Schools Out For Summer - Unofficially with 1 in 5 Families to Take Children Out of School Early To Save on Summer Holidays

As summer holiday season approaches, research conducted by lastminute.com has found that 1 in 5 parents (20 per cent) plan to take their children out of school early this year to save on holiday costs. This questionable approach to holiday money-saving comes after National Educational Welfare Board figures in October revealed the average primary school pupil misses 11 out of 183 days of school a year, rising to 13 at post-primary level.

The survey also found that those in Leinster ... click to read full post & comments

Keith Duffy launches Irish Autism Action Anti-Bullying Campaign

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 13/06/2013.
Tags: Parenting Teachers News

Keith Duffy launched Irish Autism Action’s Anti-Bullying Campaign today in a bid to stamp out bullying in primary schools. Backed by Irish company Swapkit, the Boyzone star has teamed up with the autism charity for a nationwide campaign aimed at bringing anti-bully action packs to 1,000 schools across the country in the next school term.
In order to participate, primary schools can ... click to read full post & comments

Irish pupils 'less happy in school than children in other countries'

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 12/06/2013.
Tags: Primary School News

Children in Ireland are less happy in school than pupils in other countries around the world.

This is one of the findings of new research from the Educational Research Centre entitled National Schools, International Contexts - Beyond the PIRLS and TIMSS Test Results, which revealed students in fourth class in Ireland are also more likely to feel as though they do not 'belong'. 

... click to read full post & comments

Examinations Commission Apologises for Exam Paper Mistakes

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 12/06/2013.
Tags: Secondary School News Teacher News

The State Examinations Commission(SEC) has given assurances that mistakes in this year’s Junior and Leaving Certificate Examintions will be taken into account when marking papers.

The State Examinations Commission has confirmed that ... click to read full post & comments

Pupils unhurt after bus fire

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 11/06/2013.
Tags: Parenting Kids Health

Pupils and their teachers have escaped without injury following a bus fire incident at Barna in West Limerick.

Gardai revealed nobody was hurt when the 45-seater bus - which was taking the group home from a school tour - became engulfed in flames, although the passengers were said to be traumatised by the incident.

... click to read full post & comments

'Lack of successful exam post applications' from unemployed teachers

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 10/06/2013.
Tags: Teachers News

There has been a lack of successful applications made by unemployed teachers in Ireland regarding exam post roles.

According to new figures released by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), just 250 teachers currently out of work had their submissions to monitor exam halls this year accepted, the Irish Independent reports.

... click to read full post & comments

Facebook to help Schools tackle Cyber Bullying

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 07/06/2013.
Tags: Parenting

Following a recent meeting between the Department of Education & Skills and Facebook, Facebook has agreed to work directly with Irish schools to help combat cyber bullying.

The initiative comes following a number of incidents in second-level schools where Facebook were criticised for ... click to read full post & comments

Department of Education and Skills provides more funds to support school projects

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 06/06/2013.
Tags: Primary School News

Ruairi Quinn, Minister for Education and Skills, has announced that an additional 50 million euros will be made available to invest in new school building projects.

The money is part of the government's Investing in Infrastructure & Jobs Package and will allow 28 new school building projects to begin. 

... click to read full post & comments

Nearly 117k prepare for Leaving and Junior Cert exams

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 04/06/2013.
Tags: Secondary School News

Nearly 117,000 candidates have been entered for Leaving Cert and Junior Cert exams in secondary schools in Ireland this year and a record number are preparing to sit higher level maths.

The figures will be a big boost to both the government and employers who have been calling for job candidates to be equipped with the necessary skills to build Ireland's economic recovery.

... click to read full post & comments

RTE programme raises concerns over childcare standards

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 29/05/2013.
Tags: Education And Politics

Concerns have been raised about the quality of childcare in Ireland following the broadcast of an RTE Prime Time programme last night (May 28th).

