Oscailt an tSrutha i Scoil Íosaef
January 25, 2012
Positive results for Gaelscoileanna in new ESRI Report
January 19, 2012
The latest report from the ESRI, published yesterday, is available to download here: The Primary Classroom: Insights from the Growing Up in Ireland Study
The report has some very interesting and positive things to say about gaelscoileanna, including:
From the Executive Summary
Ich 9: ..girls, those attending fee-paying schools, those attending gaelscoileanna and those in non-disadvantaged schools are more likely to experience active learning in their classroom than boys, those in English-medium schools and those in disadvantaged (DEIS) schools.
On the time allocated to subject groupings according to school characteristics:
Lch 21: Differences are also evident in terms of the language medium of the school. Not surprisingly, English-medium schools allocate more time to English and less time to Irish than Irish-medium schools, both Gaeltacht schools and gaelscoileanna. However, other differences are evident, with gaelscoileanna devoting more time to Drama, Music and PE than either English-medium or Gaeltacht schools (Figure 2.4). The pattern appears to reflect a broader orientation to the promotion of Irish language and culture in gaelscoileanna rather than language medium per se.
Factors influencing time allocation:
Lch 23 Even controlling for gender mix and DEIS status, students attending gaelscoileanna spend more time on PE, Drama and Music than other students.
Curriculum groupings:
Lch. 28: Gaelscoileanna are more likely than Gaeltacht or English-medium schools to provide a broad curriculum.
Teaching methods and class sizes:
Lch. 36: Children attending gaelscoileanna are more likely to be in classes of greater than 30 pupils, while girls attending single sex schools are less likely to be in large classes.
Ich 39: Children in gaelscoileanna are more likely to benefit from pair- and group-work than children in other school settings, as are children attending fee-paying schools. While in both the fee-paying sector and Irish-medium schools teachers place less emphasis on providing differentiated activities, they place a greater emphasis on hands-on activities, using play to facilitate learning and encouraging pupils to find things out for themselves. In contrast, they appear to rely less frequently on more traditional approaches like copying notes from the board.
Lch. 43: Teaching methods are found to vary by school characteristics. In keeping with the descriptive analyses presented above, teachers in girls’ schools are more likely to use more active approaches than those in boys’ or coeducational schools. In addition, teachers in gaelscoileanna are more likely to use active methods than those in English-medium or Gaeltacht schools.
Lch. 45: More active teaching approaches like pair-work, group-work and hands-on activities are all more prevalent among recently qualified teachers and decline in prominence with length of teaching experience. This is a significant finding and may signify an important shift in teacher training methodologies over time. There is also evidence to suggest that teachers take different approaches in different school and classroom contexts – with more active methods adopted in single-sex girls’ schools, fee-paying schools and gaelscoileanna, and more teacher-centred approaches in rural DEIS and urban band 1 DEIS schools.
Children’s engagement across school settings:
Lch. 49: Children attending gaelscoileanna are also less likely to report that they never like school, although again small numbers point to the need for caution in the interpretation of these results.
Children’s attitudes:
Lch. 57: Not surprisingly, children in Irish-medium schools are more positive about Irish than those in English-medium schools (see Figure 4.9), with the most positive attitudes evident among children attending gaelscoileanna. Interestingly, children attending Irish-medium schools, both gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht schools, also have more positive attitude to Reading than those in English-medium schools. No variation is evident in attitudes to Mathematics by language medium of the school.
Lch. 59: Not surprisingly, children attending gaelscoileanna have more positive attitudes to Irish than those in English-medium schools. Interestingly, however, no significant differences are found between Gaeltacht and English-medium schools in attitudes to Irish. Finally, attitudes to the three subjects do not vary between DEIS and non-disadvantaged schools.
Lch. 61: As might be expected attitudes towards Irish are more positive among children attending gaelscoileanna, although no significant differences are found between Gaeltacht and English-medium schools in attitudes towards Irish.
Conclusion:
Lch. 62: Thus, children attending gaelscoileanna are more likely to experience a broad curriculum and spend more time not only on Irish but also on Music, Art and PE.
Lch. 62: It is of policy concern too that some groups of children, namely, girls, those attending fee-paying schools, those attending gaelscoileanna and those in non-disadvantaged schools, have greater access to the kinds of active methods which may engage them in learning. Couched differently, boys and children from disadvantaged backgrounds, groups with lower levels of achievement later on in the school system, are less likely to experience active and engaging settings for learning. The reasons for such differences are unclear from the data available here, but may reflect group-work and pair-work being seen as ‘easier’ to manage with more engaged groups of students.
