Keyword "primary-level" - List of latest news (218 results)

01:22 Helen McEntee announces ‘largest national conversation on education in the State’s history’

National Convention planned to explore how nation can secure ‘best outcomes in world’ for students

22/04 Government pledge to lower class sizes in doubt due to ‘overspending’

More than 50,000 pupils are in ‘supersized’ classes with 30 children or more

21/04 Sharp rise in assaults at schools pushing teachers to ‘breaking point’

Almost 60 per cent of educators experienced physical aggression, with rates highest in special schools

19/04 Expansion of therapy services in special schools to start in autumn

Programme will coincide with the establishment of a national therapy service in education, Minister says

15/04 Lifeless vegetables, rushed lunch breaks, lack of oversight: How to improve hot school meals

While widely seen as a positive move, the scheme has had its teething problems. Ahead of its national rollout, we asked experts how to improve it

10/04 High levels of burnout and poor mental health among teachers

DCU research comes as schools grapple with staff shortages

07/04 Department of Education faces UN complaint over school guidance on use of physical restraint

Campaigners say new rules fail to protect vulnerable children

06/04 ‘It’s a gift for life’: How large-scale choirs are building children’s confidence

The National Children’s Choir has helped instil a love of choral singing in primary school pupils for 40 years

02/04 ‘These children are being denied their constitutional rights’: Parents hold Dáil sleepout over lack of school places

Helen McEntee says she will not hesitate to use legal powers to force schools to open special classes if necessary

31/03 ‘There’s surprise, anger, frustration’: Why chess is taking off in primary schools

While known for promoting problem-solving, most teachers say its impact on children’s social and emotional skills really stands out

27/03 Almost all Irish primary schools employed unqualified substitutes in last academic year

Principal says staff shortages placing ‘immense pressure’ on schools

24/03 ‘I am worried teachers won’t look beyond test results to see the potential in my 10-year-old’

Ask the Expert: The good news is that there is a lot you can do as a parent to support your child’s executive function

24/03 Teacher training to include mandatory placements in special education

Move comes after threefold increase in prevalence of autism in the last 10 years

22/03 Culture wars reach the classroom: what is the best way to teach children about gender and identity?

A new primary level syllabus – the biggest shake-up in two decades – is being finalised against a backdrop of polarised online debate and claims of misinformation

11/03 One in 20 Irish schoolchildren diagnosed with autism – a threefold rise

Increase is posing challenges for education authorities to find appropriate school places for children with additional needs

10/03 Children less ‘ready’ to start school and have more emotional problems since pandemic - study

Study finds most junior infants teachers say classroom behaviour is worse and fewer children pay attention

04/03 Schools told to ignore ‘fake’ circular directing them to open for Easter holidays

Move follows closure of schools following storms, snowfall and power cuts

03/03 Schools in poorest areas to get extra support under ‘Deis-plus’ scheme

McEntee plans to tackle drop-off in school attendance with supports for at-risk pupils

26/02 All schools eligible for free solar panels to help tackle energy bills

Initiative aims to deliver average savings of up to €1,600 a year per school and reduce carbon footprint

24/02 Two issues on Helen McEntee’s desk will provide an early clue to her ambitions as Minister for Education

How she proposes to address them – and the extent of her resolve and ambition in managing her new portfolio – will become clear over the coming months

24/02 Why childcare students are walking away from childcare jobs

‘It’s tough to do a four-year professional degree and then face the prospect of earning the minimum wage'

24/02 Concern over rise in alleged assaults of special needs pupils

Forty parents planning legal actions over mistreatment, Department of Education records show

15/02 Competitive parenting in China: ‘School starts at 7.30am and I pick him up at 9.30 in the evening. We usually arrive home around 10pm. Then he studies again’

Fierce competition for places at top secondary schools drives some parents to push their youngsters to succeed, believing they owe it to their children to give them the best start in life

13/02 School meals to be made available during summer in bid to tackle ‘holiday hunger’

Many pupils taking part in summer programme will have access to ‘nutritious’ lunches

11/02 ‘We certainly didn’t cancel Christmas’: What happens when a Catholic school turns multidenominational?

Uniforms are on the way out and teaching staff are adjusting to a new ethical education curriculum

11/02 Most primary school-aged children have unsupervised smartphone access in bedroom – survey

Half of children acknowledge they spend too much time online, with 28% saying they could go online whenever they wanted

10/02 ‘The pressure is relentless’: parents voice support for phone ban in schools

€9m smartphone pouches at second level sparked criticism from Opposition parties who labelled it wasteful and unnecessary

10/02 Stigma persists that disadvantaged students ‘low-achieving’ or ‘non-academic’

Many poorer schools saddled with sub-standard classroom facilities, research finds

06/02 Primary teachers to be trained to teach foreign languages over several years

Pupils to learn French, German or other languages from third class onwards

28/01 What Ireland can learn from Finnish schools in tackling disinformation

The Nordic country is helping students learn about spotting false information. Is there space in the Irish curriculum to do the same?

