The Learning School Project is back!

We are delighted to be in a position to re-establish the Learning School Project and we invite you to participate in this new cycle of the Learning School Project- LSP-12. 

Cork Education Support Centre  is delighted to collaborate with  Limerick Education Centre on this exciting initiative.

The framework for this project is the development of the school as a self-evaluating school, which is a key element of current national policy with particular reference to Looking at Our School (LAOS) and School Self-Evaluation (SSE).

Participation in LSP-12 will offer your school an opportunity to explore LAOS and decide on an aspect of the Teaching and Learning Dimension to focus on in terms of SSE, school development and school improvement.

Schools that have participated in the Learning School Project over the years have benefitted hugely from their own individual, context-based innovation and development.

A letter has been sent to schools this week to register interest in participating in LSP12.  Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Thursday 2nd December if you wish for your school to be included in this year’s programme

Learning School Project-12 - 1st Hub Meeting will take place Monday the 6^th December 2021 at 4.00pm

Objectives:

·      To develop an increased awareness of what constitutes a learning school

·      To provide a vehicle for school self-evaluation and school improvement

·      To develop leadership capacity by empowering staff to take on and carry out leadership roles

Participants will develop the skills of:

·      Project management

·      Data analysis and self-evaluation

·      Facilitation & presentation

·      Communication & ICT

·      Reflective practice

What next?

·      Evaluate the effectiveness of the action/intervention

·      Communicate the findings to colleagues within the school and amongst the other LSP schools.

Structure - CESC and LEC will:

·      Identify two teachers in the school to act as team leaders – to be known as the project pair. The project pair will attend the hub sessions.

·      Recruit a further 2-4 team members, ideally including a member of the senior management team.

·      Engage in a process of self-evaluation to identify the teaching & learning aspect that will be the focus of the project.

·      Design & implement an action/intervention to address the identified focus.

·      Host a network of the participating CESC post-primary schools.

·      Provide support through a series of 4/5 “Hub” meetings from November 2021 to May 2022 either face-to-face or online. (subject to public health guidelines)

·      The purpose of these meetings is to support the school as the project evolves from the planning, through implementation to evaluation and reporting stage.

·      Facilitate individual school visits during the period of the project either face-to-face or online. (subject to public health guidelines)

Timeline for the project:

Final Showcase:

We will celebrate the work of each school at a showcase event in May 2022, (subject to public health guidelines)

The Annual General Meeting for 2021 will take place on Thursday 25th November, 2021 at 7.30pm

The meeting will take place online.

Please contact us if you wish to attend at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Competition to design a logo for BLAST –  Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers

What the competition is: 

• The Minister of Education has announced a competition to select a design for a logo to represent BLAST – Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers –a new initiative which will enable up to 400 new arts in education residencies in schools each year.
• The aim of this scheme is to give pupils in schools all over the country the opportunity to work with a professional artist on unique projects.

• The reason for the competition is to include the voice of the student in this very important initiative in schools. 
• The winning design will be adapted by a professional design team and used by the Department of Education and by schools when they are publicising BLAST.  
• The winning entry will be selected by a panel of judges 
• The winning entry will receive a go pro camera.
• All entries received will receive a certificate, provided by email. 
• Closing date for receipt of entries is 30 September 2021 and late entries cannot be accepted. 

Competition Rules

Who can enter:

• The competition is open to any student in primary or post-primary education in Ireland.

What entries should look like: 

• Your logo design must contain the word BLAST.  The name BLAST will be used in both English and Irish versions of the logo. The design should not contain any additional text.
• Think about your design, because the logo will be used in both large and small sizes on various materials. Too much detailing may be lost in smaller size use, so remember that when thinking about your design. 
• The logo design should work in colour as well as in black and white. 

What format to design it in:

• Your logo design can be worked in any material, for example paint, pencils, acrylic, pen, or in digital format as a high-quality jpg or PDF. 
• You can use colour or black and white.  

Important things to remember:

• Only one entry can be submitted per person, or per group. Individuals may also be a named entrant on a group entry. 
• Each email entry should clearly state the name, class and school, including school address. Please fill in the form below.
• Any paper entry should be clearly labelled on the reverse, with the name, class and school, including school address. No personal email address or personal numbers should be included on paper designs.  
• The logo design must be original and must be the work of the person or group entering only.
• You cannot use anyone else’s work. By entering, you certify that the logo does not infringe the rights of any third party and is not in violation of any copyright.

• The Closing date for receipt of entries is 30 September 2021 and late entries cannot be accepted. 

How to send in your entry:

• You should send your entry to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or post it to

Blast Logo Competition, Department Of Education, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 RC96  

• Each email entry should clearly state the name, class and school, including school address. No personal addresses or personal numbers should be included.
• Paper entries should be clearly labelled on the reverse, with the name, class and school, including school address.
• No personal addresses or personal numbers should be included on paper designs.  

Judging

• A judging panel will decide on the winning entry. This will include the Minister for Education, music industry leader Louis Walsh, and visual communications programme Lead, TU Dublin, Brenda Dermody.
• The decision of this committee will be final.

Use of the winning logo

• The winning logo will be worked on by a professional designer so that it can be adapted for use in design computer programmes. 
• The winning entry will become the sole property of the Department of Education for use at its discretion.
• By submitting an entry, applicants accept all competition guidelines and agree to be bound by them.
• It will not be possible for entries to be returned by the Department of Education to entrants.

BLAST Arts in Education Logo Competition Entry Form is Available Here

We are now taking bookings for our Autumn courses.

You will find details of these courses under the Courses tab above.

Places on all courses are limited and so early booking is advised.