Rimaskóli, Laugarnesskóli and Engjaskóli win this year's Inspiration Awards

This marks the 19th time the awards have been presented. Their purpose is to spotlight ambitious and innovative school and recreational activities throughout the city. The awards also serve to encourage staff by affirming that the winning school is a role model for others in its field. The schools will present their projects at educational workshops during the Ash Wednesday Conference on Feb. 18.

Rimaskóli – Diverse approach to science teaching

Rimaskóli won the award for its project "Diverse approach to science teaching" at the adolescent level. The school has built a progressive, hands-on learning environment in the natural sciences that reflects Reykjavík's Education Policy, which emphasizes student activity, creativity, and diverse learning paths. Educational assessment is varied and encouraging, allowing students to demonstrate their abilities in different ways. The school emphasizes hands-on teaching, research, and creative approaches. The goal is for each class to participate in two hands-on exercises per month, in addition to field trips, STEAM projects, scavenger hunts, and outdoor classes. This approach has created a strong science culture at the school, where students connect theory to real-world challenges and have ample opportunities to build curiosity, critical thinking, and independence.

In its official statement, the selection committee noted that the project is remarkable because it supports a wide variety of teaching methods, approaches to the subject matter, hands-on activities, and multifaceted educational assessments. Students creatively tackle challenging, real-world projects, exploring them in depth. These conditions strengthen students' independence, confidence, and positive experiences with science subjects. The result is an empowering learning culture in natural sciences that is truly worth emulating.

Laugarnesskóli – Laugarnesskóli school library

Laugarnesskóli won the award for its years of development work on its school library, now considered the heartbeat of the school community. The library fosters a culture where reading is not just part of learning but also a source of joy, curiosity, and self-confidence. The success of the library's work is clear: student satisfaction with reading is far above the national average, and its book circulation is the highest of any school library in Iceland. The Dragon Club (Drekaklúbburinn), the first book club of its kind in an Icelandic school library, along with about 30 other clubs, ensures that all students find their group and their area of interest. The school library's digital media also support literacy and creativity. Weekly book reviews appear on the library's website, and an information screen offers daily challenges, a "word of the day," and questions from popular books. In this way, the library becomes a vibrant hub for learning, community participation, and joy for all students.

The selection committee's official statement notes that the culture created at Laugarnesskóli's school library aligns exceptionally well with Reykjavík's Education Policy, especially the emphasis on literacy in a broad sense, inclusion, and prosperity. The library is a bright space filled with engaging books and objects, where all children can find reading material suited to their level and have opportunities to build vocabulary, reading comprehension, and positive reading experiences on their own terms.

Engjaskóli – The Happiness Group

Engjaskóli receives the award for the Hamingjuhópurinn project, which began in 2021 with the goal of reducing loneliness and enhancing student well-being. The group includes representatives from all mid-level grades and is led by sixth-grade girls. Students work with social and emotional learning and complete a happiness scale three times per year. The group analyzes the results, develops initiatives based on evidence-based methods, and also collects student ideas on how to act on the findings. During the current school year, the group introduced a program called Hamingjustund. The weekly sessions are based on positive interventions, VIA strengths, and Circle Solutions. They equip both students and teachers with tools to strengthen self-image, social skills, and positive well-being.

The project aligns very well with Reykjavík's Education Policy, particularly its emphasis on students as active participants. The initiative strengthens social skills, self-empowerment, literacy, creativity, and health. In its statement, the selection committee noted that The Happiness Group at Engjaskóli is a remarkable demonstration of how students can have a real impact on their own school community when given the platform to do so. The project promotes increased cohesion, positive communication, and improved well-being. This aligns with the Education Policy's vision that "through dynamic schooling, children gain the education and experience to make their dreams come true and have a positive impact on their environment and society"—a vision that truly applies to Engjaskóli and The Happiness Group.

Selection Committee

The selection committee consisted of: The selection committee included Alexandra Briem (chair); Ásta Björg Björgvinsdóttir, Stefán Pálsson, and Sabine Leskopf (elected council representatives); Ester Helga Líneyjardóttir (administrators' representative); Kristín Björnsdóttir (teacher representative); and Ása Kristín Einarsdóttir (parent representative).

The cover photo was taken at Engjaskóli in front of the happiness wall.