27/01 Boy has only attended class for nine days of current primary school year, court told

Tusla official says he received text from boy’s mother saying view child should go to bed before midnight ‘ridiculous’

24/01 Three teachers struck off register as complaints increase by 35%

A total of 45 complaints concerned conduct or behaviour including physical abuse or assault, verbal assault and sexual or intimate contact with a student

23/01 Paying travel costs may boost supply of substitute teachers to tackle classroom staff shortages, report finds

Insufficient cover across schools despite large number of substitutes, Department of Education study finds

22/01 Storm Éowyn: Schools, childcare and colleges to close on Friday due to red weather alert

Ireland weather: Automatic closure of education facilities triggered by Met Éireann status red warning

21/01 ‘We’re not going back to a world before AI’: how technology is changing the classroom

Teachers are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence – and navigating its pitfalls – with the help of new courses

18/01 What parents and others think of the new hot school meals programme: ‘For some children it is their only hot meal in a day’

The scheme now covers nearly 2,200 schools, and 345,000 children, but some parents and teachers have concerns about nutritional standards

13/01 Gender identity not included in draft primary school curriculum

Body finalising shake-up to curriculum says topic not referenced in new syllabus despite ‘misinformation’

13/01 Plan to introduce foreign languages at primary level could ‘divert time from Irish’

New curriculum for primary schools draws contrasting reactions from teachers, parents and other stakeholders

10/01 Tension between teachers and special-needs assistants flagged in official report

SNAs' ‘over-familiarith’ with students’ parents can result in sensitive information being shared, say school leaders

09/01 Hot school meals scheme: A ‘progressive’ government policy set to put children’s health at risk

Q&A with food analyst Ruth Hegarty: ‘We are institutionalising consumption of ultra processed food’

01/01 Breakfast clubs in Deis primary schools: ‘If it wasn’t here and you’d had no breakfast you’d be on the yard hungry’

Calls increasing for expansion of breakfast clubs to all Deis primary schools amid rising deprivation

19/12 School attendance among pupils drops significantly since Covid-19 pandemic

About 42% of primary pupils in disadvantaged areas are missing more than 20 days of school, an increase linked to the Covid-19 pandemic

16/12 ‘My 12-year-old son has dyslexia and ADHD, and complains of being bored in school’

Ask the Expert: He was found by a psychologist to be ‘twice exceptional’ (has exceptional ability but also a disability)

10/12 ‘I woke up one morning to 2,000 comments. I’ve had death threats’: How schools deal with social media fallout

Online hatred and toxicity can be hugely damaging, but are digital literacy classes really enough to tackle it?

08/12 Anti-choking devices donated to primary schools despite HSE advising against use

Meals provider Lunch Bag is donating LifeVac devices to schools despite HSE advice that anti-choking devices should not be used due to lack of research on efficacy

08/12 Boys will be boys: why gender attitudes of today’s schoolchildren are remarkably traditional

Pupils associate being a ‘good’ girl with niceness and politeness, while ‘good’ boys are strong and excel at football

04/12 Our boys are outperforming girls in maths and science at second level. Why?

New global study on maths and science performance reveals strengths and weaknesses in Irish education

04/12 Pupils in Ireland among top maths performers in Europe, global study finds

East Asian countries such as Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea continue to dominate

02/12 Crises, reforms and funding challenges: six key issues facing the next minster for education

The manifestos of the main political parties put an emphasis on boosting funding for the sector, but what will the new government be able to deliver?

02/12 Guide for parents 2025: minimum ages to enroll your child in the school year, via Minedu

The 2025 school year will begin on March 17 and includes 36 school weeks, which requires parents to review the current regulations to ensure correct registration of their children.

26/11 ‘Parents were apprehensive’: the school where ‘risky’ play is on the timetable

Some teachers believe climbing trees and other outdoor self-directed controlled risk-taking are crucial for fostering self-confidence and resilience

24/11 Autism: Why are so many children being diagnosed these days?

As many as one in 20 schoolchildren in Ireland may have autism or similar developmental issues, studies suggest

23/11 Sharp increase in autism to require thousands of additional special needs places in schools

Official estimates point to a near doubling in proportion of children with autism in need of support at school within five years

17/11 What is the minimum and maximum age to enroll your child in the 2025 School Year?

Have you wondered what the minimum and maximum ages are for you to enroll students in the 2025 School Year? In November, many schools already begin their enrollment process, so it is crucial to know the corresponding ages for each educational level.

