Blackrock Education Centre (BEC) (the 'centre') is one of 21 such full-time education Centres throughout the country which provides support for teachers and others involved in education in Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County, part of South County Dublin and North County Wicklow. This region has approximately 250 schools, both Primary and Post Primary with over 5000 teachers. The Centre is managed by a committee elected annually at the Centre's AGM. Leadership and management of the Centre are the responsibility of Director Niamh Murray.

Our Mission Statement: "BEC promotes partnership in education by providing access to training, development and support for teachers and the wider education community".

Blackrock Education Centre is the parent entity of Blackrock Education Centre ALFA, Blackrock Education Centre TPN and Blackrock Education Centre Publishing. Blackrock Education Centre main centre is primarily financed by the Department of Education and Skills (DES).

Blackrock Education Centre (ALFA) is the administration base for the Associate and Local Facilitator Administration (ALFA). For the purpose of any Associate or Local Facilitator engagement the role of Blackrock Education Centre is an agent for payment only. Blackrock Education Centre (ALFA) is financed by the Department of Education and Skills (DES) via Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST).

Blackrock Education Centre (TPN) Teacher Professional Networks are teacher organisations which afford"'-- professional peer support to members. They comprise Subject Associations and other networks which support teachers of curricular programmes spanning a number of subjects (e.g. Leaving Certificate Applied, Transition Year etc.). The Teacher Education Section (TES) of the Department of Education and Skills (DES) has established a supplementary funding scheme to support the work of the TPNs. It is recognised that TPNs have other sources of funding including membership fees. To avail of the funding scheme, a TPN must submit a proposal to the Steering Committee which is representative of the interests involved. If the programme of activities are approved, the funding is made available to the TPN through an Education Centre nominated for the purpose by the TPN. Funding is available in two categories, CPD activities and National Executive activities. The TPN scheme is administered by Blackrock Education Centre - TPN ('the Centre') on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. During the year the Centre took over the responsibility for the hosting of a large number of the national TPNs, as a result the presentation of the costs associated with the administration of the TPNs has been incorporated into these financial statements. These have been included in TPN Hosted and Administration Costs. It is financed by the Department of Education and Skills (DES).

Blackrock Education Centre Publishing provides educational books and materials.  In June 2017 Department of Education and Skills (DES) formally launched The Trinity Early Screening Test for Reading and Writing (TEST2r) Scorebook through Blackrock Education Centre Publishing. The Test2r is a tool to assist teachers in the classroom to devise plans which meet the learning needs of each pupil. This test is administered to 5 and 6-year-old children, it is suitable for use by both classroom and Learning Support teachers.

Catering

Tea/Coffee + Biscuits

Tea/Coffee + Sandwiches/snacks
 
Tea/Coffee + voucher for local carvery
 

Standard Equipment

Laptop, Data Projector and Screen,
WI FI, DVD, Audio System

Cancellation Fee

€25 for cancellation less than 7 days before event

• ALFA (Associates and Local Facilitators) Administrators: Eithne Woods 
• JCSP (Junior Certificate School Programme) Elaine Flynn - National Administrator; Jill Byrne -Accounts Administrator and Dorota Ruszczak - Administrator
• TPN (Teacher Professional Networks) Administrator: Barbara Campetti

The Centre was established in 1972 in Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin. Since 1996, BEC has been located in the grounds of the IADT Dún Laoghaire at Deansgrange - near Baker's Corner public house (Bar), a useful landmark for orientation purposes! 

The present building was officially opened by the Minister for Education, Niamh Bhreathnach on February 27th 1997, almost 25 years to the day after it first came into being. Blackrock Education Centre was designed by Shay Cleary Architects. The design of the centre earned them a Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland award. 

Built around a central courtyard, the Centre comprises a large entrance foyer, a conference room, a number of training rooms including an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) training facility, meeting rooms and other facilities. A feature of the courtyard is a replica of a monastic sundial from early Christian times.

Local teachers and other local groups use the Centre for meetings, presentations and discussions.