The Heritage Council is reminding heritage practitioners that applications remain open for its expanded Heritage in Schools Post-Primary level, with the closing date of 13th July at 12pm fast approaching.
The programme, which has delivered heritage experiences to primary schools for over 25 years, is being extended to post-primary level for the first time. This expansion will create new opportunities for heritage specialists to engage directly with students through curriculum-linked workshops.
The Heritage Council is currently seeking up to 100 individual heritage specialists nationwide. The call is open to individuals across disciplines including archaeology, history, Gaeilge, folklore, ecology, biodiversity, geology, Irish traditional music, traditional crafts, building skills and conservation.
The selection process is based on heritage expertise, youth engagement, communication skills, interview performance and additional value in areas such as Irish language, built heritage and inclusive heritage.
Once recruited, specialists will deliver flexible workshops either in schools, on school grounds or in local heritage settings. It is anticipated that, from 2027, post-primary schools will be able to choose from full-day, half-day or shorter visits, and book a specialist by browsing the HIS directory, agreeing content and dates directly, and completing a formal booking through the online system.
Co-funded, co-ordinated and monitored by the Heritage Council, the programme is designed to deliver high-quality experiences that connect local and national heritage with classroom learning. It will support students’ awareness and appreciation of natural, built and cultural heritage while strengthening subject learning across Junior Cycle, Senior Cycle and Transition Year including history, geography, Gaeilge, English, art, science, CSPE, enterprise and music. The programme is designed as a support for teachers, positioning itself as a practical resource to help deliver the curriculum.
Heritage in Schools celebrated its 25th year last year, having first rolled out to primary schools in 2000. Last year alone, the programme delivered over 3,000 visits to more than 1,000 schools and engaged approximately 172,000 pupils.
Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, said that there is ‘a strong appetite’ among practitioners to engage with young people in a meaningful way.
“Extending Heritage in Schools to post-primary level is a significant development for the programme. It allows us to build on the strong foundations established over the past 25 years and respond to the evolving needs of schools. By bringing practitioners into the classroom, we are helping students make real-world connections to what they are learning and encouraging a deeper understanding of the role heritage plays in our lives and communities,” she said.
The deadline for applications is Monday coming, 13th July at 12pm.
For further information, visit the Heritage Council’s dedicated Heritage in Schools Post-Primary programme webpage at https://www.heritagecouncil.ie
