Welcome to the 3rd Gymnasium of Heraklion, Crete
The 3rd Gymnasium of Heraklion is a public lower secondary school located in the heart of Heraklion, the capital city of Crete, Greece. Our school community consists of more than 550 students organized in 21 classes, supported by a dedicated teaching staff of more than 60 educators.
It is worth noting that our school operates without administrative or support staff — no secretariat, caretaker or security personnel. Far from being a limitation, this reality strengthens the spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility among all members of our school community, making teamwork and mutual support core values of our everyday life.
Our Educational Philosophy
At the 3rd Gymnasium of Heraklion, we believe that education goes beyond the classroom. We strive to cultivate critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and intercultural awareness in our students. Our goal is to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and values they need to become active, responsible and open-minded European citizens.
We place particular emphasis on innovation, experiential learning and the integration of digital tools into everyday teaching practice. Our school fosters a warm, inclusive and supportive environment where every student is encouraged to discover their strengths, broaden their horizons and develop their full potential.
This school year has been marked by a wide range of innovative and meaningful initiatives:
🔹 Student empowerment and social inclusion: Multiple programmes were implemented addressing student wellbeing, social inclusion and the prevention of disruptive behaviour, reinforcing a safe and respectful school climate.
🔹 STEM, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics: Original student projects with a focus on STEM education, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics received nationwide recognition, showcasing the creativity and talent of our students.
🔹 Digital administration: A digital student registry with photography was created as part of an effort to modernise school administration.
Our European Dimension
The 3rd Gymnasium of Heraklion has a long and proud tradition of participation in European educational programmes, beginning with Comenius and continuing with Erasmus+. Our school holds the Erasmus accreditation for the period February 2022 to December 2027, a recognition of our sustained commitment to European cooperation and educational excellence.
This year, our Erasmus+ activities included:
🔹 Student mobilities abroad — students participated in exchanges in Germany, Italy and France, within the framework of programmes focusing on democracy, school bullying and active citizenship.
🔹 Climademy programme — our school participated in this innovative European initiative, raising students’ awareness about climate change and the factors that influence it.
🔹 Teacher training mobilities — educators participated in specialised training courses and job shadowing activities abroad, bringing back new skills and fresh perspectives.
🔹 Dissemination activities — the outcomes and experiences of all Erasmus+ mobilities were shared widely within the school community through multiplier events and creative projects.
Innovation and Distinction
Our school actively promotes creativity and innovation both inside and outside the classroom. A highlight is the award-winning board and digital game “GGT – 17 Goals, 1 World”, designed by our students around the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The project received the Best Product/Service Promotion Award at the JA Greece Student Exhibition in Thessaloniki and was ranked among the top 10 student companies in Greece at the 5th National Youth Entrepreneurship Competition by Envolve Entrepreneurship.
Our Vision
The 3rd Gymnasium of Heraklion is committed to the continuous improvement of its educational practice, to meaningful engagement with the wider community, and to cultivating a school environment that is friendly, participatory and democratic. We warmly welcome partnerships with schools and educational organisations from Greece and abroad, and we look forward to building new bridges of communication, friendship and cooperation across Europe.
📍 Heraklion, Crete, Greece 📞 +30 281 036 1015 ✉️ mail@3gym-irakl.ira.sch.gr