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
Second Level
News and advice on the second-level education system.
Children are missing school at an alarming rate. What is going on?
The number of pupils chronically absent from school has doubled. Experts say making students feel they belong is key to tackling the problem
‘I’ve seen quite a few parents devoid of affection, all across that parent-teacher meeting table’
An effective meeting can be done in two minutes if you say what you need to say and brook no unnecessary diversions
Teacher training to include mandatory placements in special education
Move comes after threefold increase in prevalence of autism in the last 10 years
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
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
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
Grind schools create an injustice at the heart 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?
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
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
‘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
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
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
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
‘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?
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
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
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
‘It’s a very different experience today’: The changing face of boarding schools in Ireland
International students are boosting enrolment numbers in a sector that has been in slow decline
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
Concern over rise in alleged assaults of special needs pupils
Forty parents planning legal actions over alleged mistreatment, Department of Education records show
Secret Teacher: I was too soft when I started but soon you stop caring what students think of you
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
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
Synge Street CBS board of management says it will ‘not proceed’ with move to Gaelcholáiste
Board says the change to planned move in 2026 is due to staff concerns
‘I had first-years with a WhatsApp group mainly used for porn sharing’: Why parents are delaying access to smartphones for their kids
Mounting concern over role of social media algorithms in pushing inappropriate content to young people
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
Protest at Dáil gates for Synge Street Gaelcholáiste
Students call on Minister for Education Helen McEntee to provide a timeline for promised Gaelcholáiste
‘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
Stigma persists that disadvantaged students ‘low-achieving’ or ‘non-academic’
Many poorer schools saddled with sub-standard classroom facilities, research finds
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?
Irish-language exemptions: ‘It’s all firefighting and band-aids, instead of a sensible approach’
Critics say there is an urgent need to overhaul how we teach Irish following a century of failure
As a teacher it makes me so sad to hear young people say how much they dislike Irish
We need to ensure language lessons are active, engaging and fun instead of pure drudgery
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?
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
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Six Nations 2025
Get the latest news, analysis and match reports from the M6N and W6N championships
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Family NoticesOpens in new window
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices