(Gaeilge) Meánscoil ilchreidmheach nua fógartha do Phort Laoise
November 4, 2016
Comhdháil 2016 – Clár ar fáil anois!
November 4, 2016
Coicís fágtha go Comhdháil 2016! Beidh reimse leathan cainteanna agus ceardlann ar siúl i mbliana: Clár – Comhdháil Oideachais 2016
An bhfuil tú cláraithe? http://www.gaelscoileanna.ie/comhdhail/
Minister Bruton announces patronage of 9 new Post-Primary schools to be established in 2017 and 2018
November 3, 2016
The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton T.D., today announced the patronage of the nine new post-primary schools to be established in 2017 and 2018. In all cases the Minister accepted the recommendations of the New Schools Establishment Group. These schools were announced in November 2015 to serve a number of locations nationwide under increased demographic pressures. Minister Bruton said “The basic aim of this Government is to use our economic success to create a fair and compassionate society. In few areas is there as much capacity to deliver on this as in education. As part of this, we are determined to provide more choice for parents. As a country we are experiencing a significant, ongoing, increase in our school-going population. The establishment of these new schools forms an essential part of plans to ensure that sufficient new school places are in place to cater for the growing cohort of pupils at post-primary level over the coming years. Additional places will also continue to be provided by extending existing provision, as included in the Six Year Programme of Capital Investment in Schools 2016-2021”.
The Minister observed that, “Parental preference has become a key determinant in deciding the patronage of new schools and I’m pleased to say that the views of parents as expressed through the process are strongly reflected in the decisions I have made on the patronage of these nine new schools”.
Patronage of the new schools in Limerick City & Environs (East); Malahide & Portmarnock; Firhouse Dublin 24; and Dublin South City Centre is being awarded to Educate Together. Education and Training Boards have been awarded patronage of the new schools for Limerick City & Environs (South-West) (Limerick and Clare ETB), Swords (Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB) and Portlaoise (Laois and Offaly ETB, with An Foras Pátrúnachta as Trustee Partner). The Edmund Rice Schools Trust has been appointed patron of the new school to serve Carpenterstown and Castleknock. The remaining school in Lucan, Co. Dublin will involve a partnership approach with Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board and a new entity, Scoil Sinead Ltd.
These new schools will provide significant additional pupil places in the areas they will serve and between them will have capacity to cater for up to 8,200 additional post-primary pupils when fully developed.
The Minister also stated that in making his decisions he was particularly conscious of the clear parental demand for diversity of provision in many of the areas where the new schools are being established. All applications were assessed on the basis of published criteria, including the extent of diversity in existing schools and the scale of diversity to be provided by the new school or schools.
Minister Bruton said “The best and quickest way of providing diversity and choice for parents is by providing additional multi-denominational schools for parents. I have committed to trebling the rate of delivery of these schools to reach 400 multi-denominational and non-denominational schools by 2030. I am very pleased with the range of patrons involved in these new schools being announced today and that eight of the nine schools will have a multi-denominational ethos. I am particularly pleased that the outcome of this process has resulted in the inclusion of a new player at post-primary level, further increasing diversity of provision in our post-primary school system. I am confident that these new schools will give parents and students real choice.”
Following consideration of feedback from patrons on previous patronage processes, the process has evolved to incorporate the medium of instruction of a proposed new school as part of the assessment process. This makes parental preference for Irish-medium instruction an integral part of the patronage assessment and recommendation process. It is open to all prospective patron applicants to propose provision of Irish-medium education in their application for a new school. Parental preferences for each patron, together with the extent of Irish provision, if any, currently available in the area, are key in relation to the outcome of this process. In this regard, prospective patrons were requested to submit completed parental preferences indicating the language through which parents would prefer their children to be educated.
The assessment process analyses existing Irish-medium provision in the area and also takes into account existing Irish-medium provision in the adjacent school planning areas. Consideration is given to demonstrated demand and long-term sustainability, including provision of a sufficient range of subjects.
