Keyword "second-level" - List of latest news (372 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 No other OECD country spends a lower proportion of GDP on education than Ireland. Why?

In an uncertain world, we need to give our students the best chance of reaching their potential

22/04 More students to get higher Junior Cycle grades under reforms

Move follows criticism from students and teachers over ‘harsh’ scoring system

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

21/04 ‘You don’t really live’: Long-distance commuting teachers priced out of Dublin

The housing crisis is resulting in acute teacher shortages, say teachers’ unions, whose annual conferences get under way this week. Is there any solution in sight?

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

10/04 Mission accomplished: Irish teens win top prize in Nasa space design contest

Second-level students eclipse thousands of global competitors with space-settlement plans

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

DCU research comes as schools grapple with staff shortages

09/04 First look: Sample Leaving Cert exam papers for brand new subjects

Biggest reforms in half century will see a minimum of 40% awarded for coursework

07/04 School-leavers with disabilities have lots to offer – we must do more to support them

Leaving school means leaving a caring community and a familiar routine. It shouldn’t mean losing one’s ability to leave the house as well

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

30/03 Leaving Cert Oral English exam a potentially great idea but piling assessments on stressed students and teachers is not

By 2029, 41 subjects will have been redeveloped. Most will have an additional component such as a project or investigation

24/03 ‘A successful parent-teacher meeting is one where they don’t make a beeline for the principal after speaking with you’

An effective meeting can be done in two minutes if you say what you need to say and brook no unnecessary diversions

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

20/03 Gardaí investigate ‘upskirting’ suspect targeting girls in south Dublin school

The fee-paying secondary school has sent a notice to parents, informing them that a ‘security incident’ had taken place

19/03 Leaving Cert students to face oral exams in English under sweeping changes

Draft plan would see candidates quizzed on plays or books at end of fifth year

19/03 Many special needs students struggle to access career advice at second level, finds study

Research tracks experiences of vulnerable young people and level of support offered by schools

17/03 Grind schools remain the great injustice of Ireland’s education system

Unthinkable: How fair are the State exams if some students can buy an advantage in the form of specialised tuition?

16/03 My son is anxious about the Irish orals. How can we help him prepare?

Immersion in the language is key – as is understanding the structure of the assessment

15/03 Q&A: Why are teachers worried about AI and the Leaving Cert?

Teachers' union seeks legal indemnity to protect members who must authenticate students' work

11/03 ‘They’re walking taller’: disabled adults learning tech skills from transition year students

An innovative transition year programme is empowering disabled adults and boosting students’ leadership skills

04/03 Grind school expansion in South Dublin sparks concern among school principals over loss of students

Dublin Academy of Education to admit transition year students at its expanded Blackrock campus

04/03 Should bonus points for higher-level maths in the Leaving Cert be scrapped? An academic and a student debate

Students who achieve 40 per cent in higher level maths are entitled to 25 bonus points from the CAO. But while some teachers warn of unintended consequences, many students feel it’s a fair reflection of the extra work required

04/03 ‘The quiet child down the back might actually be an excellent leader’

A non-profit organisation is aiming to help young people become better listeners, improve their resilience and develop inner strength. But can pupils really learn to lead?

04/03 Home economics is losing students who are learning little to no practical cookery. Why?

It is a make-or-break moment for reform of a Leaving Cert subject which teaches pupils vital life skills

03/03 Secret Teacher: Too many school leaders bow to parent power. They bend the knee or rarely back their staff

I’m sure there are principals who have the conviction to do the right thing. I just haven’t met them yet

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 Concern over rise in alleged assaults of special needs pupils

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

17/02 ‘I fell into teaching. I’d be lying if I said otherwise’

Competency is great and everything, but we’re not curing cancer: we’re trying to model decency and help young people develop into worthwhile adults

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

14/02 Future of Synge Street switch to Gaelcholáiste in doubt

Board of management says it will ‘not be proceeeding’ with planned move in 2026

14/02 ‘The tide is turning’: why more parents are delaying access to smartphones for children starting secondary school

Mounting concern over role of social media algorithms in pushing inappropriate content to young people

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

12/02 Protest at Dáil gates for Synge Street Gaelcholáiste

Students call on Minister for Education Helen McEntee to provide a timeline for promised Gaelcholáiste

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

09/02 Breda O’Brien: Big tech is bullying teachers into premature adoption of AI. We need to slow down

Most of the Irish debate concerns potential for cheating in the assessment components of new senior cycle. Why are widespread calls for a delay being ignored?

