Our Erasmus Journey...
The Galway Education Centre Erasmus+ Consortium programme is funded by the European Union and aims to support the implementation of modern foreign languages across Irish primary schools. It complements the “Say Yes to Foreign Languages” programme currently running in primary schools nationwide. Collaboration with European schools and teachers, alongside other Irish primary schools, supports improved resource development, planning and the effective implementation of foreign language teaching.
Erasmus in Cádiz
At the end of September, Múinteoir Aideen had the privilege of travelling to sunny Spain with 14 other Galway schools as part of our Erasmus+ project. Our partner school, CEIP Tierno Galván, is located just outside Cádiz city centre and we were really treated to a Céad Míle Fáilte - Spanish style! We observed English lessons and autism support classes, gaining valuable insights into how language is taught to children
with additional needs. The Spanish pupils were very curious to learn about life in Ireland - they loved exploring our school website and welcome video!
One exciting outcome is that Rang 3–6 now have penpals with CEIP Tierno Galván, which will give pupils an authentic way to practise language and cultural exchange.
It was eye-opening to see how well-resourced schools in Spain are, with a Speech & Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, and Psychologist working onsite daily in our partner school. They were quite surprised to hear that this isn’t the case in Ireland!
Erasmus in Tallinn
Múinteoir Dee’s host school was Püha Johannese Kool (St. John’s School) in Tallinn. The newly built campus consists of three distinct wings — preschool, primary school, and secondary school — all connected by a central canteen, church and assembly hall.
A particularly striking feature of the school was the independence of the children. Many pupils travel alone on trams and trains throughout Tallinn. Within the school, there are no bells to signal the beginning or end of lessons. Instead, students manage their own time using watches and move independently between classes. Children of all ages go to lunch and out to play independently, returning to their classrooms promptly when their time is up — without reminders. It was fascinating to observe this level of self-management and responsibility in practice. In the canteen, the children used proper glassware, jugs, plates and cutlery. They cleaned up after themselves and ensured the space was prepared for the next group before leaving, further reinforcing the strong culture of independence and responsibility evident throughout the school.
The structure of the primary school closely resembles that of secondary school in Ireland, particularly in the senior primary years. As pupils progress, they are taught by different subject teachers and follow subject timetables. The school follows a traditional approach whereby boys and girls are educated separately until approximately 14–15 years of age.
There is a strong academic focus on three core subjects: Mathematics, English and Estonian. For these subjects, pupils are taught daily in very small groups, typically consisting of six to seven children, allowing for highly focused and personalised instruction. In the senior cycle, schools have flexibility in allocating time to subjects, meaning some schools may place greater emphasis on the Arts, while others prioritise the Sciences etc.
Unlike the Irish system, the Estonian system is not heavily exam-focused. There is no direct equivalent to the Leaving Certificate. Instead, colleges and specific courses set their own entrance examinations and there is a strong emphasis on continuous assessment throughout a student’s education.
A wide range of student supports is available within the school, including access to psychologists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists where required.
The classrooms themselves reflected the school’s calm ethos. Walls were plain white, with very few displays or noticeboards. The simplicity of the learning environment contributed to the peaceful atmosphere.
Overall, visiting Püha Johannese Kool was a really valuable and inspiring experience.