Minister Bruton stated “I am pleased that parents had an opportunity to express their preference as to whether they wish their child to be educated through the medium of English or Irish. I am very pleased that as a result of the parental preferences and assessment of existing Irish-medium provision in each area, the new post-primary school to serve the Portlaoise area will have an Aonad Lán-Gaeilge and that consideration is being given to the establishment of another Aonad Lán-Gaeilge in Carpenterstown/Castleknock.”.
The Minister expressed his gratitude to the members of the New Schools Establishment Group for their valuable input to the process, ensuring an objective and transparent process. The Department will be contacting each of the patron bodies in relation to the logistics of the establishment of these new schools.
All of the schools are being established to meet an identified demographic need.
Two distinct areas of growth within the Limerick City school planning area were identified – Limerick City and Environs (South-West) and Limerick City and Environs (East). Given this, it was decided to open two schools, each with an initial capacity of 600 pupils to meet the anticipated demand in the area. In this regard, a new 600 pupil post-primary school for Limerick City and Environs (South-West) is due to open in September 2017 and a new 600 pupil school for Limerick City and Environs (East) is due to open in 2018.
Details on the arrangements which apply to the patronage of these new schools are available on the Department’s website.
The detailed Assessment Reports for each of the areas concerned are also published on the Department’s website.
New Schools Establishment Group
The patronage process for new schools is overseen by the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). This independent advisory group was set up in 2011 to advise the Minister on the patronage of new schools following its consideration of a report prepared by the Department on the applications received. The group is chaired by Dr. Seamus McGuinness (retired senior lecturer in the Education Department at Trinity College Dublin) and also includes Ms. Sylda Langford (retired Director of the Office of the Minister for Children) and Prof. Seán Ó Riain (Sociology Department, NUI Maynooth).
Minister Bruton accepted the recommendations of the Group in all cases.
National award for Limerick pre-school
November 3, 2016
Limerick Pre-School Naíonra na nÓg has won the title of ‘Best Indoor Learning Environment in Ireland’ at the Maternity and Infant Early Education Awards.
Now located in Shannonvale on the Old Cratloe Road, Naíonra na nÓg was established 16 years ago and director Yvonne O’Sullivan said that the award has highlighted the team’s dedication to early childhood learning.
“I’m delighted to receive the award on behalf of my amazing team and that their dedication and passion for providing stimulating, challenging, playful environments for our children has been recognized. We are always striving to improve our practice and be an Early Years Centre of Excellence so this award means so much to us.”
Yvonne’s team at Naíónra na nÓg includes Clara O’Dwyer, Bernie O’Loughlin, Sara Darcy and Niamh Breen, along with Sarah McGee and Edel Lavin of Once Upon a Time Montessori (also under the stewardship of Yvonne) which relocated to the Shannonvale premises this year from Scoil Chríost Rí Caherdavin.
A judging panel of industry experts was appointed by early years childcare experts Canavan Byrne who adjudicated the awards down to a shortlist and included a site visit by industry expert judges to the Limerick school.
One of the judges Imelda Graham said how she “loved the fact that the school environment promoted independence, self-directed learning and creativity.”
Naíonra na nÓg Pre-School was established in 2000 in Caherdavin by Yvonne, who last week graduated with a Bachelor of Education from Mary Immaculate College.
Yvonne said that their service has “grown from humble beginnings to a custom-built state of the art premises when the school relocated to Shannonvale in September 2015.”
The new school contains three large zoned classrooms of two Naíonra classrooms and one Montessori classroom that encourage children to develop holistically through play, a sports hall for physical education, and walled garden for outside play.
For more information on Naíonra na nÓg visit www.naionrananog.ie
Gaelscoil Osraí leading the way in healthy eating for children
November 2, 2016
Parents and staff of Gaelscoil Osrai enjoyed a well attended and positive evening on Thursday, when Professor Donal O’ Shea and Dietician Ellen Roche spoke about healthy eating.
The evening was part of a week-long focus on healthy eating and wellness in the school and parents were given an opportunity to hear from two of the best speakers in the country on the topic of ‘Nourishing our Children’ — focusing on the importance of and practical ways of ensuring children get the very best chance of learning to eat and drink in a healthy way.
