Irish Education

It is important to remember the purpose of the Leaving Certificate examination (versus the course) when trying to consider whether or not the exam should be held in August. Firstly the Leaving Certificate – the actual certificate/statement of results itself – is a record of completion and achievement at the […]

By Hook Or By Crook You Shall Go To The ...

7 May, 2020 in Irish Education / Leaving Certificate / Senior Cycle / Uncategorized by peterlydon

Trigger warning aside, I wasn’t expecting such a positive response to Part 1. But this one is a harder read. Seriously. Don’t read this if “predicted grades” are your thing. I’ve tried to be nuanced ; If you feel yourself about to a jump to conclusions, ask questions first. The key […]

Not What I Was Expecting: Predicted grades and other thoughts ...

6 May, 2020 in Education / Irish Education / Leaving Certificate / Senior Cycle / State Exams by peterlydon

I have made one deliberate assumption in all of this; that everyone wants what is the best for all students, not just those they know. As with any problem solving effort, the proposed solution should not create more problems than it solves. While the postponement of the LC 2020 examinations […]

The CAT SAT on the MAT: Predicted grades and other ...

4 May, 2020 in Education Reform / Irish Education / Leaving Certificate / Senior Cycle / State Exams by peterlydon

Wild, unfounded claims I’m not an epidemiologist but let me make some wild unfounded claims like everyone else. This is not the flu or even a flu; it is a virus for sure. But it would be foolish to assume that this thing will completely disappear a. when the summer comes […]

The hardest Covid19 decision for the Irish government is the ...

5 Apr, 2020 in Irish Education / Leaving Certificate / Senior Cycle / State Exams / Teaching and Learning by peterlydon

The Minister for Education asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to review the place of history in the new Junior Cycle curriculum. The NCCA recommended that to preserve the integrity of the Junior Cycle Framework, history should not be made compulsory. The Minister ignored the NCCA advice […]

Minister’s decision means Geography is already disappearing from schools.

6 Feb, 2020 in Irish Education / Junior Cycle by peterlydon

Things that keep me up at night During the banking collapse we heard about the ‘golden circle’ of investors who attempted to shore up shares in Anglo-Irish Bank. The media was focused more on the fact that there was a ‘golden circle’ than on what they were trying to do. […]

Carl’s Curriculum Caper!

7 May, 2019 in Education Reform / Irish Education / Junior Cycle by peterlydon

The Junior Cycle Framework (2011, 2012 and revised 2015) is the outcome of qualitative research carried out initially in 1999 (yup, that old) and recently there have been some articles in newspapers arguing against those people challenging the fact that neither history nor geography is included in the core curriculum […]

Tom’s Terrible Take

28 Apr, 2019 in Education / Irish Education / Junior Cycle / Teaching and Learning / Uncategorized by peterlydon

The Irish Times published an article on Tuesday 26th March which gave space to Mary O’Rourke and Dr. Gary Granville to present their respective view on whether history should be a compulsory subject. Dr Gary Granville is professor emeritus at the National College of Art and Design. He was formerly assistant chief executive […]

Good God Gary!

31 Mar, 2019 in Education / Education Reform / Irish Education by peterlydon

So, I wrote to Ed Byrne, President of the ASTI, during the week of the latest ballot. It was my first snail mail in rather a long time but then I thought it was worth the effort. Nearly two weeks on, I have no reply still. It goes like this; […]

Dear Ed….

6 Feb, 2017 in ASTI / Irish Education tagged ASTI / ASTI Strike / HRA / Minister for Education / S&S / Teacher Strike / TUI by peterlydon

Teachers, You will be told that your holidays are too long; teach anyway. You will be told that you must raise standards even though you always aim to get the best out of your kids; teach anyway. You will not be given tax-breaks, bonuses, expensed-cars or luxury Christmas gifts; teach […]

Teach Anyway

21 Dec, 2016 in Irish Education / Teaching and Learning by Peter Lydon

Peter Lydon

Teaching and Learning, Education and Technology.