An impressive book for Transition Year teachers with tips on how to use the National Gallery is due to arrive at all second-level schools this month. Launched last week by the Minister for Education and Science, Micheal Martin, it will help the teachers to plan activities such as themed tours of the National Gallery.

According to Marie Bourke, the gallery's head of education, "the book should enable students to challenge the subject of art by looking at paintings more closely, by helping them to observe and critically analyse what they see." Admission to the gallery is free.