Education

The Heritage in Schools scheme is a joint initiative of the Heritage Council and the INTO. The scheme is unique in Ireland and provides a panel of over 165 diverse Heritage Specialists who work directly with children in primary schools throughout the country, at the request of the school. The visit by the Heritage Specialist is part-funded by the school and the remaining costs are funded by the Heritage Council. In 2011, the Heritage in Schools Scheme facilitated 1,595 school visits reaching 118,620 children nationally.

The value of the Heritage in Schools scheme is in the richness and depth of knowledge it makes available to children and teachers. The primary aim of the scheme is to encourage awareness of the genius of the natural and cultural world that surrounds us in our daily lives and engage children in a direct experience of their heritage, preferably outside the classroom where possible and appropriate. The scheme supports the stated aims and objectives of the SESE curriculum and provides an additional educational tool and resource for teachers.

The video below provides an insight into how the Heritage in Schools scheme works, with interviews with teachers and heritage specialists and footage of the pupils planting bulbs and cuttings.