Annual Report 2025 Entire Book - Flipbook - Page 30
An Intercultural Look at our Schools (ILAOS)
2 Online Communities of Practice
Actions: 1.C.8
1.C.13
62 Teachers Participated
Overview:
An Intercultural Look at Our Schools (ILAOS) is a self-evaluation toolkit that supports post-primary schools in
recognising and responding to cultural and linguistic diversity. It provides a clear framework to explore the
intercultural dimension of school life and promotes a whole-school approach to inclusion and improvement.
The toolkit includes surveys for members of the school community, including the board of management,
senior leadership, teachers, non-teaching staf, students and parents and guardians. It was adapted from the
European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) project A Roadmap for the Languages of Schooling.
Main Aims:
•
Provide a structured framework for schools to evaluate and enhance their intercultural practices.
•
Foster curiosity, openness and interest in languages across the school community.
•
Ensure all languages and cultures present in the school community are recognised and valued.
•
Support schools in implementing the ILAOS toolkit through communities of practice to promote
collaboration, improve methodologies and develop inclusive school environments.
Activity:
A working group was established at the end of 2024 comprising teachers with signiocant expertise in
intercultural education. In 2025, the group developed a suite of transfer forms for English as an Additional
Language (EAL) learners transitioning between post-primary schools. These forms ensure that essential
linguistic, educational and wellbeing information follows students when they move schools, supporting
smoother integration and more informed planning. Two national communities of practice were held in 2025,
with more than 60 teachers participating. These sessions created opportunities to share good practice,
discuss implementation challenges and identify workable solutions. An Initial Teacher Education session on
plurilingual and intercultural approaches—using ILAOS as a central practical example—was delivered to
post-primary pre-service teachers. This extended the reach of ILAOS beyond in-service teachers, embedding
awareness of intercultural pedagogies among future educators.
Impact:
•
Participation in ILAOS communities of practice had a positive impact on participating schools by
strengthening collaboration and professional dialogue.
•
The communities helped teachers address shared challenges, promote linguistic and cultural diversity,
and foster more inclusive learning environments.
•
Positive participant feedback highlighted the value of the toolkit and the collaborative structures
supporting its implementation.
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- PPLI ANNUAL REPORT 2025 -
