Fifteen primary schools in Tipperary recognised for participation STEM

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O'Donovan TD has announced 15 primary schools in Tipperary have been awarded the SFI Curious Minds Award 2024.

Three Tipperary schools received the Silver Award, 11 received the Gold Award and one received the Platinum Award.

Led by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), the programme aims to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) among primary school students, parents, and teachers, nationwide in a fun, engaging way. Minister O’Donovan said:

“I am delighted to announce the winners of this year’s SFI Curious Minds Awards. Congratulations to all involved – your individual and collective dedication and effort has paid off!

Curiosity about science provides the building blocks to explore new ideas, increase knowledge and even unearth discoveries.

“I want to thank the schools and teachers who have facilitated such enthusiastic and productive participation among their students.”

The results for Tipperary are as follows:

Poulacapplens- Silver Award

Bunscoil na Cathrach-Silver Award

St Mary's Central NS-Gold Award

Lackamore National School-Gold Award

Ss. Peter and Paul CBS-Gold Award

St Francis National School-Gold Award

Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan-Gold Award

Newport Convent Primary School-Gold Award

Burncourt NS-Gold Award

Ballylooby National School-Gold Award

Scoil Teampall Toinne- Platinum Award

Gaelscoil Chluain Meala-Gold Award

Knockavilla NS-Platinum Award

Ballydrehid N S-Silver Award

Bunscoil Béal an Átha-Gold Award

The SFI Curious Minds Awards celebrate and recognise the participation of schools in hands-on, inquiry-based learning in STEM.

Since launching twenty years ago, the programme has seen students exploring a wide range of STEM activities, from investigating renewable energy, egg drop challenges, growing vegetables, launching rockets, mini-beast hunts, learning about materials and maths through baking, design and make challenges, marble runs, enhancing their technology skills through coding, and using STEM to solve everyday problems. 

The schools’ achievements were celebrated in classrooms across the country during a virtual SFI Curious Minds Awards Ceremony held this morning, Friday, June 14, 2024.

TV presenters Gráinne Bleasdale and Phil Smyth hosted a live-streamed event, which featured a number of exciting experiments.