Yellow Flag

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Yellow Flag

 

North Monastery Co-educational Secondary School , holds the distinction of being the first secondary school located in Cork City and County to receive the flag promoting interculturalism, equality, and diversity.

Our school boasts a vibrant and diverse community, comprising over 22 nationalities such as Ireland, Poland, Ukraine, the UK, Etheria, Nigeria, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Japan, China, and many more. While English and Irish serve as the primary languages of instruction, our campus resonates with a rich tapestry of 23 languages and dialects, including Polish, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Chinese, Latvia, Romanian, and Lithuanian.

We were initially honored with the flag in 2014, and subsequently in 2018. To uphold the values it represents, our school adheres to an 8-step programme, encompassing Anti-Racism training, community engagement, curriculum development, and policy initiatives.

 

LATEST NEWS:

North Monastery Co-educational Secondary School has been awarded a Yellow Flag in recognition of our commitment to interculturalism and anti-racism. This marks the second time our school has received this honour at the annual Yellow Flag Programme (YFP) Awards ceremony in Dublin.

The Yellow Flag Programme supports schools in actively challenging racism and discrimination. We are proud to join 136 primary and post-primary schools across the country who are implementing the Yellow Flag steps to embed inclusivity and diversity into both school practice and policy.

North Monastery Co-educational Secondary School was the first school in Munster to receive the Yellow Flag in 2014, and has since been awarded the honour again in 2018 and, most recently, in 2025.

Programme Co-ordinator Claire Dunlea, described the anti-racism and inclusion policy: “Our policy highlights our diversity and emphasises support for inclusion in the entire school community,” Ms Dunlea said.

“By bringing attention to and celebrating this diversity, through language, celebrating traditions, finding out about various cultures, religious practices, festivals and how life is lived in the 46 different countries and ethnicities that make up our school community, knowledge and respect increase and racism, discrimination and exclusion decrease.”
The Yellow Flag Programme Awards ceremony was opened by the Ombudsman for Children Niall Muldoon on Thursday, April 10th, 2025. You can read an article about the school receiving this award as featured in digital version of The Echo, Echolive.ie.

Photo: Maxwell Photography