28/01 A student should be able to communicate well through Irish by 15. The reality is very different

We need to ensure language lessons are active, engaging and fun instead of pure drudgery

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?

26/01 How can I make sure my son has filled out his CAO form correctly?

Watch out for a piece of correspondence which lands in May. It is crucial to a successful application

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

22/01 Most secondary teachers will struggle to authenticate students’ work under Leaving Cert reforms, survey finds

Exam integrity will be compromised by access to artificial intelligence tools, ASTI says

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

20/01 Tender for controversial €9m mobile phone pouches for secondary schools published

Successful applicants will supply their pouch for a one-year period with the option to extend by a further year

20/01 More than 20,000 pupils with Irish exemptions on grounds of learning disabilities studied European languages last year

Dyslexia group says there are genuine reasons why students with additional needs go on to study French or German

18/01 Future of many Protestant fee-charging schools ‘at risk’

Exclusion from State funding undermines guarantees to protect minority faith education, schools say

14/01 Leaving Cert 2.0: What to expect from the reformed senior cycle

Students starting fifth year in September will be the first to experience sweeping changes

13/01 With first-level rush and second-level rise, why are REITs so popular?

With first-level rush and second-level rise, why are REITs so popular?

13/01 It’s time to get rid of the damaging Leaving Cert points race

Unrestricted access to third level education in Ireland would allow schools to educate holistically and give pupils a chance to flourish in the subjects they enjoy most

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

08/01 Young scientist exhibition: Students deploy innovative skills at frontier of renewable energy

Solar and wind power feature creatively in a number of projects at the annual competition

07/01 Young scientists gather for 2025 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition

AI brings challenges to contest but more positives than negatives, co-founder says

06/01 CAO system should be changed to match Leaving Cert reforms, education experts say

Apprenticeships and new tertiary degrees could be combined into a single applications system, says Department of Education advisory board

05/01 My son is stressed about the February 1st CAO deadline. Is this really the cut-off point?

There is no need to fret: in most cases, students have until July 1st to finalise their course choices

04/01 The first Leaving Cert 100 years ago: girls-only exams, botany tests and imperial measures

The biggest reforms to the exam in a century are due to roll out later this year. Are schools ready for the challenge?

02/01 High levels of exemptions from studying Irish at second-level schools queried by officials

Principals say rise in students from abroad and pupils with additional needs are behind high numbers

01/01 A crisis years in the making: Second-level pupils in classes without qualified teachers

Roots of the teacher-shortage problem and ‘out of field’ teaching go back decades

01/01 Hundreds of teaching posts vacant at secondary schools across country, report finds

Unpublished Department of Education draft study finds a further 800 posts were occupied by teachers unqualified to teach subject

23/12 Fees have jumped across many of Ireland’s private secondary schools. Why?

Annual fees have climbed by up to 19% with charges for day pupils now ranging between €4,000 and €14,000

23/12 Taxpayers are subsidising private schools by more than €140m a year

Sinn Féin and Labour want to end State funding for fee-charging schools but Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael support current system

21/12 Schedule of first and second level exams announced in Ain Shams 2024/2025 - Youm7

The Faculty of Mass Communication, Ain Shams University, published on its official page on the Facebook platform the examination schedule for the academic year 2024/2025.

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

10/12 Six takeaways from Feeder Schools data : Education gaps remain despite progress

Feeder Schools data shows how Ireland’s children progress after completing second-level education.

