Since 2015, our students have worked to protect our local beaches, care for marine wildlife and encourage others to take action for the environment.

Through beach cleans, environmental campaigns and outdoor learning, students see how their actions can make a difference. Their work extends beyond removing litter to understanding its sources, protecting biodiversity and helping others care for our coastline.

National Recognition

The dedication of successive groups of students has been recognised through An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Ocean Hero Awards:

• School of the Year: 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

• Youth of the Year: 2021 and joint winners in 2022.

• Beach Clean Award: joint winners with Clean Coasts Ballynamona in 2022.

• Event of the Year: joint winners with Clean Coasts Ballynamona for the Big Little Beach Clean in 2023.

The school also achieved youth-category finalist places in 2023, 2024 and 2025, with the Big Little Beach Clean jointly shortlisted for Event of the Year in 2024.

These awards celebrate students’ sustained commitment to coastal conservation, environmental education and community involvement.

The Big Little Beach Clean

St Colman’s Community College participates in the Big Little Beach Clean, a programme organised by Clean Coasts Ballynamona that brings primary-school children to the coast for environmental workshops and a beach clean.

Our students, in particular Transition Year students, help welcome and guide the younger children, support activities and share what they have learned. Workshops explore topics such as marine biodiversity, climate change and the everyday habits that can prevent litter from reaching the sea.

For primary-school pupils, it is also an opportunity to meet St Colman’s students and staff, ask questions and experience an aspect of school life beyond the classroom. Working together in a friendly outdoor setting helps build connections and gives pupils a welcoming introduction to our school community before the transition to secondary school.

For our own students, the experience develops leadership, teamwork and communication skills while giving them responsibility for helping younger children learn.

Learning That Makes a Difference

Our coastal work connects classroom learning with practical action. Students learn that protecting the marine environment begins with choices made at home, in school and throughout the community.

Whether taking part in a beach clean, supporting a younger pupil or promoting responsible waste disposal, St Colman’s students are helping to create a cleaner coastline and a more environmentally aware community.

Curricular Links to this Activity

Science, Biology, Geography, CSPE, SPHE, English, Gaeilge, Sustainability and Climate Action, Mathematics and Art.

Skills Developed Through this Activity

Communication, leadership, teamwork, empathy, inclusion, organisation, time management, problem-solving, adaptability, confidence and reliability.

St Colman’s Community College’s commitment to sustainability has also been recognised through An Taisce’s Green-Schools programme.  We are now on our 12th Flag (each flag takes 2 years) and in this decade we were the overall national winners as follows:

• 2023: School of the Year for Global Citizenship – Energy.

• 2025: School of the Year for Global Citizenship – Marine.

Each Green Flag takes two years to complete.  These achievements recognise the work of our students and staff in promoting energy awareness, protecting the marine environment and connecting local action with global environmental responsibility.

Curricular Links to this Activity

Science, Biology, Geography, CSPE, SPHE, Sustainability and Climate Action, Mathematics, English, Gaeilge, Art, Home Economics, Business and Agricultural Science.

Skills Developed Through this Activity

Communication, leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, planning, organisation, time management, decision-making, creativity, adaptability, confidence and responsibility.

In 2019, St Colman’s Community College won the Irish Wildlife Trust’s Learning Together for Biodiversity Award, recognising biodiversity projects led by schools.

The award was announced at Ireland’s first National Biodiversity Conference, “New Horizons for Nature”, held at Dublin Castle on 20–21 February 2019. It recognised our students’ and staff’s commitment to protecting biodiversity and promoting environmental awareness.

Curricular Links to this Activity

Science, Biology, Geography, CSPE, SPHE, Sustainability and Climate Action, Mathematics, English, Gaeilge, Art, Home Economics, Business and Agricultural Science.

Skills Developed Through this Activity

Communication, leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, planning, organisation, time management, decision-making, creativity, adaptability, confidence and responsibility.