The show appeared to highlight the mistreatment of children in three creches, with evidence gathered using undercover filming, Health Service Executive (HSE) reports and internal HSE documentation.

... click to read full post & comments(1)

School 'does not want to reinstate excluded student'

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 28/05/2013.
Tags: Secondary School News

A school located in the west of Ireland is determined not to reinstate a pupil accused of selling drugs.

The 14-year-old student was expelled for the alleged offence and has since, through his mother, brought High Court proceedings against the school, the Irish Examiner reports.

... click to read full post & comments

Rejection of pay deal reaffirmed by ASTI and TUI

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 24/05/2013.
Tags: Teachers News

Teacher leaders have reaffirmed their rejection of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) proposals.

According to the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI), the Public Services Stability Agreement 2013-2016 - or the Haddington Road Agreement - does not represent a sufficient enough change from the LRC proposals first tabled.

... click to read full post & comments

Preschool inspections to be introduced in Ireland

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 23/05/2013.
Tags: Teachers News

Preschools in Ireland are to be inspected in much the same way as primary schools currently are.

This is according to Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald, who has pledged a review of the professional training system for early-education practitioners after concerns were raised about preschool standards, the Irish Times reports.

... click to read full post & comments

School subject choices 'may be reduced through new teacher rules'

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 22/05/2013.
Tags: Secondary School News

New rules on teaching in Ireland could have a negative impact on the subject choices available in schools.

This is the fear among secondary schools in the country after it was revealed new legal stipulations will mean only qualified teachers are able to take classes, the Irish Examiner reports.

... click to read full post & comments

Suicide levels among young Irish people 'is worrying'

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 21/05/2013.
Tags: Parenting Kids Health

Ireland has a worryingly high suicide level among young people, a new report has shown.

According to the Suicide in Ireland 2003-2008 research, the country has the fourth highest rate in Europe, with the number of young males and females taking their own lives rising to more than 25 in every 100,000 - markedly higher than the ten in every 100,000 recorded in 1990.

... click to read full post & comments

Prize bull 'helps save Irish school'

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 20/05/2013.
Tags: Primary School News

A school in Ireland has been kept open thanks partly to a prize bull called Hero.

The auction of the animal - a story that was picked up on by the international media - enabled Glinsk National School in County Galway to raise €100,000 in ticket sales and to fend off the threat of closure, the Irish Independent reports.

... click to read full post & comments

Dept of Education criticised for approach to children with Down Syndrome

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 17/05/2013.
Tags: Primary School News

The Department of Education's approach to children with Down Syndrome has come in for criticism.

According to the Children's Ombudsman, the department's decision not to grant pupils with the condition an automatic entitlement to additional teaching resources has had a significant impact on their capacity to engage in mainstream primary schooling, the Irish Independent reports.

... click to read full post & comments

Ruairi Quinn lends support to school cost reduction campaign

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 16/05/2013.
Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has lent his support to a campaign aiming to limit the cost of school books and to bring down the price of uniforms.

Mr Quinn said he backed the expansion of school book rental initiatives and would like to see the replacement of uniforms with school badges being considered by primary school boards of management, the Irish Independent reports.

... click to read full post & comments

Teacher unions 'asked to hold separate talks'

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 15/05/2013.
Tags: Teachers News

Teacher unions in Ireland will be asked to stage separate discussions following their ballots on industrial action.

This is according to Kieran Mulvey, the Labour Relations Commission Chief, who explained these talks are likely to take place early next week, the Irish Examiner reports.

... click to read full post & comments

Search for a Dry bed campaign launches new research

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 15/05/2013.
Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids

Almost a third (27%) of parents of children who wet the bed say their child “misses out” on summer activities such as sleepovers with friends and family (60%) and camping trips (24%) due to wetting the bed, according to new research published today by the Search for a Dry Bed campaign and bedwetting.ie, a website that ... click to read full post & comments

Science not compulsory 'due to lack of labs'

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 14/05/2013.
Tags: Secondary School News

The government's lack of money to build the required number of laboratories is the reason why science is not compulsory in Irish secondary schools.

