Financial reality Irish schools face is not reflected in OECD’s statistics
If education in Ireland were properly funded, think what could be achieved
Second Level
News and advice on the second-level education system.
Chronic absenteeism: More than 75,000 secondary students missed 20 days in school year
Report from Tusla Education Support Service shows ‘one in five students continue to miss a month or more of their school year’
Tackling education inequality: Social connections must be prioritised in Deis Plus schools
Newly appointed staff working with families of economically disadvantaged students can fundamentally alter the life trajectories of young people
Our daughter has barely started fifth class and the secondary school chat has intensified
Out of her four siblings, only one of them has a job connected to what she studied at university
Ireland spends less on education than OECD average, new data shows
The report also found the number of primary teachers in Ireland increased by 27 per cent over the last seven years, which is much higher than the OECD average
Revising for exams: What works best?
Students have far more choice today when it comes to revision, but how do you find the method that suits your learning style?
Heads, hearts and hands
Meditation is only beneficial for students if they have been exposed to its benefit from a young age
School closures loom on separate days next month as teacher pay dispute escalates
Members of ASTI to begin work-to-rule on October 5th and will strike nine days later if ‘meaningful’ pay talks are not under way
Interviewing Gen Z teachers: A candidate told me I was in a bidding war for her
‘Right. Tell me what they are offering. We will match it!’ I said confidently
The case for meditation in Irish education
Convention on Education should consider that wellbeing of pupils is not merely an adjunct to learning
Special edition of Studies published to coincide with Convention on Education
Academics, teachers, students and parents make a ‘contribution to the conversation’ on future of Irish education
Is it too late to apply for a college grant?
Susi administers two types of grants: maintenance grants and fee grants
Students are screen hostages. They’re losing the ability to switch off and knuckle down
By our own high standards, educational results in Ireland are slipping. But not all the problems are technology-related
State reneged on promise to provide school place to autistic girl (7), court told
Twins cried when seeing friends going to ‘big school’ and they could not, judge told
Anxiety ‘most prevalent mental health difficulty’ for secondary school students
Self-harming behaviours and suicidal ideation are also identified as issues in survey
Girls in Stem: One of the biggest barriers is perception
Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin overcame her belief that she had no ‘natural ability in mathematics’ to forge a successful career
Concerns raised across multiple Leaving Cert review groups that experts not being listened to
Subjects affected include maths, English, chemistry, physics, biology and construction studies
Rollout of the reformed Leaving Cert should be suspended
Disadvantaged students will be most affected by the disastrous reform of the Senior Cycle
How can my daughter make the most out of her visit to Higher Options 2026?
She is developing her perspective on future careers and RDS exhibition is a good place to start
First term resolutions to live by for a peaceful and happy new school year
Avoid overparenting, set aside some time for yourself and, like Elsa, learn when to let it go
What decisions about third level do you have to make?
