Griffeen Valley Educate Together NS
School Details
Location
About
Griffeen Valley Educate Together National School (GVETNS) is a child‑centred, co‑educational, multi‑denominational primary school operating under the Educate Together patronage. The school follows the national curriculum while delivering the Learn Together Curriculum, which is built around four strands – Moral and Spiritual, Ethics and the Environment, Belief Systems and Equality and Justice – and is guided by the motto “Learn Together to Live Together”. A democratic ethos ensures that pupils have a voice in decision‑making and that parents are actively involved in the life of the school, fostering a collaborative community of lifelong learners. The school occupies a purpose‑built campus on Griffeen Glen Boulevard, developed after an intensive community campaign and a rapid construction phase in 2004. Facilities support a broad range of activities, from mainstream classrooms to a dedicated Special/ASD class and provision for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme. Emphasis is placed on creating a happy, safe, inclusive and nurturing environment where each child can reach their highest potential, with a strong focus on respect, responsibility, imagination and open‑mindedness.
History
In December 2001 a group of parents convened to address the lack of places in the local Educate Together school. Griffeen Valley Educate Together opened in September 2002 in the Scout Den in Lucan Village with 24 pupils and two teachers. After outgrowing the initial premises, the school used prefabricated classrooms at the neighbouring LETS site for the 2003‑04 academic year, expanding to five classes and eleven staff members. A ground‑breaking ceremony was held in March 2004 on the current Griffeen Glen Boulevard site, and the permanent building was completed in time for the September 2004 intake, welcoming 214 pupils and 20 staff. Since then the school has grown into a vibrant, inclusive community.