This is according to Education Minister Ruairi Quinn, who was speaking at Tullamore College in County Offaly, where he had been learning about the college's new internet link with other classes in Ireland, Germany and the US, the Irish Independent reports.

... click to read full post & comments(2)

Teacher pay issue 'to be settled in a month or two'

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 13/05/2013.
Tags: Teachers News

A Department of Education payroll problem that has affected hundreds of teachers in Ireland is likely to be settled in a month or so.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has informed the Irish National Teachers' Organisation that he expects the issue - which has seen a backlog of thousands of euros building up since September last year - to be settled shortly, the Irish Examiner reports.

... click to read full post & comments

Effects of the economic downturn on children to be studied

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 10/05/2013.
Tags: Family And Leisure

The effect that the economic downturn has had on children in Ireland is to be looked at more closely.

Plans to measure this impact will include the lives of young people born in the boom years being compared with those born during the recession - and it is hoped the government will continue to fund such research in the future, the Irish Independent reports.

... click to read full post & comments

Child benefit proposals 'causing upset'

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 09/05/2013.
Tags: Education And Politics

Proposed changes to child benefits in Ireland have caused upset in the coalition and worry among parent groups.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn indicated further child benefit cuts could be on the cards by suggesting the money might be spent elsewhere, the Irish Independent reports.

... click to read full post & comments(1)

Lower reading and maths test scores for children in disadvantaged schools

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 08/05/2013.
Tags: Secondary School News

Pupils at urban disadvantaged schools in Ireland have lower reading and maths scores than their counterparts in schools with low concentrations of disadvantage.

This is according to a new Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) study, which also found children in these schools are more likely to be affected by higher absenteeism, literacy difficulties and less-experienced teachers.

... click to read full post & comments

Thousands of school children 'failing to reach fifth year'

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 07/05/2013.
Tags: Secondary School News

Thousands of school children are failing to reach their fifth year of second-level study, new research has shown.

Published by the Department of Education, the report revealed 4,300 students quit school in years one to four annually, with this number rising to 7,713 for the full duration of second-level school, the Irish Examiner reports.

... click to read full post & comments

School uniform costs 'can be brought down'

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 03/05/2013.
Tags: Primary School News

Barnardos, the National Parents Council (NPC) and the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) have called on schools to introduce measures that can bring down the costs of uniforms for children. 

A review guide has been issued to the boards of management of all schools by the collective.

... click to read full post & comments(1)

Cutbacks 'are impacting on students'

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 02/05/2013.
Tags: Secondary School News

Staff cutbacks are having a negative impact on students, it has been claimed.

Ferdia Kelly, general secretary of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB), noted a lack of protection for frontline services in schools is resulting in pupils missing out from both a personal and educational perspective, the Irish Examiner reports.

... click to read full post & comments

Primary school enrolment numbers 'set to climb'

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 01/05/2013.
Tags: Primary School News

Primary school enrolment numbers in Ireland are set to climb significantly over the next decade.

This is according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), which projected an increase of up to 100,000 pupils by 2021 and represents a 20 per cent rise on 2011's numbers.

... click to read full post & comments

Primary school enrolment numbers 'set to climb'

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 01/05/2013.
Tags: Primary School News

Primary school enrolment numbers in Ireland are set to climb significantly over the next decade.

This is according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), which projected an increase of up to 100,000 pupils by 2021 and represents a 20 per cent rise on 2011's numbers.

... click to read full post & comments

Bursary awarded to students for Irish language game

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 30/04/2013.
Tags: Teachers News

A bursary has been awarded to three students after they decided to produce their Irish language word game in Ireland and not China.

The pupils of Regina Mundi College in Douglas, a suburb of Cork, were handed €2,000 from RTE TV's Junior Dragons' Den for the Focail Iontacha game, which is aimed at teaching Irish to schoolchildren in a fun way, the Irish Examiner reports.

