Waterford school receives national inclusivity recognition

A secondary school in County Waterford was one of a number of schools from across the country that were recently awarded the national Belong To LGBTQ+ Quality Mark.

Blackwater Community School was among 39 post‑primary schools and Youthreach centres from across Ireland recognised at the event, in total representing over 2,300 staff and 22,000 students from across the country.

The Waterford school was recognised for its work over an 18-month period to create safe, welcoming and inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ young people.

The awards ceremony took place in The Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Key Achievements of the accredited schools included: Policy Reform - Implementation of robust, LGBTQ+-inclusive anti-bullying policies; Student Voice - Establishment of ‘LGBTQ+ and Allies’ clubs to foster peer support; Community Engagement - Direct outreach to parents and the wider school community to build a culture of belonging.

Sixteen schools and centres were formally awarded the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark for the first time following an 18‑month programme of evidence‑based interventions designed to strengthen LGBTQ+ inclusion and student wellbeing. 

A further 23 schools and centres were reaccredited, having first achieved the Quality Mark in 2023. A national commitment to inclusion, the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark is the first national accreditation of its kind, supporting schools and centres in Waterford and across Ireland to embed sustainable, long‑term practices that protect LGBTQ+ students’ wellbeing and foster a culture of belonging.

The event brought together school leaders, teachers, Youthreach staff, students, and representatives from across the education sector to celebrate the impact of the programme and the progress being made nationwide.

Celebrating progress in the Irish education sector, the ceremony marked one of the first major engagements for Belong To’s new CEO, Kieran O’Donovan. 

Speaking at the event, Mr O’Donovan (he/him) commented: “This year’s LGBTQ+ Quality Mark accreditation ceremony highlighted the extraordinary work happening in schools and youth centres in Waterford and across the country to support LGBTQ+ young people."

"Staff and students have shown real dedication to building environments where every young person feels safe, valued, and able to be themselves," he said.

"While we know from our 2022 School Climate Survey that 76% of LGBTQ+ youth still do not feel safe at school, the schools recognised today are taking meaningful action to change that," he added.

Commenting that the schools and centres being recognised were leading the way, he said: "Their work shows what is possible when inclusion is prioritised, resourced, and embedded across school culture."

"We are proud to recognise their achievements and look forward to supporting many more schools on this journey," he said.

Also commenting at the event, Edel Murphy (she/her), a teacher at Blackwater Community School, said: "We are delighted to be accredited with the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark from Belong To. We have been actively supporting our LGBTQ+ community and their allies since 2017 at BCS."

"Our Diversity Group has gone from strength to strength over the years," she said.

Applications to take part in the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark initiative for the 2026/2027 academic year are now open to schools and Youthreach centres. Full details and application forms are available on the Belong To website at: www.belongto.org.