While there are about 15 schools in Kilkenny taking part in the Healthy Promoting School programme at the moment, Gaelscoil Osrai was the first school in Kilkenny, and the first Gaelscoil in the south-east, to be recognised as a Health Promoting School. The school worked under the guidance of the HSE’s Joan Murphy, who is the National Healthy Schools Co-ordinator and also a parent in the school. The programme is based on a whole school approach, with heavy emphasis on consultation with everyone in the school community, to establish areas around health promotion that need attention.
Prof O’ Shea is one of Ireland’s leading experts on obesity. He is an endocrinologist based at St Vincent’s Hospital and is the clinical lead for the Weight Management services provided at St Columcille’s Hospital in Loughlinstown, Dublin.
In recent years he has appeared on Operation Transformation and is passionate about trying to prevent obesity and caring for those who are obese and overweight.
Ellen Roche, a dietitian with locally based Nutri Vive, provided parents with tips to help manage Fussy Eaters and healthy Lunchbox Ideas.
The importance of healthy eating for children has been a cause for concern for a number of years.
Healthy eating policy
Having established a committee of teachers, pupils and parents the school devised a new healthy eating policy, and Prof O’ Shea and Ms Roche both agreed that it is an excellent policy and that Gaelscoil Osrai are leading the way in this important area.
Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020
November 1, 2016
Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 Enhancing Teaching Learning and Assessment
A new “Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020, Enhancing Teaching, Learning and Assessment” was published in October 2015. It builds on previous work and supports the overall strategy of the Department in a number of key areas including curriculum implementation, skills development, teacher education and learner outcomes. The Strategy is the result of extensive research and consultation.
The Strategy sets out a clear vision that is focussed on realising the potential of digital technologies to transform the learning experiences of students by helping them become engaged thinkers, active learners, knowledge constructors and global citizens who participate fully in society and the economy.
Some key priorities of the Strategy during the implementation phase are:
- To give teachers and schools clarity around the concept of embedding ICT into Teaching Learning and Assessment, through adapting the UNESCO ICT Competency Framework for Teaching for the Irish context. By localising the UNESCO ICT Competency Framework for Teachers, schools and teachers can identify training needs to be targeted by the Department and its support services.
- To reflect technological and educational developments through updating the eLearning in Your School planning resource (from 2009) to assist schools in further developing their eLearning policy.
- To address the ICT infrastructural requirements of schools through developing an ICT Equipment grant (first tranche to be available for the 2016-2017 school year), and continuing to improve broadband services to schools.
- To promote Scoilnet and associated sites/services as the national reference point for schools for high quality digital content (www.scoilnet.ie).
- To provide information to teachers on innovative ways to use digital technologies more actively in their own teaching, including exemplars of good practices, and facilitating the sharing of such practices amongst teachers.
- To enhance access to and impact of CPD for teachers through extending CPD delivery formats to include online and blended learning programmes.
- To explore and recommend technical support solutions for schools.
- Extend the scope and reach of student learning beyond the walls of the classrooms.
See below for some further information on the Strategy, and read the full policy document at: Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020.
(Gaeilge) Cláraigh do nuachtlitir Peig.ie / deis iPad a bhuachan
November 1, 2016
(Gaeilge) Naíonra Lios na nÓg
November 1, 2016
Government Launches Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022
October 28, 2016
Today, the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, together with the Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton and Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, Sean Kyne launched the Department of Education and Skills’ Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022. The launch was held in Scoil Náisiúnta Mhic Dara, An Cheathrú Rua (Carraroe), Co Galway.
The development and implementation of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022 is a central commitment contained in Minister Bruton’s Action Plan for Education 2016-2019 which was published in September of this year.
Speaking at the launch, the Taoiseach said that he believed that the Gaeltacht was enormously important for the future of the language and Irish culture.
“This Policy is the first comprehensive strategy for education in the Gaeltacht since the establishment of the State. The Government is strongly committed to implementing the actions in the 20-Year Strategy for Irish and this Policy on Gaeltacht Education sets out how we will support Gaeltacht schools to provide high-quality, Irish-medium education to the children of the Gaeltacht,” said the Taoiseach.
