Agree to Agree FACE-TO-FACE Project 

Enhancing the digital well-being of school communities through the SSE process

DATE:      Thursdays, 2nd, 23rd October, 13th November 2025, 5th February, 26th February, 2nd April & 7th May 2026 
TIME:       7pm
VENUE:   Clare Education Centre, Ennis (FACE-TO-FACE)

Agree to Agree Project, supported by the Department of Education and Oide TIE Enhancing the digital well-being of school communities through the SSE process

DATES:

1. Thursday, 2nd October 2025 (Face to face meeting Clare Education Centre)
2. Thursday, 23rd October 2025 (Webinar for parents/guardians of participating
   schools)
3. Thursday, 13th November 2025 (Face to face meeting Clare Education
   Centre)
4. Thursday, 5th February 2026 (Face to face meeting Clare Education Centre)
5. Thursday, 26th February 2026 (Webinar for parents/guardians of
   participating schools)
6. Thursday, 2nd April 2026 (Face to face meeting Clare Education Centre)
   Thursday 7th May 2026 
(Face to face meeting Clare Education Centre)

Information on Webinars will be shared during the project.

In an era where technology plays a pivotal role in children’s lives, it is crucial to foster a healthy digital environment for children.

Following on from two successful years of running the Agree to Agree Project at primary school level, and in light of feedback from our survey “The impacts of Internet Enabled Device use on Wellbeing, Teaching and Learning in Primary Schools”, we are delighted to be expanding this project to secondary school level for the academic year 2025-2026.

Clare Education Centre invites primary and secondary schools to participate in the Agree to Agree Project, supported by the Department of Education and Oide TIE. The 5 project sessions, facilitated by forensic psychologist Dr. Maureen Griffin of MGMS Training, will guide school communities through a collaborative process aimed at implementing positive change, fostering agreement and understanding among school stakeholders in order to establish a new norm for children’s use of internet enabled devices.

Workshop 1: Thursday, 2nd October 2025 at 7:00pm.

Audience: School leaders, Members of PA and BOM Nominee 

Overview of issues facing principals/teaching staff in schools across Ireland.
Outline of issues identified from principal survey & process of compiling an agreement around digital device use, as part of school self-evaluation process.

Webinar 1: Thursday, 23rd October 2025 (Time TBC closer to date)
Audience: Parents/guardians and teachers of schools involved in the Agree to Agree Process
Outline current risks our children face online and the benefit of the Agree to Agree Project in creating a new norm for our children’s online lives.

Workshop 2:  Thursday, 13th November 2025 at 7:00 pm.
Audience: School leaders, Members of PA and BOM Nominee
Outline of the tools designed to assist school community in developing a school profile. This will inform the agreement which will be individualised based on the unique needs of each school. Time will be allowed for collaboration on tools and what each school will use, in addition to discussing feedback from school staff.

Workshop 3: Thursday, 5th February 2026 at 7:00 pm.
Audience: School leaders, Members of PA and BOM Nominee
Draft agreement outline. Each school community will collaborate on findings they have obtained from consultation with students, school staff and parents and identifying the key issues for their school community. Two propriety areas will be chosen to focus on for this year. Recommended best practice in these areas will
be outlined.

Webinar 2: Thursday, 26th February 2026 October (Time TBC closer to date)
Audience: Parents/guardians and teachers of schools involved in the Agree to Agree Process
Outline progress of Agree to Agree project, including feedback from students, parents and teachers involved in the process. Highlight practical tips for parents in protecting their children online.

Workshop 4:  Thursday, 2nd April 2026 at 7:00 pm.
Audience: School leaders, Members of PA and BOM Nominee
Draft agreement review. Resources to support areas identified for inclusion in the agreement. Outline process for year 2. Advice and guidance on how to keep the Agreement alive and active in your school community.

Workshop 5:  Thursday, 7th May 2025 at 7:00 pm.
Audience: School leaders, Members of PA and BOM Nominee
Final Meeting. Final Agreement ready for launch by each school in September 2026.

BIO - DR. MAUREEN EDEL GRIFFIN - B.A., M.A., PH.D. FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST, DIRECTOR MGMS TRAINING LIMITED

Dr. Maureen Griffin, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. holds an honours degree in Applied Psychology, a Masters in Forensic Psychology and a Ph.D. in Applied (Forensic) Psychology (specifically in the area of Sex Offender Assessment).
Maureen has delivered lectures in the areas of abnormal psychology, mental health and crime, sexual offenders, online internet solicitation and risk assessment on Forensic Psychology, Criminal Behaviour & Criminalistics courses in Universities across Ireland. Maureen has also delivered guest lectures on Detective and Sergeant Training Courses in An Garda Síochána and on National and International Military Police Courses with the Irish Defence Forces. 
Maureen has visited over 900 schools (pre-school to third level) across Ireland speaking with students, staff, BOM members and parents regarding issues around social media, cyber-bullying and internet and mobile phone safety.
Maureen has also delivered presentations around social media and child protection for the HSE, Brothers of Charity, NEPS, Gardaí and the NAPD.
Maureen has presented at the ILSA Conference, CESIT Conference, 4th Biennial Child Protection & Welfare Social Work Conference, UCC, Guidance Counsellors Conference and Youth Mental Health Conferences across Ireland. 
Maureen’s primary research interests are in the area of hebephilic sexual offenders, specifically focusing on the role of the Internet in the online solicitation of minors and the utility of implicit measurement techniques in the risk appraisal of sexual offenders. Maureen has analysed online grooming cases from America,
identifying patterns of behaviour and escalation in risk of contact offending.
Maureen has also worked with offenders in Irish prisons testing the efficacy of implicit measurement techniques in assessing risk.