17/11 Opinion: The principal can’t sleep for worrying. If she paid all the bills on her desk, she couldn’t open the school

The top five costs for schools have nothing to do with education but just keeping the buildings heated, lighted, clean, safe and insured. And they’re increasingly unsustainable

07/11 Learning outcomes slide for Irish pupils, report finds

Education levels have stagnated or slowly declined across much of the world, says Unesco

05/11 Our Government aspires to boost education through Irish - yet student numbers have fallen for the first time in 50 years

Parents should have a right to choose Irish-medium education for their children - otherwise, the status quo will never change sufficiently to meet demand

23/10 Dozens of pupils unable to secure school places being taught at home

Enrolment pressure at second level most acute in Greater Dublin Area

21/10 Teacher supply crisis: ‘There are times when we’ve had no applications for vacant positions’

Recruitment challenges mean vulnerable children can end up without vital support, says principal Conor McCarthy

21/10 Concern over ‘competence and confidence’ of some teachers in all-Irish schools

Minister for Education urged to ‘urgently’ release draft of long-awaited policy on Irish language education

21/10 Thousands of children left with unqualified teachers amid staffing ‘crisis’

Primary school leaders say difficulties filling staff vacancies is having a ‘profound’ impact on the quality of education

08/10 ‘It’s common knowledge teachers lie about their faith’: Is religion a barrier to getting a job as a primary teacher?

Critics say a requirement to hold a religious certificate in most national schools means many new teachers have to uphold something they don’t believe

03/10 ‘Chicken curry is very popular’: What to expect on school menus as free scheme is extended

Free hot school meals programme to include all 3,000-plus primary schools from next year

01/10 Free schoolbooks extended to Leaving Cert and free meals for all primary pupils from next year

Budget 2025: Last year’s ‘one-off’ €1,000 cut to third level fees extended into the new academic year

01/10 Some Deis schools no longer meet the qualifying criteria. This undermines the entire credibility of the programme

Inequities in Irish education policy, which have been ignored for so long, will not be addressed any time soon

19/09 Students perform best with regular homework tasks of up to 15 minutes, research shows

Maynooth University study finds ‘little and often’ approach is just as effective as longer assignments

18/09 Children’s exposure to harmful online content a ‘public health crisis’, says Minister

Stronger laws may be needed to safeguard young people, according to Stephen Donnelly

18/09 John Brennan on dyslexia: ‘Society views people on how they’re doing in school’

Experts on dyslexia in Irish education say the system is failing the estimated 10%-plus of children who have the learning disorder

09/09 Parents to be surveyed on school ethos, gender mix and education through Irish or English

Some 88 per cent of primary schools are Catholic while just over 5 per cent are multidenominational

02/09 AI tools could revolutionise education but leave Gaelscoileanna behind

Irish-language schools may be faced with an impossible choice: embrace second-rate AI or forgo the potential benefits of automation

02/09 ‘It’s an absolute nightmare’: Hundreds of schoolchildren with tickets told no buses available

Delays awarding contracts and driver shortages have delayed resumption of services in some areas, Bus Éireann says

29/08 After-school activities: How many is too many?

Deciding the number of activities depends on the child, who they are and how their brain works, says psychotherapist Bethan O’Riordan

28/08 Schools issued with details on policing mobile phone ban

Detailed letter from Minister for Education to school managers outlines how they can implement more ‘stringent’ policies

25/08 Teachers’ salaries in Singapore are on par with accountants and engineers. Why not here?

Government response to growing teacher shortages has been frustratingly slow and ineffective. Radical action is long overdue

21/08 Back-to-school anxiety, homework battles and lunches your kids might actually eat: advice from the classroom experts

For students moving up to second level, it is important to help foster their independence in small but significant ways

21/08 Hundreds of retired teachers set to plug gaps as schools struggle to find qualified staff

Principals say some schools are being forced to drop subjects due to shortages

21/08 Fee-paying schools lose their sheen as proportion of students in private education declines

More school places being created in free education sector as second-level student numbers climb to record high

19/08 Back to school: ‘Enough about the kids, won’t someone please think of the parents?’