Minister Richard Bruton described the challenges faced by Gaeltacht schools as they taught children who came to school with very varying levels of familiarity with spoken Irish.
“As Minister for Education and Skills, I want to ensure that the right conditions exist to develop excellent Irish-medium schools in the Gaeltacht,” said Minister Bruton. “Under the Policy, schools in the Gaeltacht will have the opportunity from 2017 to seek recognition as Gaeltacht Schools in line with linguistic criteria. I hope that the recognition process will be encouraging and inspiring for schools, and that schools will be attracted to participate in it,” he added.
Under the Policy, a recognised Gaeltacht school will be a school where the school commits to delivering all curriculum areas and subjects through the medium of Irish. Schools that opt for Gaeltacht school status will have up to five years to achieve this status. These schools will gain access to packages of additional teaching and other resources in a staged way as they demonstrate progress towards Gaeltacht school status.
“Our goal is to see recognised Gaeltacht schools being the schools of first choice for parents in the Gaeltacht,” said Minister Bruton.
Recognised Gaeltacht schools will also be required to engage with their communities in the Gaeltacht language planning process under the Gaeltacht Act, 2012.
Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, Seán Kyne welcomed the publication of the Policy, and especially the commitment that schools would be able to participate fully in the language planning process in each Gaeltacht area.
“The requirement that Gaeltacht schools participate in the language planning process illustrates how important it is for schools and their communities to work closely together to strengthen the use of Irish,” he said.
Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022:
- Sets out a vision for Gaeltacht education that recognises the role that schools and early-years settings play in providing high quality Irish-medium education and in fostering Irish-language proficiency and usage in the wider Gaeltacht community
- Aims to support and improve the quality of Irish-medium instruction in Gaeltacht schools and pre-schools, so as to ensure that Irish-medium instruction is the first choice of parents in each of the Gaeltacht areas
- Sets out a comprehensive range of interlinked actions to ensure the availability of a high quality and relevant Irish-medium educational experience for all young people living in Gaeltacht areas and in this way to support the use of Irish as the main language of Gaeltacht communities
- Introduces a policy whereby schools located in Gaeltacht planning areas can opt to seek recognition as a Gaeltacht school – a Gaeltacht school will be a school where the school commits to delivering all curriculum areas and subjects through the medium of Irish and engages with the community in the Gaeltacht language planning process. Schools that opt for Gaeltacht school status will have up to five years to achieve this status. These schools will gain access to packages of additional teaching and other resources in a staged way as they demonstrate progress towards Gaeltacht school status.
- Seeks to align the work of Gaeltacht schools closely with the language planning process under the Gaeltacht Act.
Taoiseach and ministers to attend significant Connemara engagements
October 28, 2016
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Minister Richard Bruton and Minister of State Sean Kyne will be in Connemara today to mark a series of significant engagements.
These are the launch of a major new Gaeltacht Education Strategy, the turning of the first sod on a new building for Clifden Community School and the official opening of the upgraded Leenane Water Treatment Plant.
Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs Sean Kyne will attend the official opening of the upgraded Leenane Water Treatment plant at the Leenane Community Centre at 10am.
This morning’s event follows the recent completion of one million euro works to the facility, to provide safe and reliable drinking water to several hundred residents in the area.
Minister Kyne will then join Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Education Minister Richard Bruton for the launch of the Government’s new Gaeltacht Education Strategy at Scoil Mhic Dara in Carraroe at noon.
The strategy covers early-years, primary and post-primary education in Gaeltacht regions across the country.
Measures include the teaching of all subjects through Irish, not teaching English during the first two years of primary school, supports for teacher training to improve numbers and reform of the Irish language curriculum to reflect the different needs of Irish and English schools.
Minister Bruton will then make his way to Clifden, where he’ll witness the turning of the sod on a long-awaited new building for Clifden Community School at 3pm.
The project involves the demolition of the existing school and prefabs and the construction of a new two-storey and part three-storey school.
The new building has been hard sought for the past fifteen years and it’s hoped the project will be completed in about 18 months.