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?

10/12 Was Michael O’Leary right about teachers after all?

Teaching exodus continues, but educators are collectively doing little to change their lot

10/12 Feeder Schools: Record numbers of students from disadvantaged areas progress to third level

Class gap persists with greater numbers from affluent areas attending college

10/12 Gap between State and fee-charging schools closes further

Just two of the 10 schools with the highest third-level progression rate in 2024 were fee-paying

10/12 Quirks and questions on third-level progression rates

Brian Mooney outlines key aspects of third-level progression analysis and some common issues that arise

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

03/12 ‘It’s not just someone in a lab coat in a lab messing around with Bunsen burners’

New course to introduce Junior Cycle students to Stem and Steam careers

03/12 Transition year gap: ‘Why is it only some schools get to go on trips abroad?’

The revolutionary programme introduced 50 years ago has proved hugely popular - but not all students have equal access to engaging and life-changing experiences

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?

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

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

19/11 Explainer: why are second level teachers protesting outside schools today?

Unions want Leaving Cert reforms to be delayed, but Norma Foley says millions is being invested to support changes

19/11 Phone pouches: What happens when a school locks its students’ mobiles away?

Minister for Education Norma Foley’s funding for phone pouches has been controversial, but the solution has proved transformative for St Raphaela’s school in Co Dublin

18/11 Our school admissions system is broken. Many parents are in for a rude awakening

Families who expected a straightforward enrolment process are grappling with the harsh reality of Ireland’s oversubscribed schools

17/11 My daughter wants to study engineering at college. I’m not sure it’s right for her

A degree in this area opens a vast array of career pathways and is highly valued around the world

14/11 Secondary school accused of demanding student’s ‘submission’ to gender identity in row over ear piercing

Boy returned after summer break with stud in ear and was told to remove stud, cover it with plaster or get second ear pierced

14/11 Secondary school accused of demanding student’s ‘submission’ to gender indentity in row over ear piercing

Boy returned after summer break with stud in ear and was told to remove stud, cover it with plaster or get second ear pierced

12/11 Teachers to protest next week in bid to delay Leaving Cert reform

ASTI and TUI say school day will not be disrupted by planned demonstrations

12/11 ‘We need extra time now’: Students with additional needs call for State exam changes

Many neurodiverse pupils are high achievers, but the education assessment system can present them with unique challenges

11/11 Grind schools are booming. Would they offer any advantage in a properly resourced education system?

Schools are a dense web of educational experiences and social relations. How well does the grind-school offering compare on this front?

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

27/10 A super-charged technology threatens to destroy the integrity of the Leaving Cert

Additional assessment components worth 40% are being introduced at a time when AI tools are developing rapidly and relentlessly

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 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

20/10 ‘We’re fully booked’: How grind schools became big business

Rugby stars such as Brian O’Driscoll and Caelan Doris are among the investors in a booming private tuition sector which promises top grades in the Leaving Cert points race. But is it piling too much pressure on students?

16/10 Parents advised to apply to ‘multiple’ secondary schools due to pressure on places

As post-primary enrolments climb to highest level on record, Department of Education says there are sufficient school places in most areas

16/10 Female school principals face much higher rates of bullying and violence, study finds

Study based on data collected from more than 600 school leaders in Irish second level schools

08/10 I see students in class watching sport on YouTube or shopping on Amazon. The pull of internet distraction is exhausting

Banning phones in schools is just the start – we need to do more to educate pupils on fighting the urge of distraction when they feel uncomfortable or bored

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

29/09 I don’t want to give my child a smartphone but worry he will feel left out if I don’t

Parents have felt powerless in the face of advances in technology - that, hopefully, is changing

23/09 ‘My 12-year-old daughter doesn’t seem to do well with new people and situations’

Ask the Expert: 'Is there something we should do to boost her confidence?'

