Sixteen grants awarded for the first time from the Education Fund

Sixteen grants from the Education Fund

16 projects have received a grant from the Hafnarfjörður Education Fund for the 2026–2027 school year. The grants were awarded recently at Hafnarborg, totalling 11 million króna.

„Þessar styrkveitingar eru skýr vitnisburður um það öfluga og framsækna starf sem unnið er í skólum og frístundastarfi Hafnarfjarðar. Við eigum afar hæft starfsfólk sem hugsar stórt, vinnur saman og setur þarfir barna og ungmenna ávallt í fyrsta sæti,“ segir Valdimar Víðisson bæjarstjóri.

The purpose of the grants is to promote development and innovation in the school and leisure activities of the Education and Public Health Department of Hafnarfjörður. The grants are intended for projects that enhance quality and professionalism in working with children, promote greater collaboration and support research. The projects should support or enhance professional practice with a focus on the participation of children and young people at the department's facilities.

In total, 27 applications were received, which were reviewed by a selection committee composed of representatives appointed by the Director of the Education and Public Health Department. When assessing the applications, consideration was given to their connection to the guiding principles of Hafnarfjörður's Education Strategy. Also examined was how the project aligned with the annual focus (cooperation), its objectives, work and timeline plan, as well as its innovation and development potential. Also, what results and benefits the project was likely to deliver for the school and leisure activities in Hafnarfjörður.

This is the first time that grants have been awarded from the Hafnarfjörður Education Fund. The following received grants:

Lighting up the dark winters

Contact: Theodoros Achilleas Proikas

„Bringing Light into the Darkness“ is a shadow theatre project where children work with emotions, creativity and collaboration through light and shadow. Using their hands, figures, and body movements, children create and present their own shadow shows, bringing warmth and imagination into the winter darkness.

Love, outdoor learning

Contact: Stephen James Midgley

„Ástjörn Outdoor Learning“ is a collaborative project between 6 nurseries in Hafnarfjörður, where Ástjörn is used as a shared learning space. The schools develop and test short outdoor learning plans in a common format and share them in an idea bank, through a learning community collaboration and a final meeting at Ástjörn. The project promotes collaboration, well-being and creative learning in the local environment.

The bridge to sports

Contact: Ingibjörg Magnúsdóttir

The project aims to give children of foreign origin in Years 1–4 the opportunity to get to know the sports activities of Haukarnir in a safe and organised environment. The aim is to equalise opportunities for participation, strengthen social cohesion and support integration into the community through collaboration between schools, after-school clubs, community workers and the Haukar sports club.

Individualised curricula

Contacts: Anna Rut Pálmadóttir and Jóhanna Björg Másdóttir

A coordinated implementation of individual learning plans is underway in all of Hafnarfjörður's primary schools, with the aim of ensuring equal access for pupils to individualised learning in line with the revision of subject areas in the National Curriculum. The project includes clear procedures, updated competency-based standards and guidance for staff, pupils and parents in Mentor. This contributes to increased quality, equity and continuity in the school and support services of Hafnarfjörður.

Skill flip

Contact: Steinbjörn Logason

The development project „FÆRNIFLIPP“ is an integrated teaching and learning framework (collaboration) that connects the natural sciences, social sciences, and information and technology. The project's aim is to enhance students' ability to apply scientific working methods in a creative and practical way. FÆRNIFLIPP is designed with the needs of modern pupils in mind and fits perfectly with the emphasis of the National Curriculum for Primary Schools on holistic competence and collaboration, rather than isolated factual knowledge.

Golf Club in Holtaseli

Contacts: Margrét Heiða Magnúsdóttir and Svandís Roshni Guðmundsdóttir

A collaboration between the after-school club Holtasel at Hvaleyrarskóli and the golf club Keili. A member of staff from Holtasel takes a group of pupils to Keili once a week, where they receive 60 minutes of golf lessons.

Our world

Contacts: Íris Baldvinsdóttir and Kristín Lind Albertsdóttir

„Our World“ is a development project that aims to design and implement specialised, visual and concrete learning materials for students on the autism spectrum to enhance their independence and academic achievement. By bridging the gap in Icelandic curriculum materials, this contributes to improved quality and well-being in school life, in line with the priorities of Hafnarfjörður's Education Strategy for diversity and innovation.

Looking to the future

Contacts: Berglind Kristjánsdóttir and Ingibjörg Ósk Helgadóttir

The project involves coordinating the creation of children's portfolios at Skarðshlíðarleikskóli. This is a collaboration involving all staff, and the project contributes to an even better learning community.

Thinking Classroom

Contact: Arnar Sigurjónsson

A reflective maths classroom where all students are active participants in reasoning and problem-solving, rather than focusing on following pre-given methods or memorising rules.

Slowness

Contact: Bryndís Guðlaugsdóttir

The project „Slow Pace in Nursery Practice“ aims to enhance collaboration, well-being and children's participation through a slower pace and more purposeful working methods. The project strengthens the professionalism of staff and creates space for deeper play and connection.

Calculate with words

Contact: Hildur Arna Håkansson

The „Let's Calculate with Words“ project standardises the maths vocabulary for years 1–10 through the creation of a website, posters, and creative projects. The aim is to bridge the gap between year groups and improve the mathematical literacy of pupils in Hafnarfjörður.

Cooperation and technology

Contact: Elísabet K. Benónýsdóttir

In modern society, programming and design have become a significant part of life, so it is important that the school reflects this and prepares its pupils. Pupils work together on creative programming projects that integrate technology, mathematics and design in a playful way. The project promotes technological literacy, student collaboration and creates continuity between school levels in programming education through the use of LEGO Spike Prime.

Shake-free togetherness

Contact: Haukur Þór Þorvarðarson

The project is an innovation initiative in primary schools and after-school clubs, which works to reduce school avoidance by improving the well-being, safety and participation of children in primary school activities. The project brings together teachers, after-school staff, parents and support services in a comprehensive team approach, developing solutions that strengthen relationships, school attendance, and the mental well-being of pupils and staff.

Room 13

Contact: Hugborg P. Erlendsdóttir

The „Room 13“ project is a new resource at Öldutúnsskóli for children with autism in the junior and middle years. The resource is set up to provide individualised or small-group teaching in a calm and structured environment, where the emphasis is on meeting the needs of children with autism.d. with regard to learning materials and play equipment specifically designed to support expression, concentration, sensory processing, etc.

Techno in the Valley

Contacts: Margrét Halldórsdóttir and Íris Anna Randversdóttir

A technology and creation workshop at the youth centre, Dalnum. Students have the opportunity to come together and receive guidance, facilities, materials and equipment to create and develop their ideas.

Let's wake up the cultivation

Contact: Stephen James Midgley

We want to revive the garden beds that have been lying unused and build a project that is primarily about collaboration:

• • cooperation within departments
  • cooperation between departments
  • cooperation with parents/homes.

The project combines cultivation and composting: 3 compost bins will be set up and departments will follow common procedures for organic waste. To make collaboration between departments visible, a „bed-hiring system“ (pairing departments) will be introduced, as well as a short-term cultivation/compost team (mini-learning community) and a shared internal communication channel (e.g. a „cultivation board“ with photos from everyone).

Yes, the work of the school is enhanced by good innovation.