Primary Level

News and advice covering the primary level education system.

‘Too many of us are stressed and losing sleep’: Students explain why school needs to change

Pupils on our panel say we need more creativity, less emphasis on homework and greater recognition of learning outside school

By Peter McGuireTue Apr 23 2024 - 06:00

Sharp drop in numbers of primary school children may mean smaller class sizes

Pupil numbers projected to drop by 100,000, or almost one fifth, within a decade

By Carl O'BrienFri Apr 19 2024 - 06:00

What do falling pupil numbers mean for schools, teachers and parents?

An oversupply of teachers may become an issue by the end of the decade

By Carl O'BrienFri Apr 19 2024 - 05:45

‘The yard is too small; we’ve to tell pupils not to run too fast’: The school working out of prefabs for 30 years

Pupils at Clondalkin primary school to protest outside Leinster House this week over delays to new school building

By Carl O'BrienTue Apr 16 2024 - 06:00

Hot school meals programme expanded with 900 more locations joining scheme

More than 2,000 schools now part of the initiative, says Heather Humphreys

By Sarah BurnsMon Apr 15 2024 - 16:38

‘We can’t afford to live in the capital’: Could a Dublin allowance improve teacher supply?

We asked delegates at teaching union conferences if they support calls for teachers in urban areas to be paid more to reflect higher living costs

By Carl O'Brien, Peter McGuire and Emmet MaloneWed Apr 03 2024 - 18:29

Primary teachers urge removal of Catholic religious certificate needed to teach in most schools

INTO hears State has ‘abdicated responsibility to religious organisations for too long’

By Peter McGuireWed Apr 03 2024 - 17:55

‘Children are using AI, whether we like it or not’

Delegates at the teaching unions’ conferences discuss the rise of artificial intelligence in the classroom

By Peter McGuire, Carl O'Brien and Emmet MaloneTue Apr 02 2024 - 21:00

Artificial intelligence poses cheating risk to Leaving Cert, teachers warn

Reforms aim to reduce pressure on candidates by spreading assessment load, Norma Foley says

By Carl O'BrienTue Apr 02 2024 - 19:27

Use of seclusion and restraint ‘common’ for autistic pupils, survey finds

Majority of public feel children should be helped as opposed to punished if they become stressed in a classroom

By Carl O'BrienTue Apr 02 2024 - 11:47

Calls for Irish teachers to be rewarded for service abroad to ease supply ‘crisis’

Recruitment and retention set to dominate teaching unions’ Easter conferences as Foley announces new funding package for schools

By Carl O'BrienMon Apr 01 2024 - 06:00

Roughly half of primary schoolteachers target of physical aggression in classroom, survey finds

INTO says findings highlight issue of aggression in schools, particularly in special needs settings

By Emmet MaloneTue Mar 26 2024 - 17:32

New primary school curriculum: the changes on the way and what they mean for children

Pupils will spend more time learning foreign languages, science and technology – and less time on religion

By Carl O'BrienThu Mar 07 2024 - 11:50

Every primary school to get free coding kit and teaching resources

EDTips will train primary school teachers in a suite of age-appropriate and interactive educational tools

By Colin GleesonThu Mar 07 2024 - 11:00

Most schools that appeal for more learning support hours are turned down

Figures come amid controversy over reforms to how resources will be provided to thousands of students with disabilities

By Carl O'BrienWed Mar 06 2024 - 18:44

Wednesday’s Top Stories: Sex education to be taught earlier; family of Ann Delaney criticises campaigners seeking to ‘hijack’ death

Here are the stories you need to start your day including a query from a reader who ‘dreads having to be intimate’ with her husband

Wed Mar 06 2024 - 08:49

Sex education to be taught at earlier age under new primary school curriculum

Public consultation opens on the biggest planned shake-up to primary education in 25 years

By Carl O'BrienWed Mar 06 2024 - 00:00

Can schools stand up to the bullies?

New rules will oblige principals to record all cases of bullying behaviour, but some parents feel the measures will make little difference

By Jen HoganTue Feb 27 2024 - 06:00

Calls to pause rollout of controversial changes to teaching hours for vulnerable pupils

Campaigners warn that one in three schools will lose support for disabled children while others would gain enhanced hours

By Carl O'BrienFri Feb 23 2024 - 14:17

No secondary school places for some first-years amid enrolment ‘crisis’

Some pupils may be forced to stay at home and avail of home tutoring due to shortage of places

By Carl O'BrienTue Feb 06 2024 - 06:00

‘The savings are huge’: Surge in parents taking children out of school for holidays - but not everyone is happy

Some principals say a dramatic increase in absences due to holidays is disrupting school life

By Carl O'BrienSat Feb 03 2024 - 06:00

The Secret Teacher: ‘Many in our profession wonder how they ever managed without AI’

We should safeguard the classroom so it remains a haven of genuine human contact

By The Secret TeacherTue Jan 30 2024 - 06:30

School transport scheme operates at ‘considerable cost’ but provides wider economic benefits, review finds

Department of Public Expenditure has previously flagged ‘unsustainable’ cost increases in €340 million-a-year scheme

By Carl O'BrienWed Jan 17 2024 - 06:00

‘It’s getting harder every year’: Is there any solution to the teacher shortage crisis?

Despite moves to attract retirees, students and teachers on career breaks to the classroom, shortages seem worse than ever

By Peter McGuireTue Jan 16 2024 - 06:00

Headsets, AI tools and remote learning: a glimpse of the classroom of 2030

Immersive learning is set to boost student engagement but will require constant upskilling for teachers

By Malcolm ByrneMon Jan 08 2024 - 08:00

Uniforms, piercings, haircuts . . . what school rules still make sense?