Gaelscoil Moshíológ ag troid na ciorraithe sa cóimheas daltaí le múinteoirí
January 17, 2012
Comhráiteas na nEagras Bunmhaoinithe
January 17, 2012
Diversity of Patronage – Surveys Open
January 14, 2012
What is this all about?
While the State provides for free primary education, schools are established by patron bodies who define the ethos of the school and appoint the board of management to run the school on a day to day basis.
The vast majority (96%) of primary schools in Ireland are owned and under the patronage of religious denominations and approximately 90% of these schools are owned and under the patronage of the Catholic Church.
We all know that Irish Society has changed a lot in recent years. There are now families of many different nationalities, religions and beliefs living here. Our education system therefore needs to adapt to ensure that there is respect for all the different traditions and religions from which pupils come.
Forum on Primary Patronage
Last year, the Minister for Education and Skills established an expert group to consult with people and to make recommendations on how primary schools can become more inclusive of different traditions, religions and beliefs.
Earlier this year the Minister for Education & Skills, Ruairí Quinn, T.D. accepted and published the Report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector.
As part of his response to the recommendations of that report, the Minister has started a new process to look at the possible transfer of some schools run by the Catholic Church to other school patron bodies in 44 areas around the country. This process will be undertaken initially on a pilot basis in the following areas: Arklow, Castlebar, Whitehall (including Kilmore West and Beaumont), Trim and Tramore.
How will this happen?
The first step in this process involves asking all the parents/guardians of primary going children and pre-school children in these areas to tell us what type of primary school they would like their children to attend. The intention is to identify the level of demand from parents/guardians for a wider choice of school type in areas where that choice is currently limited. The responses of parents/guardians will be used to consider what changes, if any, could be made to widen the choice of primary schools in these areas.
Who is eligible to complete the survey?
Parents/guardians of primary school going children and pre-school children in Arklow, Castlebar, Whitehall (including Kilmore West and Beaumont), Trim and Tramore. Your preference will only be considered in the area in which you live, the balance of the 44 surveys will be carried out later in the year.
Types of Patronage
The Department of Education and Skills currently classifies primary schools as denominational, inter-denominational and multi-denominational offering education through the medium of English or Irish.
Denominational patronage: A school under the patronage of a single religious community. Such a school provides religious education according to traditions, practices and beliefs of the specified religious community. It may also provide a wider education about religion and facilitate parents/guardians of other faith traditions to enable them to provide for religious education in their belief system.
Inter-denominational patronage: A school under the patronage or trusteeship of more than one religious faith community. Such a school provides for a variety of religious education opportunities.
Multi-denominational patronage: In the Irish context, two types of primary schools are categorised as multi-denominational:
Firstly, those schools that do not provide religious education as formation, during the school day, but do provide education about religions and beliefs. If they so desire, parents/guardians may arrange for denominational religious education outside school hours in such schools.
Secondly, those schools that provide education about religions and also provide some faith formation for different denominations, depending on parental requests, during the school day, over a 3 or 4 week period.
Description of Patronage
The Department has circulated the list of 44 areas to all patrons and has asked them to supply a list of the areas where they are interested in becoming a patron. The Department has also asked them to supply a brief description of their patronage model. Only those patrons who have expressed an interest in becoming a patron in one of the areas are listed in the survey.
For further information on patron providers, click here.
What happens next?
The Department of Education & Skills will publish detailed reports on the survey outcomes. This will be done in a manner that fully respects the confidentiality and data protection rights of all those who respond. Please see link to data protection protocol. (click here).
The survey outcomes will allow us to identify the level of parental demand for a wider diversity of school choice in the selected areas. Where such demand is identified, the options for a possible transfer of ownership of some schools will be considered further in partnership with the patrons and school communities concerned.
This process will not result in the establishment of additional schools in the areas.
Further Information and contact details
Should you experience any difficulty in completing the survey or in understanding what is being asked, you can contact a helpline for assistance at free-phone number 1800 303 621. This helpline will be open from 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm Monday to Friday while the survey is live.
All parents/guardians eligible to complete the survey area asked to do so online by Friday, 9th November 2012. The parent/guardian completing the survey will need to have their PPS number ready to input on the survey form.
In the event that parents/guardians are unable to complete the survey online, a paper based survey will be made available. This can be requested by contacting the Department of Education & Skills, free-phone number 1800 303 621.
