a powerful culmination of a year-long journey in collaborative professional learning. Showcasing our student leadership project alongside our partner school was not just an end-point, but a validation of the Professional Learning Community (PLC) we built.
The most significant impact was witnessing the shift in our own professional identities. By moving from a traditional instructional model to one of coaching and mentorship, we unlocked a new dimension of our practice.
Presenting our project and engaging in dialogue with the wider educational community reinforced our central goal: promoting teaching as a modern, innovative profession. Seeing our students articulate their growth with such agency was a direct testament to the high-quality mentorship they received. This experience has left us with a strengthened bond between our collaborating schools and a renewed commitment to evidence-based inquiry. We didn’t just implement a project; we fostered a sustainable community of practice that has permanently elevated our pedagogical approach.