Jen Hogan: Back to school is a period of adjustment for us all but there are ways parents can make the transition a little easier for everyone, including themselves

10/07 More than one in four parents in debt to cover back-to-school costs

Almost one-third of those in debt owe more than €500

19/06 ‘Clear reticence’ among some students to report bullying in secondary schools - report

One-third of post-primary students feel it is not safe to express themselves fully in school

18/06 Pupils’ seaweed soap business cleans up at entrepreneur awards

More than 100,000 students have participated in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme since 2010

12/06 ‘This is horrendous - it’s no way to treat a child’: Parents’ anger over lack of school places in Taoiseach’s home town

All three secondary schools in Greystones, Co Wicklow are heavily oversubscribed

11/06 Parents to be polled on school preferences in bid to accelerate school choice

Almost 90 per cent of the 3,600 primary schools in the State remain Catholic in ethos

10/06 Hundreds of schools appeal ‘cuts’ to learning support hours

About 120 schools to get 1,000 additional hours after flagging inadequate support for vulnerable pupils

04/06 The Leaving Certificate isn’t about rote learning and regurgitation - that would be purposeless

The English exam can only be successfully approached with critical thinking. Learning off an essay is a waste of time

04/06 ‘The bill landed like a hand grenade’: Principals face tough choices to avoid schools going into deficits

Many primary schools say they are relying on cash reserves to cover basic running costs

04/06 Most primary schools running deficits amid rising costs, survey finds

Schools cutting back on learning resources and increasing requests for parent contributions to bridge gaps

03/06 Almost 50% of pupils in 17 Deis schools experienced major personal trauma

The survey of principals was carried out at 17 primary schools in west Tallaght, Ballymun and Darndale

29/05 Children’s happiness drops as they approach secondary school, study finds

Landmark study finds pupils most often feel happy, good about themselves, cared for and safe

28/05 Why Estonia has top marks: Lessons from Europe’s best school system

The Eastern European country has become an educational powerhouse but faces also faces challenges

26/05 Parents’ anxiety about maths may affect children’s performance, study finds

Pupils who played maths computer game developed by researchers showed significant improvement in their skills

26/05 ‘Some children are anxious or angry. Sometimes they’re blank. And then they’re expected to go straight into class’

Teachers in the Malvern and St Joseph’s primary schools strive to overcome hunger, poverty and low-expectations of their environments to encourage children on to better things

22/05 ‘Keep childhood smartphone free’: Minister says operators pledge not to sell smartphones to under 13s

Norma Foley says Government will consider legislation if required to help protect children at primary school

22/05 ‘When my son was learning to speak, something strange and adorable started to happen’

I’ve been thinking about the secret language we shared – what a shame it would be to lose it, or let it be forgotten

21/05 Cross Border Story Seeds Project: Teleportation

An extract from stories by three primary schools in Ulster

20/05 How the new hot school lunches are going down: ‘It has been a game changer in our house’

A teacher, a food writer and a parent give their first impressions of the scheme

15/05 ‘My granddaughter saw her teacher grab a student and shake her. I am not sure what to do’

Tell Me About It: The school your granddaughter attends should have a complaints procedure

07/05 Has single-sex education had its day? Jen Hogan and Finn McRedmond debate

More schools are moving towards co-education, and research suggests teenagers are in favour of it. But do they really know what’s best for them?

07/05 ‘It’s revolutionising the classroom’: Meet the teachers embracing AI

There are risk with the use of AI in education, but it also has huge potential to improve teaching and learning

06/05 Parents in Ireland waiting longer than ever to send children to school, data shows

Almost 85% of junior infants are now aged five years or more when

30/04 Climate: Mac’n’cheese or barbecue chicken - Mixed reviews on free hot lunches in Irish schools

Children can’t get enough of them - but are we are we opting simply to feed every child, rather than attempt to feed them well?

30/04 Twelve points to consider if your child seems to be academically or socially out of step

Move away from the stereotypes of learning difficulties, says author who has both personal and professional experience of them

29/04 Age checks for social media aimed at protecting primary schoolchildren are ‘broken’, says Norma Foley

Up to up to half of sixth class pupils included in Snapchat groups in some schools

28/04 ‘I’m overwhelmed by the number of students with anxiety issues. I worry we’re letting them down’

Norma Foley is planning new supports to help schools. Whether it will be enough is another matter

23/04 Younger teachers in Catholic schools less likely to believe in God or attend religious services

Study finds capacity to foster Catholic ethos of schools ‘shrinking’ with decline in those able to deliver faith-based education

23/04 ‘Too many of us are stressed and losing sleep’: Students on why school needs to change

Pupils on our panel say we need more creativity, less emphasis on homework and greater recognition of learning outside school

19/04 Sharp drop in primary school enrolments may result in smaller class sizes in coming years

Pupil numbers projected to drop by 100,000, or almost one fifth, within a decade

19/04 What do falling pupil numbers mean for schools, teachers and parents?