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

12/09 Most Leaving Cert students availing of grinds but little evidence of any gain for higher achieving students

Some 55 per cent of final year students availing of private tuition to boost chances of accessing university

11/09 Synge Street CBS is to admit girls for first time in 160 years and become an all-Irish Gaelcholáiste

Dublin school’s past pupils include taoisigh, presidents and high profile figures from media and sporting worlds

10/09 ‘I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous’: Why these teenagers are moving to secondary schools abroad

Four Irish students have won scholarships for two years to study the International Baccalaureate in different parts of the globe

10/09 ‘There are Caitrionas in every school – young people quietly struggling and suffering’

Return to school is a time when students who are not coping are potentially less likely to be detected. And this is nobody’s fault; it is a systemic problem

03/09 Teachers should not be forced to deliver ‘sensitive’ sex education classes - union

New curriculum - including sexual consent and attitudes to pornography - to be mandatory at senior cycle

03/09 ‘It was awful. He wouldn’t get out of the car’: Why more children are refusing to go to school

The pandemic magnified issues such as anxiety and bullying for students. Alternative education providers are responding, but some are hugely oversubscribed

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 Record numbers of students did not sit Irish Leaving Cert exam this year

Studying the language is mandatory at second level, but there is no obligation to sit the exam

22/08 Banning mobile phones in schools: ‘There will be a huge hoo-ha for a few weeks, then things will go back to normal’

Parents and teachers offer differing views on the likely benefits of Norma Foley’s planned mobile phone ban

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 30 of them! National second-level protected animals "visit" villagers' homes, eating, drinking and staying overnight

Recently, a group of special "guests" from the home of Zheng Shifang, a villager in Hekou Village, Lintian Village Committee, Heping Town, Qiongzhong Li and Miao Autonomous County, came to eat and drink again. After a good meal, they stayed on the branches in the village courtyard and were not polite at all. Zheng Shifang told reporters , he raises free-range chickens in his courtyard and feeds th

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

29/06 Leaving Cert class divide of 138 points linked with students’ family backgrounds

Children of professionals get average of 464 points compared with 326 for those born to lowest-skilled parents

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

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 Emer O’Neill on the Leaving Cert: ‘My elbow was in bits and I had to write for hours’

The TV presenter secured a sports scholarship in the US after finishing second level

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 Leaving Cert 2024: Exam survival guide for students (and parents)

Exams get under way on Wednesday, June 5th, with English paper one at 9.30am

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

29/05 Most end-of-year school reports aren’t truly fit for purpose

To limit a report only to the academic is to define a child by one very small facet of their complex selves

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

20/05 ‘In every school there are students like John who hunger for fewer disruptions to their timetabled week’

No two students experience school the same way. A heightened awareness of that increases our chances of spotting who needs us most

20/05 How to make the most of the Leaving Cert run-in: Study tips, social media and taking breaks

Teachers and experts share their subject-by-subject guide for how to best prepare for the exams

19/05 My son still hasn’t selected his CAO courses - and the exams are around the corner

There is time after the exams to finalise choices which do not necessarily rely on Leaving Cert points

15/05 Secondary students regularly see ‘toxic’ content on social media, survey finds

More than two-thirds report using AI tools, with almost half using ChatGPT for school-related tasks

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

07/05 ‘There is a lesson that will never feature on a school timetable but which we could all benefit from’

There is a lesson that will never feature formally on a school timetable but which we could all benefit from devoting more time to

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

03/05 Principals under ‘huge’ pressure to deliver free schoolbooks scheme on time

Norma Foley pledges support for school leaders amid complaints of complicated procurement and lack of human resources

30/04 ‘Students are struggling in ways we haven’t seen before’

A new ESRI study on voluntary secondary schools sheds new light on the enduring impact of the pandemic on students

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

30/04 Most students in single-sex schools want mixed enrolment

Ireland has high proportion of all-boys and all-girls schools in comparison to other European countries

29/04 Anyone can teach anything in schools – just like they did a century ago

In the early days of the State about half of second-level teachers were unqualified to teach their subjects. How much has really changed?

