Educational Disadvantage Educational Disadvantage CentreCentre

St. Patrick’s CollegeSt. Patrick’s College

Drumcondra Drumcondra

Dublin 9Dublin 9

St. Patrick’s CollegeSt. Patrick’s College

EDC staff working on OED Network EDC staff working on OED Network ProjectProject

Dr. Catherine ‘Kay’ Maunsell. Irish ResearchDr. Catherine ‘Kay’ Maunsell. Irish ResearchCoordinator OED Network ProjectCoordinator OED Network Project

Valerie McLoughlin. Irish ResearchValerie McLoughlin. Irish ResearchAdministrator OED Network ProjectAdministrator OED Network Project

Dr. Paul Downes. Irish Research AssociateDr. Paul Downes. Irish Research AssociateOED Network ProjectOED Network Project

Opened in November 2001, the Educational Disadvantage Opened in November 2001, the Educational Disadvantage Centre's stated mission is to contribute to the shaping of Centre's stated mission is to contribute to the shaping of primary teacher education so that the cycle of educational primary teacher education so that the cycle of educational disadvantage is broken.disadvantage is broken.

'Educational Disadvantage' refers to a situation whereby 'Educational Disadvantage' refers to a situation whereby individuals in Irish society derive less benefit from the individuals in Irish society derive less benefit from the education system than their peers. It is manifested in many education system than their peers. It is manifested in many ways, most notably in poor levels of participation and ways, most notably in poor levels of participation and achievement in the formal education system.achievement in the formal education system.

Located within the College's Faculty of Education, the Centre Located within the College's Faculty of Education, the Centre aims to contribute to best practice in national and aims to contribute to best practice in national and international policy regarding the implications of social and international policy regarding the implications of social and economic disadvantage on education.economic disadvantage on education.

EDC StrategiesEDC Strategies

Out of School Services StrategyOut of School Services Strategy

General Educational Disadvantage and Social Inclusion General Educational Disadvantage and Social Inclusion Strategy Strategy

Lifelong Learning StrategyLifelong Learning Strategy

Mental Health in Contexts of Disadvantage Strategy Mental Health in Contexts of Disadvantage Strategy

Students of the college and members of the Students of the college and members of the public are welcome to make use of the public are welcome to make use of the Resource Library which is housed in the EDC Resource Library which is housed in the EDC in E229in E229Volunteering within the Educational Volunteering within the Educational Disadvantage Centre, both on and off Disadvantage Centre, both on and off campus, fosters co-operation between the campus, fosters co-operation between the local community and the Centre and local community and the Centre and enhances citizenship. enhances citizenship.

VOLUNTEERING PROJECTS on offer to VOLUNTEERING PROJECTS on offer to students:students:

Dorset Street After School / Homework Dorset Street After School / Homework Club Club

CASPr - Community After- School Project CASPr - Community After- School Project

Sports 4 SuccessSports 4 Success

A-Z Children's Charity A-Z Children's Charity

St. Vincent's Boys' School ClubSt. Vincent's Boys' School Club

One example, Sports 4 SuccessOne example, Sports 4 Success

Sports 4 SuccessSports 4 Success is an innovative Mentor Programme for is an innovative Mentor Programme for primary level pupils operating at various third level institutes primary level pupils operating at various third level institutes throughout the country. The Programme uses the medium of throughout the country. The Programme uses the medium of sport to encourage a change in attitudes to learning while sport to encourage a change in attitudes to learning while improving self-esteem and social skills. The issues of improving self-esteem and social skills. The issues of education, health, physical ability, life skills, and social skills education, health, physical ability, life skills, and social skills are collectively addressed through the medium of sport. The are collectively addressed through the medium of sport. The pupils are invited onto the campus at St. Patrick’s on an after-pupils are invited onto the campus at St. Patrick’s on an after-school programme which includes a meal at the canteen, school programme which includes a meal at the canteen, homework support and some sporting activity. The homework support and some sporting activity. The homework support involves using specially designed homework support involves using specially designed worksheets which use sport as a theme based on the primary worksheets which use sport as a theme based on the primary curriculum. curriculum.

Sports 4 SuccessSports 4 Success

Boys from St. Vincent’s Boys National School, Boys from St. Vincent’s Boys National School, Dublin, enjoying their Christmas party at Dublin, enjoying their Christmas party at Sports 4 Success, December 2011Sports 4 Success, December 2011