New leaflet on Early-immersion Education
January 13, 2012
What is it and what are the advantages? GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. have published a new bilingual leaflet to answer these questions, and printed copies of it will be sent out to schools via post in the coming week. You can download the leaflet here (along with plenty of other resources!) and you can request additional printed copies by contacting us: oifig@gaelscoileanna.ie or 01 8535195.
Grants for inter-school events available again!
January 13, 2012
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. provide grants to Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools to organise inter-school events. These grants are in great demand.
We’re currently accepting grant applications. Applications will be processed in the order in which they are received, and according to the organisation’s limited budget, so be sure to make the most of this opportunity and submit the online application form to us ASAP!
Through this scheme, schools have an opportunity to organise an event of their choosing with other schools and GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. provides a maximum of €250 / £225 for an event with 2 schools participating, a maximum of €500 / £450 for an event with 3 schools participating and a maximum of €750 / €675 if there are 4 schools or more taking part. The grant is paid based on receipts. Schools can apply for funding for any and all kinds of events and we welcome applications from:
- Preschools and primary schools
- Primary schools
- Primary and Post Primary schools
- Post-Primary schools
There are photos in the gallery of some of the events funded through the scheme previously, and you can read the schools’ accounts of these events here. This grant scheme is funded by Foras na Gaeilge.
Inter-school events give Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools important opportunities to create ties with other schools. From table quizzes to football blitzes, the various events promote communication and fun through the medium of Irish, something which benefits the school, the pupils and the whole school community. Further information on the scheme is available from the Development Officer, email cspainneach@gaelscoileanna.ie or call 01 8535193.
New Gaelscoil Opening in Tyrrelstown in 2012!
January 12, 2012
Cáinaisnéis 2011-2012 agus Impleachtaí do Scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge
December 16, 2011
Regional Network: Meetings in Dublin, Cork and Galway
December 14, 2011
Gaelscoileanna Teo. is working to establish a support network amongst schools, to provide the school communities with regular opportunities to share their expertise and experience, to discuss any challenges they face and to work together where possible.To facilitate this, we have divided the country up into 16 regions and are working to host meetings in each area. School communities in the locality are invited to come along and meet one another along with a representative from our organisation. The meetings are open to the entire school community; staff, Boards of Management, parents and founding committees active in the area.
The meetings usually involve an information session on the sector in general, the services Gaelscoileanna Teo provides to the schools and what we aim to achieve with the Regional Network. Occasionally a guest speaker will be invited. We hope to increase the schools’ involvement in our organisation’s work, to enable us to better serve their needs.
Here are details of the meetings planned for the upcoming term:
There will be a meeting for the schools in West Dublin on the 25th January in Bewleys Hotel, Newlands Cross at 4pm. The schools concerned are: Gaelscoil Naomh Pádraig, Scoil Chaitlín Maude, Coláiste Cois Life, Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada, Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin, Gaelscoil na Camóige, Coláiste Chilliain, Scoil Chrónáin, Gaelscoil Inse Chór, Scoil Santain, Coláiste de hÍde, Coiste bunaithe Gaelscoil Oisín.
There will be a meeting for the schools in Cork city, east and north on the 1st February in the Clarion Hotel, Lapp’s Quay at 4pm. The schools concerned are: Gaelscoil Charraig Uí Leighin, Coiste bunaithe Gaelcholáiste Charraig Uí Leighin, Gaelscoil Uí Éigeartaigh, Gaelscoil Mhachan, Gaelscoil na Dúglaise, Gaelscoil an Teaghlaigh Naofa, Coláiste Dáibhéid, Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil, Coláiste an Phiarsaigh, Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn, Scoil na nÓg, Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire, Gaelscoil de hÍde, Gaelscoil Thomáis Dáibhís, Gaelscoil Choráin, Gaelscoil na Tríonóide i gColáiste Phobail na Tríonóide, Gaelscoil Mhainistir na Corann.
There will be a meeting for the schools in Galway in the Maldron Hotel, Oranmore on the 1st March at 4pm. The schools concerned are: Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha, Scoil Uí Cheithearnaigh, Gaelscoil Riada, Coláiste an Eachréidh, Gaelscoil Riabhach, Gaelscoil de hÍde, Gaillimh, Gaelscoil na bhFilí, Gaelscoil Dara, Scoil Fhursa, Scoil Iognáid, Coláiste Iognáid, Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, Coláiste na Coiribe.
Further information: cspainneach@gaelscoileanna.ie or 01 8535193
