School Excellence Award (SEA)

Project in conjunction with South East Technological University (SETU), Waterford Teachers' Centre and Wexford Education Support Centre

Kilkenny Education Centre, Waterford Teachers' Centre and Wexford Education Support Centre, in conjunction with South East Technological University (SETU), formerly Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), have been involved in the School Excellence Award (SEA) for the past 10 years. For the past 10 years, Primary schools were invited to join the Project by forming a team of teachers to examine and evaluate a particular theme. Themes explored over the years include;

2015-16: Supporting Healthy Schools
2016-17: Developing a School Garden
2017-18: The Creative Language School
2018-19: Hands on Maths
2019-20: Greening Our School
2021-22: Sustainability in Schools

School teams attend a number of workshops in the Centre during the year and are guided, supported and encouraged throughout the process by experienced facilitator/s. A maximum of four teachers per school is required for participation in the Project at school level. A minimum of two teachers must attend each individual workshop from each school in order for an award to be issued at school level. There is also an opportunity for individual teachers to participate and receive an individual award in Innovation in Teaching, which was introduced in 2016.

The School of Education, SETU, issue a School Excellence Award for schools who attend and successfully complete the Project. Participation in the Project can be used by any of the participating teachers for accreditation purposes for Postgraduate Studies (one 10 Credit Module) in SETU, or it can simply be an award that the school receives for its involvement in the Project.