Everybody has known for the last number of months that Leaving Cert changes were coming. You could sense it in the media, there were calls from various politicians and orieachtas committees were held in education and leaving cert reform in particular. And of course the rumors of the infamous document containing these changes sitting on the minister's desk. However, it all did seem a bit sudden this week when changes were announced in the media frenzy and despite claims of intimate consultation with all "stakeholders", many were very, very surprised by some of the new changes. Tonight, we go in ..read more

In this episode we go inside our schools and examine the crisis of teacher retention and supply in Ireland. Recently COVID has brought a shortage of teachers to the forefront, making headlines, as a lack of available cover wreaks havoc in schools. We have examples of schools not being able to cover absent teachers and classes being sent home as a result. We have principals of schools taking to social media, believe it or not, to find teachers willing or able to substitute and shockingly special education teachers being removed from the very students who need them the most in order to keep ever ..read more

Is the leaving cert really still fit for purpose? This is the question we explore tonight, when we go inside our schools. With the Oireachtas Education Committee meeting the various management bodies and teacher trade unions over the last number of weeks, coupled with recent calls from senators, TD celebrities, and journalists, Now more than ever, there seems to be a move towards Leaving Cert Reform. In tonight's episode, I am joined by two of our resident guests, Mark Walshe, a computer science and modern foreign languages teacher and Robert Chaney, a teacher of mathematics. We discuss the ca ..read more

And this the second episode of season two, we go Inside our Schools and we shine a torch on the vital area of Special Education classes. Joining me for a chat tonight is Graham Manning, who is a secondary school autism class coordinator. Those on Twitter would be quite familiar with Graham and his absolute Trojan work on behalf of autistic children and their parents, of course, and the promotion of autism classes within secondary schools. Over the course of the next hour or so Graham takes me through some of the extraordinary work done and the supports that are given to autistic children in au ..read more

In this the first episode of the new season, We discussed a return to school. We ask the questions, Is it really safe for a normal return to school with the current levels of COVID-19 in the community, with a new variant and with mitigation measures that have not changed since day one. We also discuss the disgraceful decision to send pregnant teachers, SNS and education workers back into crowded classrooms. In this episode I am joined by, Tomás Ryan, Associate Professor at the school of biochemistry and immunology at Trinity college, Dublin, and a member of the independent scientific advocacy ..read more

in this episode we go inside our schools and take a look at the massive shift in educational policy here in Ireland over the last number of years that is to move education from a knowledge subject based curriculum, to an outcomes skill-based model. We put the rationale given for such changes under the microscope and try to tease out what might be the real reasons behind this major shift in education, and what are the possible consequences of it? Joining us for this discussion are: Geraldine Mooney Simmie, a senior lecturer and deputy head of the School of Education at the University of Limeric ..read more

In this Episode we have a look at the new public sector pay deal called 'Building Momentum' and examine what it means for secondary teachers. The show is hosted by Andrew Phelan, a PE Teacher based in Dublin. The guests on this episode, all Dublin based Teachers, are as follows; Mark Walshe. A computer Science and Modern Foreign Languages Teacher. Sandra Fay. A Business Teacher. Seamus Keane. An English Teacher. It is important to note that the host and all guests present their own personal opinions and not that of their trade union (in this case the ASTI for all participants)or their school ..read more

In this episode we look at changes to Posts of Responsibility in schools and examine some of the effects these have had on teachers and staff rooms.  Joining in this debate we welcome back Liam Hennelly, a Chemistry and Biology teacher Martin McMullen, a Politics & Society, a History and a Religion teacher. We're also joined tonight for the first time by Keith Cassidy, an Economics and a Geography teacher.  ..read more

In this episode, we go inside our schools and we take a look at the role played by Special Needs Assistants. We discuss the key issues that are faced by a lot of SNAs, issues, such as abuse of job description, ill-defined roles within schools with many SNAs has being given jobs that have absolutely nothing to do with their role. We discussed the diminishing allocation of SNAs in schools and the precarious nature of employment faced by many SNAs, who can find themselves going from school to school nomadically every year, trying to find work. And we also take a brief look at the future of specia ..read more

In this episode we discuss the recent changes to the National Vaccine Plan and examine the effectiveness of the current mitigation measures in schools in the context of new variants of covid-19. Joining for the discussion tonight are Fergal Canton. A Religion, Computer Science and English Teacher. Fergal is also a member of the ASTI and is a representative on its H&S committee. Christopher Davey. A Physics and Science Teacher. Christopher is also a member of the ASTI. Linda O'Sullivan. A Special Needs Assistant. Linda is also a Forsa Representative. Clare Kelly. An Associate Professor in t ..read more