Kildare schools say no to racism - Yellow flag awards for two secondary schools

Curragh Community College and Pipers Hill, Naas receive national awards

Curragh Community College and Piper's Hill College in Kildare have both been awarded a Yellow Flag in recognition of their commitment to intercultural inclusion and addressing racism through policies and practises in the schools.

Curragh Community College, which has 224 pupils and 28 teachers received its recognition at the annual Yellow Flag Programme Awards in Dublin last week (Thursday, April 30).

The Yellow Flag Programme (YFP) is a practical whole-school initiative, for both primary and post primary schools, which supports them to become more inclusive of all cultures and ethnicities, celebrate diversity and challenge racism and discrimination.

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Teacher at Curragh Community College, Nicola Doran said; “Before the introduction of the Yellow Flag Programme (YFP), students from minority ethnic backgrounds often tended to stay within their own friendship groups, and there was limited interaction between different cultural or ethnic groups in the school.”

“Since the implementation of the Yellow Flag Programme, there has been a noticeable shift in this dynamic. The programme has encouraged greater inclusion through student‑led initiatives, intercultural activities, and whole‑school discussions around diversity and respect. As a result, students are now more likely to mix across different groups, leading to increased integration and stronger relationships within the school community.”

Fourth Year student Tea Sose said; “We had a bake sale where we invited students and their parents to bake something from their culture or something they like to bake as a family. This made me feel included in the school community.

“It was really nice to see the different families baking together and respecting each other. We also got to learn about different cultures and their cuisine. It was a really fun experience and I would recommend it to other schools.”

Piper's Hill College has 999 pupils and 86 teachers. 

Teacher, Gráinne Brennan said the programme “supported and re-emphasised all the supports we had already in the school of recognising and reporting racism. It also gave students a further voice and consultation in this.

“It addressed and enhanced our school community's understanding on this issue not just within the classroom but also outside the classroom with presentations, speakers, workshops, Cultural week and many other activities. It became a very positive experience in our school.”

Third Year Student Hao Yin Choo described the main benefits of YFP for her school and wider community, particularly when it comes to challenging racism in school life. 

“I think the Yellow flag programme has benefited our school for the better. Many cultures have been represented and the atmosphere of our school has felt more inclusive. There have been many activities to encourage students to be kind and accepting of other races and to educate others about racism.”