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

27/04 ‘For a long time there’s been an image problem’: apprenticeships attracting more people as snobbery fades

Record numbers chose apprenticeships last year, with starting salaries for many now exceeding college graduates

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 Too many children face a chaotic lottery to get a secondary school place. Here’s how we can change it

A common application process would simplify post-primary school admissions, alleviating stress for parents, students and schools

09/04 ‘It’s time it was taught, however dark it is’: Educating students about mother and baby homes

The topic is not on the school curriculum, but a new education programme on Ireland’s culture of concealment aims to change that

08/04 Young people have outgrown our education system. How we respond is a conversation we need to have

Students are missing out by having teachers who choose to bring less to the table than they could if they felt more motivated

07/04 ‘My daughter in fifth year is very creative, but I worry if the arts is a good path to follow’

There are good job prospects in creative industries, especially in the film and audio-visual sector

04/04 Many parents unaware special education staff do not need additional qualifications, conference hears

ASTI event told key roles such as co-ordinators of education supports for students with additional needs not officially recognised

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

03/04 ‘It hits you in the heart’: Teacher considered leaving school over ‘ridicule’ on TikTok

ASTI teachers back calls for stronger laws to prevent online abuse and cyberbullying

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 Pay and conditions for thousands of adult education tutors to be regularised

Many tutors paid an hourly rate based on time spent teaching with no holiday pay or pension entitlements

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

02/04 Teachers want to teach, not tick boxes. AI could be key to realising this

We must harness the potential of technology while ensuring that risks are adequately policed

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

01/04 Schools ill-equipped to deliver Leaving Cert reforms, say Science teachers

Plan to allocate 40% for research projects ‘cannot be implemented’ without funding to ensure all schools have sufficient laboratory resources

25/03 The Secret Teacher: Too many achieve too little for want of that one single adult

All youngsters can benefit from an adult who observes their needs closely and attentively

25/03 Rollout of free schoolbooks for Junior Cycle students ‘in doubt’

More than 80 per cent of principals say necessary supports to navigate procurement process not in place

24/03 My son is in fourth class, and the scramble for a secondary-school place has begun

Planning failures and a chaotic school admissions process cause sleepless nights for too many families

17/03 ‘My daughter is panicking about the Leaving Cert orals. It’s her first real exam’

The best approach is to immerse yourself in the language and understand how marks are awarded

12/03 As the mock results sink in, a tide of blame rises in some classrooms

The craic may have been good for best part of two years, but there is now a realisation that a high price is to be paid for taking such a route

11/03 Teenagers to receive empathy classes under redeveloped transition year

Programme on activating compassion is supported by Cillian Murphy and is found to boost levels of concern and understanding of others

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

05/03 Free textbooks: how scheme will operate for Junior Cycle students

Parents of Junior Cycle students can expect to save up to €309 a year

04/03 Free schoolbooks for 210,000 second-level students from this autumn

Minister will bring memo to Cabinet seeking approval to give free books to junior cycle students in non fee-paying schools

28/02 Reform of Leaving Cert science subjects risks giving ‘unfair advantage’ to pupils in private schools

University lecturers say access to laboratory equipment and technicians is better in fee-charging sector

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

27/02 ‘He has the worst teacher. At this rate, he has no chance of doing higher for the Leaving’

The Secret Teacher: Parents need to trust that teachers will do right by their children. It is a big ask, but a necessary one

26/02 ‘My 14-year-old is struggling with study and homework. Her teachers think she might have ADHD’

Ask the Expert: She is a bright girl but she gets so stressed about study

25/02 ‘It was carnage’: Why schools are powering off students’ smartphones

Once seen as the future of self-directed learning, secondary schools are increasingly moving to restrict or ban phones

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

20/02 ‘We felt like failures. It broke us’: When your child stops attending school out of fear

Kerry Grantham’s son was happy in school until he became gripped with anxiety at second level. Trying to find alternatives has been a journey of pain, failure and isolation

