Resources for Post–Primary Schools
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From: Department of Education
- Published on: 27 June 2024
- Last updated on: 15 April 2025
- Curriculum and Wellbeing
- Cyberbullying and Online Safety
- Homophobic and Transphobic Bullying Behaviour
- Racist Bullying Behaviour
- Restorative Approach to Bullying for Educators
- National Educational Psychological Services (NEPS)
- Tusla
- Other Resources
Curriculum and Wellbeing
SPHE/ RSE Toolkits for Post–Primary Schools
Support materials published by NCCA for post-primary school teachers. The materials aim to support teachers in preparing for and teaching SPHE and RSE using the Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle curriculum at post–primary level.
SPHE/ RSE toolkit for Post–Primary Junior Cycle
SPHE/ RSE toolkit for Post–Primary Senior Cycle
Oide
The Department of Education’s support service, Oide, offers high quality and relevant continuing development supports to teachers and school leaders, in a range of pedagogical, curricular and educational areas to enable them to meet the needs of all learners. Primary and post–primary schools can access support for wellbeing that is customised and tailored to the specific needs of the individual school.
Tacklebullying.ie
Tackle Bullying is a national website to counter bullying and cyberbullying for young people, parents and teachers. The website provides information for those who are affected or concerned about bullying and cyberbullying related incidents.
FUSE
FUSE AntiBullying and Online Safety Programme is developed by DCU AntiBullying Centre a national university designated research centre located in DCU’s Institute of Education. The Centre has a global reputation for its research excellence in bullying and online safety.
FUSE has the aim of building capacity in schools to tackle bullying and online safety issues and to empower children and adolescents to understand their own behaviour, be able to recognise bullying and online safety risks and be confident in how to report and seek support when they need it. FUSE includes workshops specifically designed for primary and post–primary schools.
Cyberbullying and Online Safety
Webwise Resources
What is Digital Citizenship and how to Teach it (Post-Primary)
This 2 hour online course aims to provide teachers with the knowledge, resources and confidence to teach digital citizenship and to empower their students to be safe, ethical and responsible online.
What is Digital Citizenship and how to Teach it (Post-Primary)
Teaching Online Safety in the Post-Primary SPHE Classroom
This 1 hour online course aims to support educators in teaching online safety in the classroom by providing participants with skills, confidence and resources. It will enable educators to raise awareness of and prevent potentially harmful online behaviour by students through implementation of the SPHE curriculum at Junior Cycle, TY and Senior Cycle levels.
Teaching Online Safety in the Post-Primary SPHE Classroom
Be in Ctrl
Created in partnership with An Garda Síochána, Be In Ctrl addresses the topic of online coercion and extortion and promotes safe online communication. This is a Junior Cycle post–primary resource.
Connected
Specifically designed for teachers of the Junior Cycle Digital Media Literacy Short Course who wish to explore Online Wellbeing, News, Information and Problems of false information, Big Data and the Data Economy, and My Rights Online. Additional lessons are now available on persuasive design and facial recognition.
Lockers
Lockers is an information and SPHE education resource to assists schools in coping with and preventing the sharing of explicit self generated images of minors.
“What is Coco’s Law?”
Understanding the Harassment, Harmful Communication and Related Offences Act 2020 and the legal consequences of it for young people.
This lesson will help students to recognise the key offences under the Harassment, Harmful Communication and Related Offences Act 2020. Students will understand that their online actions have consequences for both themselves and others and that they are accountable for their actions. Students will feel empowered to speak up about online sexual harassment and know where to go for help if it occurs.
The Respect Effect
A new Junior Cycle Unit of Learning; The Respect Effect on connecting and communicating online is available to schools. The unit of learning contains 8 SPHE lessons aligned to the updated curriculum explores the nuanced topic of online bullying, building empathy and promoting respect and inclusion online.
My Online World
Developed in partnership with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), the five lessons in the ‘My Online World’ unit are designed to support teachers in planning learning and teaching for first year students. Lessons explore respectful online communication, image sharing and benefits and challenges of connecting and communicating online.
Connect with Respect
Developed in partnership with An Garda Síochana addresses the topic of cyberbullying, and aims to try to prevent this behaviour from happening and to empower pupils to respond effectively if cyberbullying and harassment does occur. The lesson is designed to help students understand the impact of their actions and that it may in fact constitute cyberbullying and online harassment.
Connect with Respect - Garda Schools Programme Post-Primary
Oide Resources
Cyberbullying in Post–Primary Schools: understanding, preventing and responding
Online course from Oide Technology in Education in collaboration with Webwise to inform teachers and school leaders about cyberbullying, outlining the school’s role in creating an anti-cyberbullying culture and promoting students’ wellbeing including online wellbeing.
Tacklebullying.ie
Tackle Bullying is a national website to counter bullying and cyberbullying for young people, parents and teachers. The website provides information for those who are affected or concerned about bullying and cyberbullying related incidents.
FUSE
FUSE Anti-Bullying and Online Safety Programme is developed by DCU AntiBullying Centre a national university designated research centre located in DCU’s Institute of Education. The Centre has a global reputation for its research excellence in bullying and online safety.
FUSE has the aim of building capacity in schools to tackle bullying and online safety issues and to empower children and adolescents to understand their own behaviour, be able to recognise bullying and online safety risks and be confident in how to report and seek support when they need it. FUSE includes workshops specifically designed for primary and post–primary schools.