An oversupply of teachers may become an issue by the end of the decade

16/04 ‘Even the yard is too small’: School working out of prefabs for 30 years

Pupils at Clondalkin primary school to protest outside Leinster House this week over delays to new school building

15/04 Hot school meals programme expanded with 900 more locations joining scheme

More than 2,000 schools now part of the initiative, says Heather Humphreys

05/04 Changing the method of hiring teachers/ evaluating the qualifications of teacher candidates

The deputy of primary education of the Ministry of Education considered the change in the method of recruiting and hiring new teachers as a historic opportunity to modernize and strengthen human capital in the primary education system.

03/04 Primary teachers urge removal of Catholic religious certificate needed to teach in most schools

INTO hears State has ‘abdicated responsibility to religious organisations for too long’

03/04 ‘We can’t afford to live in the capital’: Could a Dublin allowance improve teacher supply?

We asked delegates at teaching union conferences if they support calls for teachers in urban areas to be paid more to reflect higher living costs

02/04 ‘Children are using AI, whether we like it or not’

Delegates at the teaching unions’ conferences discuss the rise of artificial intelligence in the classroom

02/04 Artificial intelligence poses cheating risk to Leaving Cert, teachers warn

Reforms aim to reduce pressure on candidates by spreading assessment load, Norma Foley says

02/04 Use of seclusion and restraint ‘common’ for autistic pupils, survey finds

Majority of public feel children should be helped as opposed to punished if they become stressed in a classroom

01/04 Calls for Irish teachers to be rewarded for service abroad to ease supply ‘crisis’

Recruitment and retention set to dominate teaching unions’ Easter conferences as Foley announces new funding package for schools

26/03 Roughly half of primary schoolteachers target of physical aggression in classroom, surveys finds

Unions says findings highlight issue of aggression in schools, particularly in special needs settings

07/03 New primary school curriculum: the changes on the way and what they mean for children

Pupils will spend more time learning foreign languages, science and technology – and less time on religion

07/03 Every primary school to get free coding kit and teaching resources

EDTips will train primary school teachers in a suite of age-appropriate and interactive educational tools

06/03 Most schools appealing for more learning support hours are turned down

Figures come amid controversy over reforms to how resources will be provided to thousands of students with disabilities

06/03 Wednesday’s Top Stories: Sex education to be taught earlier; family of Ann Delaney criticises campaigners seeking to ‘hijack’ death

Here are the stories you need to start your day including a query from a reader who ‘dreads having to be intimate’ with her husband

06/03 New primary school curriculum to teach sex education at earlier stage

Public consultation opens on the biggest planned shake-up to primary education in 25 years

27/02 Can schools stand up to the bullies?

New rules will oblige principals to record all cases of bullying behaviour, but some parents feel the measures will make little difference

23/02 Calls to pause rollout of controversial changes to teaching hours for vulnerable pupils

Campaigners warn that one in three schools will lose support for disabled children while others would gain enhanced hours

06/02 Secondary school places unavailable for some first-years amid enrolment crisis

Some pupils have been forced to stay at home and avail of home tutoring due to shortage of places

03/02 ‘The savings are huge’: Surge in parents taking children out of school for holidays - but not everyone is happy

Some principals say a dramatic increase in absences due to holidays is disrupting school life

30/01 The Secret Teacher: ‘Many in our profession wonder how they ever managed without AI’

We should safeguard the classroom so it remains a haven of genuine human contact

17/01 School transport scheme operates at ‘considerable cost’ but provides wider economic benefits, review finds

Department of Public Expenditure has previously flagged ‘unsustainable’ cost increases in €340 million-a-year scheme

16/01 ‘It’s getting harder every year’: Is there any solution to the teacher shortage crisis?

Despite moves to attract retirees, students and teachers on career breaks to the classroom, shortages seem worse than ever

08/01 Headsets, AI tools and remote learning: a glimpse of the classroom of 2030

Immersive learning is set to boost student engagement but will require constant upskilling for teachers

04/01 Uniforms, piercings, haircuts . . . what school rules still make sense?

Parents and teachers can also struggle to understand the point of some school rules

02/01 More than 20 ‘insolvent’ schools seek emergency funding amid rising costs

Just one school successful in securing additional money, latest records show

29/12 More than half of €31m fund for school sex abuse victims unspent amid criticism of ‘restrictive’ redress scheme

Leo Varadkar apologised in 2019 to those sexually abused in day schools, pledging they would not be failed again

29/12 Surge in number of exemptions for study of Irish at second level

Principal questions whether relaxation of rules is ‘stealthy plan to kill Irish by slow death’

27/12 Parents to be polled next year on multi-denominational education in effort to ‘accelerate’ school choice

Almost 90 per cent of the 3,600 primary schools in the State remain Catholic in ethos

27/12 Ukrainian pupil numbers set to climb above 27,000 by end of school year

Pressure most intense at second level but Minister for Education not keen to use hotels or community centres as temporary schools

19/12 Irish population educated to higher level than ever before, census figures show

Almost half of over-15s in Ireland have third level degree or similar qualification

11/12 Parents are heavily engaged in children’s school performance - but it may be elevating pupils’ anxiety

Children’s stress around tests tends to increases as they progress through primary

05/12 Stress, burnout, initiative overload. Who would be a school principal?

