Kilkenny school crowned National Financial Literacy Champions!

Scoil Aireagail, Ballyhale, continues to shine on the national stage as its 3rd Year students proudly brought home the School Impact Award for the Mixed/Large Group Financial Category at the prestigious AIB Future Sparks School Impact Awards.

The award-winning project, “Empowering Future Generations: A Student-Led Financial Literacy Book & Community Initiative”, is the latest chapter in Scoil Aireagail’s growing reputation as a school committed to excellence, innovation, and real-world learning. Scroll down to keep reading! 

At the heart of the project was the student-created book Smart Money for Smart Teens—an engaging financial guide written by teenagers, for teenagers.

Funded by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) as part of Global Money Week 2025, the project brought financial literacy to life for young people, tackling vital topics such as budgeting, saving, banking, online scams, loans, and taxation.

In an ever-evolving world where artificial intelligence is rapidly replacing knowledge-based jobs, Scoil Aireagail students went beyond rote learning. Instead of simply memorising facts, they developed the real-world skills required for the jobs of tomorrow—skills that are at the core of the Junior Cycle Key Skills Framework. Students demonstrated excellence in Managing Information and Thinking through research and analysis; Communicating through public speaking, writing, and presenting their work to diverse audiences; Being Creative through layout design and illustration; Working with Others through peer collaboration and intergenerational workshops; Managing Myself by meeting deadlines and setting goals; and Staying Well through promoting financial confidence and self-efficacy. This project is a living example of the Junior Cycle’s mission to equip students with the competencies they need to thrive in learning, life, and work. Click NEXT to keep reading and to see lots more photographs!