The registration period opened for the 2026/27 academic year in May 2026 to coincide with the launch of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU and will close in mid October. 8 weeks between the middle of August until the middle of October each year. 

To stay updated on registrations be sure to follow us on Instagram @bluestarprogramme

There are two methods of completion for the Programme. Once you have completed the four elements of the Programme, you, as the coordinating teacher

• will fill out a short final report detailing how you covered each element of the programme. You are welcome to include photographs of projects and VIP visits although it is not mandatory.

OR

• with your class, you can complete the four Kahoot Element quizzes based on what you have learned which will be released in early March to all schools. We ask you to fill out the short feedback form following each Kahoot quiz. This feedback is important for us to continue to expand on the Programme!

You only need to complete the Kahoot quizzes or send us the final report, you don’t need to do both but please feel free to do so!

Every Year:
Each school that completes the Programme will receive a certificate achievement signed by the current Minister for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne.

First Time: A school who completes the Programme for the first-time will receive an EU flag to celebrate their first time completion of the Programme!

Fifth-year Achievement Award: A school who completes the Programme for a fifth time receives a plaque with the name of their school and the Blue Star Programme logo on it.

No there is no cost involved in taking part in the Blue Star Programme.

The Blue Star Programme is a venture of the Communicating Europe Initiative, supported by the Office of the Minister of State for European Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Education, the European Commission Representation in Ireland, the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland and European Movement Ireland who are the National Implementation Body of the Programme.

Yes, we provide a wide range of resources. Both digitally and physically. Each year we update our digital resources on the Blue Star Corner. We also send out a pack of physical resources that are provided to the Programme by the European Commission Representation in Ireland, to each participating school.

Please note that the number of physical resources is not allocated per student but per size and language of each school. We do our best to allocate physical resources equally to each school!

Europe Week is a cornerstone of the Blue Star Programme. It takes place on the week of Europe Day (9th May), when we strongly encourage schools to hold a school/community event as part pf the Blue Star Programme. It is a wonderful opportunity for your class to showcase their Blue Star projects to other classes, parents, and even the wider community.

As part of Europe Week, you could organize a VIP visit, a bake sale with foods from other European countries, an exhibition or a school parade! It typically marks the end of the Programme for many schools, allowing the pupils and teachers to reflect on all that they have learned throughout the year.