Higher Options at the RDS allows students to speak to representatives from a wide range of third-level institutions
Falling standards are falling standards
Irish teenagers getting lower maths and reading scores is a negative thing and deserves an appropriate headline
‘I had an idea what I wanted to study but it sparked other interests, for sure’
Delia-Sara Fandache is a fourth year business and Spanish student at DCU and ICADE Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Madrid
Studying in the UK: ‘It forces you to step outside your comfort zone’
From navigating the application process to adapting to new learning environments, students from the Republic share their experience of studying in Britain and Northern Ireland
WorldSkills Ireland 2026 guide: Planning your visit and what to expect
The event at the RDS offers industry talks, hands-on experiences, demonstrations and chances to speak to employers and education providers
‘I knew from day one I wanted to work in the music industry’
‘I knew from day one I wanted to work in the music industry,’ says Kathryn Mason
Irish interest in education is boarding on obsession
Classroom to College: Higher Options supplement is an essential guide for Leaving Cert students
Irish teenagers getting weaker at maths and reading, new international research shows
OECD says ‘increased digitalisation’ and ‘falling rates of reading for enjoyment have coincided with weaker literacy outcomes’
A place to map out your future: Higher Options conference offers an ideal opportunity for students
Higher Options and WorldSkills Ireland event has a wide range of representatives to help you decide what to pursue after the Leaving Cert
How to make the most of your time at Higher Options 2026
Key to this event highlighting choices in further education, training and careers is to prepare beforehand while leaving room to discover something unexpected
Higher Options 2026: Don’t miss these speakers on sports, law and engineering
Find out about potential careers from Teneo’s Kelli O’Keeffe, barrister Joy-Tendai Kangere and NCAD course co-ordinator Enda O’Dowd
‘I was the first to benefit’: How Donogh O’Malley’s introduction of free secondary education changed Ireland
Plaque unveiled on 60th anniversary of historic announcement in Clare village where O’Malley passed away
Students with additional needs are not alone in negotiating third-level life
Third-level disability supports are there to support students with their learning and adjustment to college life
‘I got to talk to people who had done the course or were teaching the course’
Ronan Meleady is a fourth year law and politics student at the University of Limerick
Humanity misses climate target, booking.com scam ads, and Belfast cafe hit by US sanctions
Early Edition with Aideen Finnegan
Most primary and secondary students refused to go to school at least once last year
Anxiety, difficulties engaging with lessons and friendship problems cited as reasons in Barnardos study
My daughter’s classmates have left for a grind school and she is desperate to join them
Grind schools have grown in popularity but they are not a guarantee of high achievement
The issues worrying students – and parents – when it comes to Leaving Cert 2026 results and CAO offers
Next Tuesday at 3pm is the cut-off point for receipt of acceptance of CAO round-one offers
A parent’s guide to helping your children start college life
‘Almost 4,500 every year in Ireland do not progress from year one to year two … There’s a lot of unhappy students and parents’
Advice for college first years: ‘You need to force yourself to go to at least one club’
If initially it can seem a bit hard to break into circles, clubs and societies are key to settling in to college life, says one fourth year
Reality of Irish schools is far from ‘placing children at the centre’
An overstretched system is placing school communities under serious strain
Starting college: ‘The social life, making new friends, new connections, the education’
New horizon beckons for teenager who hails from DRC but has progressed from St Aidan’s Community School in Tallaght
Cost of college: How much can you expect to pay for third-level education in Ireland?
Rent, food, travel, books, laptops and the €2,500 contribution fee add up to a considerable amount for students and families
Relief at securing a college place: ‘I’m just going to enjoy Galway city’
Having been denied Dare, Grace McNamara is very excited to have secured an arts place
How to study at third level and what to expect in your first year
Many students find the change from learning at second level challenging, but there are a variety of supports in place
CAO points and college places: Good news and bad for the class of 2026
For some, the good fortune of high points is countered by the misfortune of random selection
Education matters: ‘Committing to something for four years, I needed to think about it’
When the offer came through, Alex Murphy was unsure if he wanted to pursue the course
‘It felt like I’d won’: CAO delight on anniversary of teen’s diabetes diagnosis
Danny Goff says moving to Maynooth will pose challenges, but he can’t wait to get started
CAO round one offers bring delight, surprise and disappointment
Applications for veterinary medicine, physiotherapy and medicine all increased this year
Got a CAO offer? The temptation is to accept immediately, but take your time
How to accept or defer – and what happens if you get an upgrade in your Leaving Cert points
Skills-based FET courses versus traditional university education: Which are the real routes to opportunity?
What are the outcomes for respective graduates, particularly on durability of skills and earning potential, in the age of AI?
What is an apprenticeship and would it work for me?
Being paid while you study is a key factor, and there are more than 80 programmes available across all sectors of the economy
What’s college life like for disabled students?
Specialised disability support services are improving, but stigma still exists and transition to third level can be a challenge
Apprenticeships: ‘It’s hard, working and studying at the same time’
A social media post planted the idea of an accounting technician’s apprenticeship in Lauren Hickey’s head
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Family NoticesOpens in new window
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices