The 18th edition’s opening ceremony took place on 3 October in Uría Menéndez’s auditorium in Madrid. Headmasters, heads of studies and teachers from many of the schools where the course will be taught this year attended, as well as volunteers and supporters of the programme.

Rafael Fuster, Executive Vice Chair of the Foundation, kicked off the event with a brief presentation of the Foundation’s activities. Carlos López-Quiroga, trustee of the Foundation and head of the Community Law School programme in Madrid, then introduced the programme in general and highlighted the developments for the new academic year. He also took the opportunity to give special thanks to Romana Sadurska for her work during her years as Executive Vice Chair of the Foundation.

After his speech, Carlos López-Quiroga gave the floor to the guest speaker of the day, Óscar Martín Centeno, who gave a talk titled “Communication project to transform an educational centre”. Martín Centeno is a writer, teacher and headmaster of the public nursery, primary and secondary school Santo Domingo in Algete (Madrid), an internationally renowned school that is part of the Apple Distinguished Schools programme. He combines his management role with serving as president of the Madrid Board of Headmasters.

During his speech, Martín Centeno shared his experience with the pedagogical innovation project he set up at his school, and explained the keys to making technology and communication effective resources for learning.

The event ended with thanks to Ana Yunta, former headmistress of CEIP Asturias who retired during the last school year, for commendable work during her years of teaching.

To inaugurate the new edition of the Community Law School at Uría Menéndez’s Barcelona office, the programme’s coordination team, made up of Sandra Fernández, Anna Mendía, Alba Alcolea and Tatiana Farrero, organised a meeting with volunteers in which they shared experiences and advice with the new recruits. Mariona Xicoy, trustee of the Professor Uría Foundation and head of the Community Law School programme, presented the session, and volunteers Salvador Moya and Carmen Peris spoke about their classroom experiences and what the programme means to them. It was a very dynamic session in which all those present (including both veterans and new volunteers) actively participated.

This year, the programme will be taught in nine schools in Barcelona.