Online safety review tool:
onlinesafetyreview.webwise.ie/
This new Online Safety Review Tool helps schools assess and improve their Online Safety policy and practices. It outlines key steps for evaluating and enhancing online safety measures, allowing schools to reflect on strengths, address gaps, and access free resources and guidance. This tool supports a whole-school approach to ensuring a safer online environment for learners.
AUP generator:
The Webwise AUP Generator has been updated to incorporate AI in education and its use in the school environment. The AUP tool can be used to update or create a customised Acceptable Use Policy and is free for schools to use. New advice on AI Considerations for Schools is also available on the Webwise AI Hub.
Homophobic and Transphobic Bullying Behaviour
Being LGBT in School
A resource for post–primary schools to prevent homophobic and transphobic bullying and support LGBT students.
Stand Up Awareness Week
Stand Up Awareness Week is an annual LGBTQ+ anti-bullying week facilitated by BelongTo which runs across second level schools, Youthreach centres and youth services across Ireland every November. Stand Up Awareness week is a dedicated time not only to highlight the harms of LGBTQ+ bullying, but to celebrate LGBTQ+ youth and diversity. For teachers, it provides a designated time in the calendar to help educate and support LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ young people. For students, Stand Up Awareness week gives them an opportunity to express, explore and learn in a safe and supportive environment.
Gender Equality Matters Programme
Classroom materials and training modules which aim to tackle gender stereotyping, gender based bullying and gender based violence in primary and post–primary schools from Dublin City University.
The LGBTQ+ Quality Mark Initiative
The LGBTQ+ Quality Mark initiative is a holistic approach to LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools and alternative education centres that involves the whole school community. The LGBTQ+ Quality Mark model is based on the four key areas of Wellbeing Promotion outlined in the Department of Education’s Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice. Over the course of 18 months, schools and centres are supported in implementing evidence based actions across a number of key areas, which research shows improves the wellbeing and safety of LGBTQ+ students.
Gender Identity & Gender Expression
This resource and accompanying workbook developed by the University of Limerick supports second level school staff to learn about gender identity and gender expression and to proactively ensure that schools are inclusive of young people who are trans and gender diverse.
Gender Identity School Resources
GE Game
The GEGAME project from the DCU Anti Bullying Centre is aimed at students (14 16 years) in second level education, and is designed for teachers who deliver subjects relating to issues of personal development, digital safety, gender equality and relationships and sexuality education.
Racist Bullying Behaviour
Show Racism the Red Card
Education resources for schools and online training for post–primary teachers provided by the Immigrant Council of Ireland.
Education resources for schools and online training
The Yellow Flag Programme
A practical programme founded by the Irish Traveller Movement that supports post–primary schools to become more inclusive of all cultures and ethnicities celebrate diversity and challenge racism and discrimination.
Restorative Approach to Bullying for Educators
Addressing Bullying Behaviour using Restorative Practice
Restorative Practice techniques should only be used by teachers who have received training in restorative practice. Specific training may be required for some of the suggested approaches under this section.
Oide Restorative Practice Training Programme
Oide, in collaboration with the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI), provides specialised RP training to primary and post–primary school leaders and teachers.
The focus of the training which takes place as part of Oide’s sustained support model includes a whole school overview of restorative practice (RP), the benefits of RP, RP values, the RP Toolkit and implementation insights. Sessions are interactive and engaging and explore problem-solving circles, RP questions, RP language use, with a focus on communication and fairness.
An Introduction to Restorative Practice training will be available as an option for prim
The Oide website does not yet have a dedicated section for restorative practice. For the most uptodate professional learning materials and resources on RP, please visit:
Circles of Connection: Stories from Ireland about using Restorative Practices to Build Relationships
The Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) is a non profit organisation working to improve outcomes for children in disadvantaged communities in Ireland.
CDI has developed a series of podcasts relating to the use of restorative practice that may be useful. These can be accessed at:
National Educational Psychological Services (NEPS)
Where a school has a concern about a particular student they may discuss it with their assigned psychologist. Students can only be prioritised for NEPS involvement by the school principal.
A request for involvement is accepted from the school principal in consultation with the psychologist. When deciding who to prioritise for involvement with NEPS, school principals consider those pupils who present with the greatest level of need, in that particular school context.
NEPS can be contacted regionally with contact details included at this link
or by emailing neps@education.gov.ie who can refer you to the appropriate region for your school.
Get Up! Stand Up!
This is 7 session social skills learning programme for young adolescents developed by NEPS. It covers themes such as ‘Friendship’, ‘Dealing with Teasing and Intimidation’ and ‘Resilience and Coping’.
Email GUSU@education.gov.iefor the training video and GUSU manual.
NEPS Wellbeing Catalogue of Wellbeing Resources
The Catalogue of Resources provides a non-exhaustive list of documents and resources that are provided by the Department of Education, its agencies, support services and by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to assist the promotion of wellbeing across school communities.
Catalogue of Wellbeing Resources Post–Primary available at:
Tusla
Tusla social workers can be contacted to discuss any incident where a teacher or a school needs advice regarding whether it should be referred as a child protection issue.
Contact details for Tusla social workers by region are available at the Tusla website below.
Other Resources
Helping hands - a programme for teachers and school support teams.
Cooperative Learning Institute - Early Identification & Resolution of Hidden Bullying