Latest research shows the pressures facing school leaders at primary level are unsustainable

02/12 Use of seclusion in schools for pupils with ‘behaviours of concern’ to end under new guidance

Physical restraint of pupils will not permitted except in crisis situations, according to draft guidelines

29/11 Teacher alleged to have shouted and pulled at autistic pupil accused of professional misconduct

Fitness-to-teach inquiry hears school principal failed to inform pupil’s parents of allegations

28/11 ‘Most students have no connection to working farms. It’s good to understand where food comes from’

A new initiative is connecting farmers with schools to help boost understanding about food production

27/11 ‘My 11-year-old son hates going to school and always complains of being tired’

Ask the Expert: ‘His teacher says he is very bright and able, though often switched off or daydreaming in the class’

27/11 No party invites: ‘My daughter is doing well, happy and has great friends - sorry yours hasn’t’

Dr Noctor cautions that just because a child doesn’t appear to be struggling as a result of exclusion, it doesn’t mean that child doesn’t need support

23/11 ‘It shatters that sense of safety’: Psychological services to support pupils at school close to Dublin attack

Fear and anxiety likely to be among issues facing students and staff who witnessed incident or its fallout

21/11 Securing assessments for pupils is education’s version of the Hunger Games

Schools should not need to fund assessments or therapy through cake sales and non-uniform days

17/11 Primary principals warn education system is on ‘verge of breaking’ as teacher supply issues bite

Move to deliver smaller classes may have ‘intensified’ staff shortage problem, Department of Education secretary general says

14/11 The Secret Teacher: ‘A blanket ban on phones in schools makes less sense the more you examine it’

Many of those I teach are addicts, and rationalising with addicts about what they are addicted to is pointless

14/11 Hard surfaces, empty spaces and litigation: the problem with Irish schoolyards

Children are increasingly unable to run, hide and climb at break time for health and safety reasons – but some schools are taking a different approach

13/11 Schools warn they may have to keep classes at home due to teacher shortages

Extent of struggle to fill vacant teaching posts revealed in correspondence between principals and Department of Education

07/11 Are smartphones harming schoolchildren’s mental health? Here’s what the science says

Parents, teachers and scientists are worried - but proving it is another matter

07/11 Parents to be encouraged not to buy smart phones for primary-school children

Norma Foley’s plan would see guidelines sent to primary schools where parents wish to introduce a voluntary no-smartphones policy

06/11 Schools that deny access to toilets during class-time do not prioritise their students

Jen Hogan: Children are treated as second-class citizens all too often in this country

06/11 ‘Unprecedented’ teacher shortages at primary level hits most vulnerable pupils

Survey reveals 800 vacant teaching posts and projects an additional lack of 1,200 more

31/10 Traffic, weather, safety, laziness, fumes, distance, time. . . why more children are not walking to school

‘Children are not being given enough opportunities to negotiate the world on their own’

31/10 ‘Only Catholics need apply’: Is religion a barrier to getting a job as a primary teacher?

Almost 90% of primary schools require a certificate to teach religion according to the Catholic faith. Some say it is an obstacle to entering the profession at a time of teacher shortages

31/10 The Secret Teacher: ‘Selling the mentally taxing option of critical thinking to modern youngsters is often met with resistance’

We know how we want our lessons to play out, but there’s faint hope of it happening with so many diverse recipients

27/10 No blanket smartphone ban planned for schools, Department of Education says

Guidelines to be issued at primary-level for educators and parents seeking to introduce voluntary ‘no smartphone’ codes

24/10 How AI could change language learning: 6 takeaways from Ireland’s largest ever event for language teachers

The Languages Connect Summit gave educators a chance to collaborate and learn new skills

24/10 Dealing with dyslexia: ‘It was clear to us Jack was very clever. He just wasn’t progressing in some areas’

Dyslexia affects up to one in 10 children, yet there are huge barriers to accessing assessments and support

23/10 Last day of school before Halloween midterm is not like any other day

Jen Hogan: Halloween dress-up day will see your crafting and creative skills are about to go on public display

20/10 Most schoolchildren feel they spend too much time online, survey shows

Secondary school girls have higher incidence of negative feelings when they spend time online.

18/10 Share your view: What is stopping children from walking to school?

Are there valid reasons for children not walking to school – eg, safety, schoolbag weight, urban v rural issues? At what age should a child be allowed to walk to and from school by themselves?

