'Everyone is welcome here' - Tyndall College is first Carlow School awarded for LGBTQ+ inclusion 

Tyndall College in County Carlow is the first to be awarded the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark for their commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion.

The post-primary school recently finished an 18-month journey embedding LGBTQ+ inclusion across their people, policies and practices.  

The LGBTQ+ Quality Mark is run by Belong To, Ireland’s national LGBTQ+ youth organisation. Students, teachers and principals from 37 schools came together to receive their award at a celebratory event at The Foundry, Google Headquarters in Dublin.  

The LGBTQ+ Quality Mark initiative is a holistic approach to LGBTQ+ inclusion in post-primary schools that involves the whole school community.  

Over the course of 18 months, schools are supported in implementing evidence-based actions across a number of key areas, which research shows improves the wellbeing and safety of LGBTQ+ students. The LGBTQ+ Quality Mark was created with support from Google.org. 

Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia remain a significant challenge for LGBTQ+ students. In Ireland, 76% of LGBTQ+ second-level students feel unsafe at school. The schools involved in the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark have worked tirelessly to create an environment where all students feel safe and supported.  

Speaking at the event, Jack Chambers (he/him), Minister of State and TD for Dublin West, said:

“I am delighted to join students, teachers and principals from schools across Ireland as they receive their LGBTQ+ Quality Mark today. Belong To’s LGBTQ+ Quality Mark recognises the importance of schools being places where members of the LGBTQ+ community can feel safe and supported. 

We know that a supportive school environment can have a hugely beneficial impact on the wellbeing and attainment of LGBTQ+ students. Together, we need to address the anti-LGBTQ+ stigma and discrimination that remains prevalent in our society. 

The Government is committed to ensuring the safety, equality and inclusion of all students, including our LGBTQ+ students, by creating safe, supportive and inclusive school environments for all.” 

Matthew Hughes, Q Mark Coordinator from Tyndall College said:  

“The Tyndall College Motto of 'Everyone is Welcome here' aspired to ensure people of all nationalities, religions, learning abilities,  sexual orientation and genders felt welcome. Being part of the Belong to project, was a privilege and has enriched the culture of our school. 

We were confronted with the challenge of ensuring that our aspiration for an inclusive learning environment was backed up by policy and practice. 

This project made our school culture richer. All students including those that are LGBTQ+, all families, including LGBTQ+ families, all staff, including LGBTQ+ staff, are part of the fabric of our school. LGBTQ+ students, family and staff see themselves represented and celebrated within the walls of our school, on school social media, in the books that we read, and the positive relationships with community LGBTQ+ groups. Receiving this accreditation, is very important to our school. 

We want everyone to know, that being welcome in Tyndall, means having the freedom of being your full self in our community without fear; it means we provide a culture that allows people the space to figure out who they are; it means valuing every member of our school community.

By being on this journey with Belong To, we also realise the work is not over, we will have to constantly review our practices and be frequently reminded how to best serve our LGBTQ+ community, but we do this in the knowledge that Belong To will support us on the journeys we are yet to encounter.” 

Moninne Griffith (she/her), CEO, Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland said:  

“School can be a difficult place for LGBTQ+ students, but that does not have to be the case. There are outstanding schools committed to creating safe and supportive spaces for LGBTQ+ students – including Tyndall College in Carlow.

The positive impact of inclusion and visibility allows students to live healthy lives and thrive at school. Today is about celebrating Tyndall College who has shown leadership and outstanding commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion through participation in the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark.

I want to thank the entire school community and, in particular, recognise the incredible efforts of the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark Coordinator and School Principal. Thank you for showing up for LGBTQ+ students and for demonstrating commitment, courage and leadership.

Congratulations to Tyndall College for leading the way in Carlow and being one of the first schools in Ireland to receive the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark!” 

Speaking at the event David Sneddon (he/him), Vice President, Google Ireland said:

 "Google Ireland and Google.org are immensely proud to support Belong To's outstanding work on LGBTQ+ inclusion within Ireland's education system.

With the support of a Google.org grant, Belong To's LGBTQ+ Quality Mark initiative has empowered incredible schools across Ireland and demonstrates the far-reaching impact of placing inclusion at the core of education.

We congratulate this year's ‘graduates’ and wish those currently taking part in the programme the best of luck.”