20/02 Private schools are not key to student success. I should know – I’ve taught in them

If you want to choose the right school for your child, I suggest you speak to longstanding staff members

11/02 UK can learn from Ireland when it comes to secondary school

Students across the water spend the last four years on a relentless exam treadmill, culminating usually in just three A Level subjects

06/02 Tuesday’s Top Stories: Measles outbreak threat triggers plan for catch-up vaccinations; School places unavailable amid enrolment crisis

Here are the most important stories you need to start your day, including: Almost a quarter of six year olds have their own smartphone - survey

06/02 ‘We’ve been failed by the Government’: Families left without school places

Some children in receipt of home tutoring due to enrolment pressures in places such as Kildare, north Wicklow, Dublin and Cork

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

01/02 CAO 2024: Slight dip recorded in number of students applying for college places

Point requirements for many courses climbed in recent years due to grade inflation and high numbers of applicants

31/01 More students to avail of ‘game-changing’ degree courses outside CAO system

Initiative being widened later this year to include more than 40 study areas including business, nursing, engineering, construction, music and software development

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

25/01 ‘This is about fairness’: Call for dyslexic students to be given extra time in Leaving Cert exam

Lauren Lynch ‘ended up in a class for students who teachers didn’t want to teach’ and says too many pupils labelled ‘stupid’ for disability

25/01 Young carers more likely to get poorer Leaving Cert grades, study finds

ESRI study estimates a quarter of 17-years-olds provide regular care to family members

24/01 ‘Timing is crucial’: How to make the most of the Leaving Cert and Junior Cycle mock exams

Active study, marking schemes and past papers are key to realising your potential in the Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert

23/01 The Leaving Cert is 100 years old. A time to celebrate or despair?

Every year we hear whispers about reform, but we are still waiting for meaningful change

22/01 Number of schools switching from single sex to co-ed increases significantly

Department of Education says 25 schools turn co-ed since 2020

18/01 Building a strong CV: Skills employers seek and how to stand out from the crowd

Students and graduates should develop skills outside of their college degree as well

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 The Secret Teacher: The new approach was a no-brainer - it transformed the class and engaged more students

The approach is simple, but it sits in our blind spot for one specific reason: we have been conditioned to prioritise relationships above all else

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

16/01 ‘Things change really fast’: Things to consider when choosing a college course

Employers place value on skills such as adaptability, flexibility and dependability

16/01 Applying for college this year? Here’s all you need to know

Students planning to apply through the CAO will need to register now but have until July 1st to make a final decision on their course choice

16/01 Key dates for 2024 Leaving Cert students and CAO applicants

Timeline for this year’s college application process

15/01 Leaving Cert reforms watered down after plans for teachers to assess their own students shelved, records show

Norma Foley ‘deferred’ school-based assessments last year, citing need to research impact of artificial intelligence

14/01 My son loves woodwork and furniture design. Are CAO options available?

There is strong demand for graduates in fit-out, furniture and woodworking industries

12/01 Record number register as apprentices, with stigma over ‘earn and learn’ options fading

Almost 9,000 new registrations made last year, with the bulk in areas such as electrical, plumbing and carpentry

09/01 Higher levels of antisocial behaviour and truancy among students in fee-charging schools

Research finds concentration of advantage did not have positive effect on adolescent behaviour

09/01 Meet the private school which dropped its fees

A decade ago, St Patrick’s Cathedral Grammar School - the oldest fee-charging secondary school in the State - joined the free scheme. Will others in the private sector follow?

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

07/01 My daughter’s Leaving Cert oral exams will take place during the Easter holidays. Surely this is unfair?