17/10 Children’s access to smartphones: ‘many sleep with them under their pillows’

Schools are increasingly enlisting parents in a battle to minimise children’s exposure to social media

13/10 More than 1,000 children without school transport

Norma Foley says it is‘not unacceptable’ and pledges to find solutions in coming weeks

13/10 Settling into school: pupils do best when they feel safe, connected and that they belong.

Young people flourish when parents are reliably present and - metaphorically - holding their hand

11/10 Budget 2024: Free schoolbooks will not apply to private school students

About 210,000 students up to Junior Cycle will have free books, but funding will not cover cost of digital devices

10/10 A teacher on Budget 2024: ‘I am the squeezed middle. It helps, but not that much ’

Budget 2024: Teacher Aideen Clarke estimates she will be better off by €10-€20 extra per week

10/10 Students and parents benefit from cuts to education costs, but schools and colleges feel left behind

Budget 2024: Free schoolbooks and cuts to college fees will be hugely popular. Could an election possibly be in the offing?

10/10 Free schoolbooks up to Junior Cycle at second level and €1,000 cut to third level fees in budget

Budget 2024: Funding allocated for 1,216 special needs assistant posts and 744 teachers in special education and mainstream classes

10/10 ‘They’re thriving’: Meet the Gaelscoil saved by Ukrainian pupils

When Scoil Cholmáin’s pupil numbers fell to just nine, it put the island school’s future at risk. The arrival of young refugees changed all that

09/10 Stretching school finances: ‘It keeps you up at night . . . we’re constantly papering over the cracks’

A financial review of primary schools reveals almost half are in deficit and most rely on parental contributions to pay for essentials

09/10 Parents pay €54m to plug holes in finances of primary schools - report

Accounts reveal extent to which ‘free’ education is subsidised through fundraising, voluntary contributions and charges

21/09 More than 1,000 vulnerable children placed on shorter school timetables last year

Campaigners argue reduced timetables could be used to exclude or sanction vulnerable children with behavioural problems

19/09 Does homework have any benefits for primary school children? Jen Hogan and Dr Leah O’Toole discuss

Homework is an emotive and divisive issue among parents and children. The evidence doesn’t support traditional approaches

18/09 ‘My son is gifted but really hates going to school’

Ask the Expert: ‘He looks really down in the dumps most days and I worry about him’

16/09 ‘School uniforms are used as a repressive tool of control’: Readers share their views

We asked readers how they feel about school uniforms for youngsters. The question has certainly evoked strong feelings - here are just some of them

13/09 The hidden costs of private schools

Private schools are more popular than ever, but the cost goes well beyond basic fees

12/09 Global group’s review of Irish education provides upbeat snapshot

Student outcomes are impressive and investment in education is heading in the right direction

12/09 ‘Crisis level’: Schools ‘can no longer rely on bailouts from bank of mum and dad’

Managers say ‘chronic underfunding’ means many schools are struggling to provide heat, lighting and water in schools

12/09 Ireland ranks last in spending on education as a percentage of GDP, study finds

Education spending as a proportion of State expenditure is above the OECD average of 10 per cent

11/09 School uniforms: We are back to the days of making children dress like adults of old. Why?

Jen Hogan: Schools have returned to pre-Covid days by putting children in itchy, scratchy uniforms while the rest of the world continues in more comfortable ways

11/09 School denies discrimination by rewarding pupils in Communion choir with ice-cream

Mother alleged non-Catholic children were excluded from reward for not attending religious ceremony

10/09 With the kids back in school, here we are with the return of the dreaded homework

Jen Hogan: The sun may be splitting the stones, but maths and Gaeilge wait for no boy or girl

08/09 Several private schools to provide special classes in drive to become ‘truly inclusive’

Spiritans say new special school in south Dublin forms part of congregation’s ‘mission for the future’

08/09 A mother on her son’s first days in a new special needs school: ‘It’s very emotional. We never thought it would happen’

A new special school has opened in South Dublin, an area underserved by special education. It may be the first of several to be established on the grounds of Spiritan-run schools

06/09 Carrick-on-Shannon has been calling for a new school for 10 years

‘Our school is against every health and safety regulation under the sun’, says principal of Scoil Mhuire school community in Co Leitrim

05/09 Harmful effects of social media witnessed ‘daily’ in schools, says Minister for Education

Norma Foley says young people in Ireland are among ‘our most voracious’ online users, as new CyberSafeKids report published

31/08 Fewer parents seeking help with back-to-school expenses despite struggling with cost of living

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul says primary school children benefit from Government aid but urges more support for secondary school costs

