Five years ago, we began exploring Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School. We did not imagine the work would grow into a cross-sectoral project involving seventeen schools across the south-east of Ireland. What began as professional curiosity became a way of thinking about teaching, learning and inclusion that changed how we viewed our classrooms and our school.
As school leaders, we were increasingly aware of the diversity and variability within our classrooms. Students arrived with different strengths, needs, interests and experiences, and we kept returning to one question: if variability is the norm in every classroom, why do we still design learning for the “average” learner?
Universal Design for Learning and our Educate Together ethos
This is where UDL resonated. As an Educate Together school, equality and the right of every student to belong are at the heart of who we are, and UDL gave us a practical way to live that ethos. Rather than waiting for barriers to arise and reacting to them, we were challenged to think proactively about access, engagement and participation for all learners. What is essential for some is beneficial for all.
Importantly, UDL is not about lowering expectations. We found the opposite to be true: it asks schools to maintain ambitious learning goals while increasing flexibility in how students access, engage with and demonstrate their learning. It moved conversations in our school towards ensuring all students are supported to succeed. We also recognised that success looks different for each student, and this is something to be valued rather than corrected.
Encouragingly, UDL validated much of what teachers were already doing well, giving them a language to describe inclusive practice already happening in their classrooms.
From one school to a regional network
As our understanding developed, we became passionate about creating opportunities for schools to collaborate around UDL, and from those conversations UDL ConnectED was born. The project brought together primary, post-primary and special schools from across the south-east to create a collaborative, school-led professional learning network.
We were especially proud to work alongside fellow Educate Together schools: Gorey Educate Together Secondary School, Harold’s Cross Educate Together Secondary School and New Ross Educate Together National School.
From the outset we deliberately avoided a “one-size-fits-all” approach. UDL was there to strengthen each school’s own priorities, whether that was student voice, wellbeing, team teaching, assessment, literacy or SEN provision.
What we learned most clearly was the importance of trust. The project worked because teachers were given space to reflect honestly, share challenges openly and celebrate good practice together.
“Reassuring to hear others are facing similar challenges — we’re not alone.”
Building leadership from within
One of the most rewarding aspects of the project has been watching teacher leadership grow. Three teachers from each school engaged in leadership and facilitation training, and over time we saw participants move from attending training to confidently leading staff workshops in their own schools. For both of us, this reinforced something we believe strongly: the expertise needed to improve education already exists within our schools.
“It’s not extra work — it’s reframing what we already do well.”
Sharing the work
Our UDL ConnectED Showcase in CBS Enniscorthy was a major milestone, with schools presenting their work to guests from Educate Together, JMB, Teaching Council, SETU, NAPD, NCSE, and other organisations. Receiving a FÉILTE Bursary from the Teaching Council has also been a hugely positive development, supporting a dedicated UDL ConnectED website, where you can find out more about the project: www.udlconnected.ie.
We have also had the opportunity to share our work at the NCSE Annual Research Conference and with a number of European Schools. More recently, we were delighted to present the UDL ConnectED journey at the NAPD Conference. The level of interest from colleagues was hugely encouraging, with many exploring the practical realities of implementing UDL in their own schools.
What’s next?
Looking ahead, we believe this project is only the beginning. A new cohort of schools is joining the next phase of UDL ConnectED, increasingly led not only by us, but by the teachers and school leaders who now have real experience leading this work themselves. Our hope is that it can become a truly national project: schools learning from schools, teachers supporting teachers.
Our experience over the last number of years has shown us that when educators come together with openness, trust and a shared commitment to inclusion, meaningful change is possible for all learners.
Billy Redmond and Fiona Keilthy
Billy Redmond is Principal and Fiona Keilthy is Deputy Principal of North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School.
Find out more at www.udlconnected.ie