A new report has revealed some of the differences that are seen in the way teaching resources are utilised in primary schools in Ireland.

The research, conducted as part of the Economic and Social Research Institute's Growing Up In Ireland study, found there is a large variation in the amount of time allotted to particular subject areas, both between facilities and within individual institutions.

There are marked difference between schools that receive Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Ireland (DEIS) support and those that do not, with children in DEIS establishments spending more time on English and less on Irish, it was revealed.

A gender difference was also noted in single-sex facilities, with boys' schools focusing more heavily on PE, geography and history, while girls' schools spend more time studying religious education.

While traditional teaching methods continue to dominate, it was noted younger educators are more likely to use more active lesson plans to engage their pupils.

Commenting on the report, general secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation Sheila Nunan said it shows positive results and demonstrates generally high levels of engagement from children, who are said to typically enjoy their time in school.

Written by Donal Walsh

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