29/08 Two simple, easy-to-make, delicious bits for a primary school lunch box

It’s that time of year when we set out to establish new routines and start thinking about school lunches

29/08 Bombscares, gossip and scented rubbers: the school journey remembered

The number of children walking, cycling or taking the bus to school has dropped over recent decades. A new project shows how formative these journeys were for previous generations

27/08 ‘Our children start school tomorrow. It’s chaos’: Families told no bus available as new academic year begins

Bus Éireann says it is working to source transport in localities where there are difficulties with a ‘small number’ of contracted services

16/08 Teacher shortage fuelled by emigration, lack of housing and full-time contracts, principals say

Filling of vacant ‘specialist’ teaching roles – such home economics, technology and woodwork – becoming increasingly difficult

11/08 Back to school should not mean breaking the bank

On The Money: Parents can face huge financial pressure ahead of the new school term but there are ways to defray the cost

10/08 Have your say: how much are you paying for back to school costs?

Surveys show ‘voluntary’ contributions are rising, despite moves aimed at cushioning costs

28/07 Bullying: ‘We feel we are on the verge of losing our son’

School: A selection of stories of bullying by parents about their currently schoolgoing children

23/07 Bullying: ‘Sometimes all you have left is yourself’

Primary school: We asked readers for views on and experiences of toxic behaviour by others from their childhood. Here is a selection of your responses

17/07 Schools seeking ‘voluntary contributions’ of up to €350 from parents

Norma Foley says no compulsion should be placed on any parent to pay

13/07 ‘No smartphone’ policy for primary students could be extended to all schools, says Minister for Education

Parents and children are terrified by the ‘wild west world of phones’, says Norma Foley

21/06 ‘Is this a real job?’ For teachers, sending in a CV can feel like a roll of the dice

Opinion: Given the lack of transparency in recruitment, no wonder so many teacher graduates opt for permanent teaching posts abroad

20/06 ‘If students don’t help other students, they can feel left out’: Kilkenny school celebrates pupils from 25 different countries

Bunscoil McAuley Rice in Callan was the first primary school in the county to receive a School of Sanctuary award earlier this year for its work championing diversity

20/06 Primary schoolchildren acutely aware of their level of ‘smartness’ compared to others - study

New research shows primary schoolchildren acutely aware of their level of ‘smartness’, study shows

19/06 New mental health teams to be established in primary school clusters

Research indicates a sharp increase in mental health issues and anxiety levels among pupils

16/06 Number of pupils taken out of school for holidays soars since Covid

Estimated number of pupil days lost for primary schools due to holidays climbed from 60,000 in 2019 to 350,000 in 2021

13/06 Teacher shortages are jeopardising children’s education. Where are the urgent solutions?

Opinion: The response of successive ministers for education and the Teaching Council to this growing crisis has been inadequate

31/05 Thousands of primary pupils to have access to in-school counselling

Move follows concern over rising levels of anxiety and mental health problems

26/05 Parents hail no-smartphone code for children until second level as ‘good idea’

Move follows mounting concern among teachers and parents over notable increase in anxiety among pupils

26/05 Greystones parents agree to ‘no smartphone’ code for children until second level

Move across eight schools follows rising concern about anxiety levels among pupils and early exposure to adult material online

26/05 Greystones parents agree to ‘no smartphone’ code for children until second level

Move across eight schools follows rising concern about anxiety levels among pupils and early exposure to adult material online

26/05 Greystones parents agree to ban smartphone use by children until second level

Move across eight schools follows rising concern about anxiety levels among pupils and early exposure to adult material online

25/05 ‘Strong’ support for multidenominational primary schools at a time when 90% are under religious control

State-run schools say there is urgent need to boost choice for parents if Government target of 400 multidenominational schools by 2030 is to be met

23/05 ‘End the points race. Embrace AI. Foster sustainability’: Big ideas for the future of education

The Government has pledged to establish a Citizen’s Assembly on education in the coming months – but what should it address?

16/05 Irish primary children excel in international reading tests

International study examined hundreds of thousands pupils across almost 60 countries

16/05 Covid-related school closures didn’t harm our primary pupils’ reading ability. Why?

Children spent a considerable amount of time reading during lockdown periods. It may help explain their strong performance

16/05 Cemeteries, castles and carnivorous plants: the best education field trips

As the sun beckons, here are some of the best summer trips to engage, educate and entertain pupils of all ages

15/05 Social media algorithms causing ‘profound damage’ to young people - Stephen Donnelly

Minister for Health says it is time to ‘get behind the curtain’ of how tech firms operate to be better able to protect children and adolescents

11/05 ‘The level of anxiety we’re facing in schools is unprecedented’

Primary schools in Greystones and Delgany join forces to recruit a play therapist for pupils