Parents and teachers can also struggle to understand the point of some school rules

By Jen HoganThu Jan 04 2024 - 05:31

More than 20 schools seek emergency funding amid rising costs but only one granted

Just one school successful in securing additional money, latest records show

By Carl O'BrienTue Jan 02 2024 - 06:00

Surge in number of exemptions for study of Irish at second level

Principal questions whether relaxation of rules is ‘stealthy plan to kill Irish by slow death’

By Carl O'BrienFri Dec 29 2023 - 06:00

Up to €20 million in funds for school sex abuse victims unspent amid 'restrictive' terms

Leo Varadkar apologised in 2019 to those sexually abused in day schools, pledging they would not be failed again

By Carl O'BrienFri Dec 29 2023 - 06:00

Parents to be polled next year on multi-denominational education in effort to ‘accelerate’ school choice

Almost 90 per cent of the 3,600 primary schools in the State remain Catholic in ethos

By Carl O'BrienWed Dec 27 2023 - 20:45

Ukrainian pupil numbers set to climb above 27,000 by end of school year

Pressure most intense at second level but Minister for Education not keen to use hotels or community centres as temporary schools

By Carl O'BrienWed Dec 27 2023 - 06:30

Irish population educated to record level with half having 3rd-level qualification, census finds

Some 58 per cent of people aged 15 to 44 had a third-level qualification last year, Central Statistics Office data show

By Carl O'BrienTue Dec 19 2023 - 12:48

Parents are heavily engaged in children’s school performance - but it may be elevating pupils’ anxiety

Children’s stress around tests tends to increases as they progress through primary

By Carl O'BrienMon Dec 11 2023 - 05:00

Stress, burnout, initiative overload. Who would be a school principal?

Latest research shows the pressures facing school leaders at primary level are unsustainable

By Louise TobinTue Dec 05 2023 - 05:00

Use of seclusion in schools for pupils with ‘behaviours of concern’ to end under new guidance

Physical restraint of pupils will not permitted except in crisis situations, according to draft guidelines

By Carl O'BrienSat Dec 02 2023 - 05:00

Teacher alleged to have shouted and pulled at autistic pupil accused of professional misconduct

Fitness-to-teach inquiry hears school principal failed to inform pupil’s parents of allegations

By Carl O'BrienWed Nov 29 2023 - 17:27

‘Most students have no connection to working farms. It’s good to understand where food comes from’

A new initiative is connecting farmers with schools to help boost understanding about food production

By Sylvia ThompsonTue Nov 28 2023 - 05:00

‘My 11-year-old son hates going to school and always complains of being tired’

Ask the Expert: ‘His teacher says he is very bright and able, though often switched off or daydreaming in the class’

By John SharryMon Nov 27 2023 - 06:01

No party invites: ‘My daughter is doing well, happy and has great friends - sorry yours hasn’t’

Dr Noctor cautions that just because a child doesn’t appear to be struggling as a result of exclusion, it doesn’t mean that child doesn’t need support

By Jen HoganMon Nov 27 2023 - 05:01

‘It shatters that sense of safety’: Psychological services to support pupils at school close to Dublin attack

Fear and anxiety likely to be among issues facing students and staff who witnessed incident or its fallout

By Carl O'BrienThu Nov 23 2023 - 20:16

Securing assessments for pupils is education’s version of the Hunger Games

Schools should not need to fund assessments or therapy through cake sales and non-uniform days

By Michelle McBrideTue Nov 21 2023 - 05:00

Primary principals warn education system is on ‘verge of breaking’ as teacher supply issues bite

Move to deliver smaller classes may have ‘intensified’ staff shortage problem, Department of Education secretary general says

By Carl O'BrienFri Nov 17 2023 - 14:41

The Secret Teacher: ‘A blanket ban on phones in schools makes less sense the more you examine it’

Many of those I teach are addicts, and rationalising with addicts about what they are addicted to is pointless

By The Secret TeacherTue Nov 14 2023 - 05:00

Hard surfaces, empty spaces and litigation: the problem with Irish schoolyards

Children are increasingly unable to run, hide and climb at break time for health and safety reasons – but some schools are taking a different approach

By Sylvia ThompsonTue Nov 14 2023 - 00:01

Schools warn they may have to keep classes at home due to teacher shortages

Extent of struggle to fill vacant teaching posts revealed in correspondence between principals and Department of Education

By Carl O'BrienMon Nov 13 2023 - 06:00

Are smartphones harming schoolchildren’s mental health? Here’s what the science says

Parents, teachers and scientists are worried – but proving it is another matter

By Carl O'BrienTue Nov 07 2023 - 15:52

Parents to be encouraged not to buy smart phones for primary school children

Norma Foley’s plan would see guidelines sent to primary schools where parents wish to introduce a voluntary no-smartphones policy

By Jade WilsonTue Nov 07 2023 - 08:49

Schools that deny access to toilets during class-time do not prioritise their students

Jen Hogan: Children are treated as second-class citizens all too often in this country

By Jen HoganMon Nov 06 2023 - 06:01

‘Unprecedented’ teacher shortages at primary level hits most vulnerable pupils

Survey reveals 800 vacant teaching posts and projects an additional lack of 1,200 more

By Carl O'BrienMon Nov 06 2023 - 00:01

Traffic, weather, safety, laziness, fumes, distance, time. . . why more children are not walking to school

‘Children are not being given enough opportunities to negotiate the world on their own’

By Damian Cullen and Ellen O’DonoghueTue Oct 31 2023 - 10:00

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