Staging tests during term time may be preferable for some, but would be highly disruptive for schools

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

30/12 ‘Mum, I’m so lonely at school. Nobody speaks to me all day’

As parents, we must teach our children that there is nothing normal about a child being ostracised

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’

28/12 School abuse: Religious orders asked whether they will cooperate with an inquiry that identifies individual members

Scoping inquiry established following series of abuse allegations at schools such as Blackrock College

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

23/12 ‘Hiding in the school toilets to avoid the humiliation of having no one to hang out with still haunts me’

Readers share their own, and their children’s, experiences of feeling isolated at school

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

16/12 Why fees for Ireland’s most prestigious private schools are on the rise

Leaders in the fee-charging sector defend their right to exist as they face increased exclusion from the public purse

16/12 Private school fees climb above €10,000 for day pupils as sector criticises ‘exclusion’ from State grants

Cost of sending children to fee-charging schools has risen for most parents this year

13/12 Leaving Cert students to complete science ‘research investigations’ worth 40% under new reforms

Physics, biology and chemistry will include project to be done in fifth year as part of measures aimed at reducing pressure on pupils

12/12 Feeder Schools: Gaelcholáistí show high progression rates into college

Three of top 10 schools with highest rate of progression into third level are Irish-medium secondary schools

12/12 Feeder Schools: How did your school and county perform?

The Irish Times’ Feeder Schools supplement tracks the proportion of students in individual schools who progressed to third-level colleges

12/12 The Secret Teacher: Too many students don’t feel safe at school. We are in the dark about why

We cannot possibly protect young people from what we do not even know about

12/12 Feeder schools: School-leavers from disadvantaged areas progress to college in near-record numbers

Class gap in third level participation persists despite increase, especially in Dublin area

12/12 Gap in progression to college between public and fee-paying schools may be narrowing

Seven of 10 schools with highest progression rate are non-fee paying, feeder-school data shows

12/12 Six take-aways from this year’s Feeder Schools: further to go for equal opportunities for all children

Feeder schools data shows how Ireland’s children progress after completing second-level education

12/12 Feeder schools oversimplify the intricate nature of education

Feeder schools: We sought perspectives from two experts to present arguments both in favour of and against the use of school tables. In this article, school principal Lesley Byrne argues against

12/12 How to read the feeder schools’ tables

Data on how many students from each school progress to third-level colleges is compiled from two primary sources

12/12 Choosing your child’s secondary school: questions to ask and where to get information

Feeder Schools: What factors should you consider before deciding on a school for your child?

12/12 Postcode inequality: ‘Surely kids in Dublin 8 deserve the same access to education as those in Blackrock?’

Many south inner city parents feel left behind with no access to multidenominational secondary schools. It’s very different in more affluent areas

11/12 Opposing feeder schools means opposing transparency

Feeder Schools: We sought perspectives from two experts to present arguments both in favour of and against the use of school tables. In this article, Peter McGuire argues in their favour

05/12 Boys outperform girls in Leaving Cert maths - and the gap is getting wider. Why?

Experts say an emphasis on problem-solving is a key factor, but some teachers are responding in creative ways

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

30/11 Quality of history teaching undermined by school pressures, report finds

History teachers in Ireland more reliant on using notes for students than most other countries

28/11 The Secret Teacher: ‘Toby died this morning, but Jack’s parents sent him to school anyway’

Many of our students suffer emotional storms on a regular basis and still show up to school

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 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

21/11 Sharp decline in girls’ performance in higher level Leaving Cert maths

Study says females ‘disadvantaged’ by changes to syllabus over past decade

15/11 Secondary school principals forced to drop subjects in face of teacher shortages

Almost two out of three secondary school leaders say they have unfilled vacancies

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

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 Teachers’ unions progress talks over ‘seismic’ merger of ASTI and TUI

New union would represent 40,000 teachers at second and third level

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 ‘There is definitely more anxiety in teenage girls’: Meeting the mental health challenge in school

Schools are experimenting with ways to ease the stress students are facing – not only from the pandemic, but from life itself

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

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 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

29/10 State exams body defends low proportion of top grades at Junior Cycle

Those achieving highest grades must demonstrate ‘high level of mastery’ of knowledge, understanding and skills

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