Head teachers lukewarm after schools are invited to become academies [timesonline.co.uk]
- Published: 27 May 2010
Head teachers reacted warily yesterday after being sent an invitation to turn their state schools into academies.
Under the offer made by Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, schools in England will have the chance to increase their budget by about 10 per cent. Some heads admitted that this was attractive in a time of austerity, but others said the details must be clarified before they would commit themselves.
There was particular concern about primary schools becoming academies. The status has so far been limited to secondary schools and a small number of “all-through” schools, which take children from 5 to 16 or 18.
Full Story: www.timesonline.co.uk
Gaeltacht schools want exam changes postponed [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 27 May 2010
GAELTACHT schools are seeking postponement of changes to the Leaving Certificate Irish exam which they feel will not challenge or reward native speaker students.
The 28 second-level schools represented by Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta (ESG) are concerned the existing syllabus already results in students brought up through Irish reaching higher standards in Leaving Certificate English than they do in their mother tongue.
However, they fear revised marking under a new Leaving Certificate syllabus, including 40% of all marks going for the oral speaking test and a much reduced focus on Irish literature, will further impact on standards.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
Extent of crisis in child protection exposed [anphoblacht.com]
- Published: 27 May 2010
The full extent of the crisis in child protection in the 26 Counties was exposed with two startling admissions this week. The Health Service Executive (HSE) admitted that they are still unaware of the number of children who have died in State care over the past five years and Children’s Minister Barry Andrews admitted that the HSE is refusing to hand over files on these children to the investigation team that he established. The government says it will now rush through legislation to allow the HSE to hand over its files to the government inquiry.
Full Story: www.anphoblacht.com
'Students are not files that can be pushed aside' [Independent.ie]
- Published: 27 May 2010
ST PAUL'S College in Raheny, Dublin, has already lost three year heads and is losing another assistant principal this summer.
Principal Ciaran McCormack, pictured, said the retirement of almost half of its year heads was having a negative effect on students.
"They are not files or bundles of paper that can be pushed to one side and dealt with in a few days."
He described the moratorium on filling these posts -- in effect since last year -- as a crude instrument introduced with little thought of its implications for the education sector.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Pupils will be hit in row over vacant posts [Independent.ie]
- Published: 27 May 2010
SECONDARY schools face "inevitable disruption" after the summer holidays as a row rages between government departments over filling vacant promotion posts.
School managers are annoyed over the failure to deliver a promised easing of the ban on filling middle management positions.
The promise was made by Education Minister Mary Coughlan at Easter but her officials are still locked in discussions with the Department of Finance over how much relief can be given.
The delay will lead to many schools opening in late August and early September without year heads, because there is not enough time left to recruit them.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
