Special day at St Mary’s NS, Dunmanway [southernstar.ie]
- Published: 20 October 2011
MONDAY marked a special day in the history of St Mary’s Infant School, Dunmanway, as it saw the official opening of the impressive new extension to the original school.
Consisting of a spacious classroom, resource room and storage area, the extension will provide a significant improvement to the educational facilities in this school. The formal blessing of the new building was performed by local parish priest, Fr Ted Collins.
In what was a most pleasant function, the official opening was performed by Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney, who expressed his delight at being present on such an auspicious occasion and, to a great cheer from pupils and all others present, he cut the ribbon to formally open the extension. Minister Coveney was given a warm welcome by all present, especially the children.
Full Story: www.southernstar.ie
Parents of kids in British schools asked to rate them on new website [Independent.ie]
- Published: 20 October 2011
PARENTS are to be asked to rate schools on issues such as homework and bullying, it was announced today.
Ofsted has launched a new website designed to give parents the chance to air their views anonymously on their child's school.
Some teaching unions have raised concerns that allowing parents to rate schools anonymously leaves the site open to abuse.
The Parent View online questionnaire asks parents to give opinions on 12 different statements, ranging from "my child is happy at this school" to "my child receives appropriate homework for their age" and "this school deals effectively with bullying".
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Minister Quinn clarifies position re introduction of a limit of eight subjects for examination purposes in the Junior Certificate [merrionstreet.ie]
- Published: 20 October 2011
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., has responded to concerns regarding the introduction of the limit of eight subjects for the Junior Certificate examination.
The new limit of eight subjects will be a requirement for students entering second level schools in 2014 and taking the examination in 2017. This will form part of major changes in the Junior Cycle which have been proposed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. The reforms, which will be introduced on a phased basis, will mark a radical departure in the way we teach, the way students learn and the way in which they are assessed.
The Minister said he had listened to concerns about what might happen in the run up to these changes. He announced that there would be no obligation on schools to limit the number of subjects taken in the Junior Certificate examination for students enrolling in 2012 or 2013.
Full Story: www.merrionstreet.ie
Address by Minister for Education & Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., at the NAPD Annual Conference [merrionstreet.ie]
- Published: 20 October 2011
Thank you for your invitation to join you today and make my first address as Minister for Education and Skills at an Annual Conference of NAPD.
When I was assigned the Education brief I came to it from a position of advantage because as opposition spokesperson I got to know the general landscape and the key part played by the various partners in the education system.
So today I want to begin by putting on record my appreciation of the significant contribution made by NAPD since its foundation.
First and foremost I want to acknowledge the service NAPD provides throughout the year to individual principals and deputy principals across the country by supporting them in various ways in carrying out their invaluable work in our schools.
Full Story: www.merrionstreet.ie
Boys, five, can't write their names [newsletter.co.uk]
- Published: 20 October 2011
Almost one in five boys are struggling to write their own name at the age of five, figures suggest.
Government statistics show a gender gap still remains, with girls outperforming boys in areas such as writing and counting before they start formal education.
Some 19% of boys cannot write their own name, or short words like "dog" or "cat", compared to one in 10 (10%) of girls.
And two fifths (59%) of boys cannot write a simple shopping list, or a letter to Santa, compared to a fifth (21%) of five-year-old girls.
Almost one in 10 (9%) of boys cannot count up to 10, compared to 6% of girls.
Full Story: www.newsletter.co.uk
