WE DID IT!!!!!!
We are delighted to announce that after an 18-month process during 2023-2025,
Maynooth Post Primary School is an officially accredited Quality Mark School with Belong To LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland.
The Quality Mark is a programme developed by Belong To Ireland. The programme has the endorsement of the Department of Education and our patron, KWETB.
Feedback from Belong To said: "Over the past 18 months, your school has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ+ young people, and you should be incredibly proud of this commitment. We know that this journey has required a lot of time, effort, and dedication, and we are so inspired by your level of commitment in making a difference to the lives of LGBTQ+ young people."
We are delighted to achieve this as the accreditation is a recognition of the progress that is being made, and we are grateful for the support and enthusiasm of the entire school community towards the project. Areas that we focused on during the accreditation process were education, awareness and inclusion for all.
Our ally group meets twice a month, every two weeks on Thursday. We alternate between lunch time and after school meetings. Our ally group is a space where like-minded students can get together to chat, craft and relax. Information is available on the ally noticeboard in the main hall or from Ms Lohan & Ms Kavanagh. New members and their friends are always welcome.
The Quality Mark Programme
The Quality Mark Programme is a programme designed by BelongTo and endorsed by the Department of Education. It is a programme designed to support schools to become inclusive and safe school for LGBTQ+ people. In Ireland, 76% of LGBTQ+ students have indicated that they do not feel safe in schools. It is our goal in our school to try to ensure that this number is kept to a minimum.
Further information about the programme can be found here: Belong To LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland
If you would like to discuss this further, please contact the school at reception!