A recent visit to Rathcoole Educate Together National School (ETNS) provided an inspiring look at the impact made possible by the DCU Changemaker Schools Network thanks to philanthropic support.
The school’s principal, Gemma Maher, her colleagues, and most importantly the students themselves shared the role of children’s advisory panels (CAP) in empowering the next generation of changemakers in their school.
At the heart of the school’s ethos is a commitment to student voice. From an ideas post-box where children can submit suggestions for topics, to dedicated event panels, students are involved in every major decision. Representatives from all classes—from junior infants to sixth class, and across mainstream and autism classes—are invited to join every panel and share their input.
At a recent sports day panel, students shared what worked well last year and what activities they wanted to see this summer. As Gemma notes, “It’s for them, so they need to be invested and excited about it.”
The impact of this approach is undeniable. Students feel a deep sense of ownership and connection to their school environment, and they are excited to drive change. Gemma has watched previously reserved children blossom; in fact, two of the students who presented on the day were children she never imagined would have the confidence to speak in front of a crowded room. Visitors heard from a student from Georgia who shared how she helped younger children with learning English and translation, and a student from the autism class talked about his enjoyment of reading with students in infant classes. The students also told visitors about a planting project and their “wellbeing warriors” who support mental health and happiness across the school.
This collaborative and immersive approach also extends to class teaching. Gemma has moved away from traditional, one-off national engineering, maths, or wellbeing weeks.
“Instead, we do engineering and maths really well all the time, and wellbeing is something we take very seriously every day.”
This is evident in the school’s layout. A tour of the campus reveals a vibrant outdoor classroom, reflecting a curriculum that favours hands-on, activity-based learning. For some topics, the students themselves decide whether the lesson would be best taught inside or outdoors. Student leadership even reaches the management level, with children often attending board meetings to present updates on their initiatives.
For Gemma, the ultimate goal stretches far beyond the classroom walls.
“I want children who are going to stand up for what they believe in. They need to learn those skills to make a better Ireland.”
The true power of the Changemaker Schools Network lies in its collaborative spirit— supporting educators to share ideas, learn from one another, and bring innovative practices back to their own schools.
Philanthropic support has been key to delivering the resources, professional development, and research needed to advance and grow this community of changemakers.
