Lucan CNS scoop first EU Digital School Award

A LUCAN school became the first primary school in the country to win the EU Digital Schools of Europe Award, which was presented to them by local MEP Frances Fitzgerald.

Lucan Community National School, which has 315 pupils, entered the pilot project that led to their award win, as they’re a technology-focused school.

The students use iPads in school to supplement their learning, and to help them to present assignments in different formats more suited to their educational needs and abilities.

Claire Downes, principal of Lucan CNS, told The Echo: “Winning the award is huge for us, because our core vision is to provide a primary education in 21st century Ireland encompassing digital technology.

“[Using digital technology in the classroom] caters to all different learning styles and learning needs. “We could have children who have dyslexia or dyspraxia, so if they’re working on a project they might prefer to record themselves talking, or do a photo project.

“It makes it so that all students’ strengths are catered to, and we’re not tied to textbooks.

“The students like the flexibility and the scope it adds to their learning. It motivates them more – it’s not a case of read this textbook and do this exercise.

“It opens the scope for exploration and creating. It means there’s choice in their learning and in how they research and work on projects.”

The school’s development as a digitally-focused school began under former principal Nichola Spokes, and has been carried on by Ms Downes and the school’s staff.

It’s because of this emphasis on technology that the school’s staff applied for the EU-funded award.

The lengthy application process was completed by the school’s deputy principal and IT coordinator, Laura Duff earlier in the year which led to the school being assessed by adjudicators for the award.

The occasion was marked with an event in the school on Friday, May 20, where local MEP Frances Fitzgerald presented the award to the school in recognition of their successful incorporation of technology as an educational tool in a primary school environment.

“There was great excitement on the day, because Frances Fitzgerald is a member of the European Parliament and the award is from the EU,” added Ms Downes.

“It was special for her as well, because she’s from Lucan and said she remembered when the school was in the prefabs across the way.”

Lucan CNS is the first primary school in Ireland to receive the award, an achievement which Ms Downes said instils the school community with a strong sense of pride.