... click to read full post & comments

Lack of jobs 'creating primary school teacher surplus'

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 29/04/2013.
Tags: Teachers News

A lack of available jobs in Ireland is creating a surplus of primary school teacher graduates.

There are no positions open for around 600 graduates who finish their studies every year, which means many individuals are left disappointed when they fail to find work despite gaining the right qualifications, the Irish Independent reports.

... click to read full post & comments

Forum makes post-primary schooling recommendations

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 26/04/2013.
Tags: Secondary School News

A joint forum of teacher unions, parent groups and educationalists has made a series of recommendations regarding the future of post-primary schooling.

Collectively know as the Post-Primary Education Forum, the seven organisations have put forward 13 suggestions they believe to be vital to improving second-level teaching and learning over the next 15 years.

... click to read full post & comments

Principals propose school entry shakeup

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 25/04/2013.
Tags: Primary School News

Principals have proposed a shakeup of the school entry system in Ireland.

The Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) suggested the new setup should see parents ranking their choices of school in a centralised applications system.

... click to read full post & comments

First phase of new afterschool childcare scheme launched

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 24/04/2013.
Tags: Parenting Parenting Kids

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton T.D., and Frances Fitzgerald T.D., Minister for Children and Youth Affairs have today (24 April 2013) announced that the first pilot phase of the new afterschool childcare scheme will begin on 29 April.
In this first phase, up to 500 childcare places will be made available to people who have been ... click to read full post & comments

Irish pupils take part in special Nasa broadcast

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 23/04/2013.
Tags: Secondary School News

Irish schoolchildren are among pupils from around the world to have taken part in a special Nasa broadcast.

A total of 37 students from Cork schools St Michael's National School Blackrock, Gaelscoli Mahon and Beaumont Girls National School headed to CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory, where they linked up to five other schools around the world, the Irish Examiner reports.

... click to read full post & comments

Minister invites applications for patronage of four new primary schools

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 23/04/2013.
Tags: Education And Politics

The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., has invited patron bodies to apply for the patronage of four new primary schools due to be established in September 2014.

The four new schools will be in ... click to read full post & comments

Church of Ireland voices school policy concerns

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 22/04/2013.
Tags: Secondary School News

Concerns regarding school policy have been raised by the Church of Ireland.

During a meeting with the government, a delegation from the church, led by Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson, said it is worried about the threat of cutbacks to schools in Ireland, the Irish Times reports.

... click to read full post & comments

County Limerick schools getting active

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 22/04/2013.
Tags: Primary School News

The County Limerick Local Sports Partnership is teaming up with over a dozen primary schools across Limerick to promote physical activity for hundreds of primary pupils.
Sports Partnership staff have organised 7-km cycles, Health and Nutrition talks and Fun Running activities for students in participating national schools which include  ... click to read full post & comments

School extension to accommodate greater numbers

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 19/04/2013.
Tags: Secondary School News

A community school in Ireland could be set for a major extension as it looks to accommodate a growing number of students.

Enrolments at Kinsale Community School are expected to climb from its current number of 770 to closer to 1,000 over the coming years - and principal Sean O Broin believes the increase in demand for places is down to the successes its pupils have enjoyed in recent times, the Irish Examiner reports.

... click to read full post & comments

Teenage girl 'not entitled to injunction for school place'

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 18/04/2013.
Tags: Secondary School News

A teenage girl with mental health difficulties is not entitled to a mandatory injunction that would direct the state to provide her with a suitable school placement.

This is according to the High Court's Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley, who came to the decision despite claiming the girl's social education was gravely deficient on account of her not attending a school for more than a year.

... click to read full post & comments

ASTI rejects Croke Park II deal

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 17/04/2013.
Tags: Teachers News

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) has voted to reject the proposals of the Croke Park II deal.

According to the body, this stance reflects the deep anger felt by teachers across Ireland at what they see as an unfair agreement.

... click to read full post & comments