39 Irish Schools and Youthreach Centres Awarded National LGBTQ+ Quality Mark

– National accreditation marks milestone for 22,000 students and 2,300 school staff –

Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland today (26.03.26) celebrated 39 post‑primary schools and Youthreach centres, representing over 2,300 staff and 22,000 students from across the country, for their leadership in creating safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ young people. The LGBTQ+ Quality Mark accreditation ceremony took place this morning at The Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Key Achievements of the Accredited Schools:

• 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.

16 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 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 Irish Education

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: “Today’s event highlighted the extraordinary work happening in schools and youth centres 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. 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.

These schools and centres are leading the way. 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.”

Also commenting at the event today, Pat Tighe, Principal at Magh Éne College, Bundoran, Co. Donegal which was reaccredited with the mark, said: “We are proud to reaffirm our commitment to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all students and staff. As part of this commitment, the school has engaged with the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark initiative, recognising the importance of promoting equality, diversity, and belonging within the school community. This work reflects Magh Éne College’s wider efforts to ensure that every student feels valued, supported and able to be themselves. The school extends sincere thanks to Belong To for their continued guidance and support in helping schools create positive and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ young people and staff across Ireland.”make sure no LGBTQ+ young person feels they have to walk their journey alone.”