Despite the clear and obvious need for adults to be proficient in numeracy, international studies suggest that many continue to struggle in this area. In Ireland, one of the main challenges continues to be the availability of effective adult numeracy education. This is a diverse sector, and little is known about the varied provision of adult…

Recent migration patterns have had a profound impact on education systems becoming more diverse in their student body but also influencing school climate and resource provision. A multisite case study approach and semi-structured interviews with 13 principals and 17 teachers were used to identify the challenges and opportunities for culturally…

Effective continued professional development (CPD) is critical in preparing teachers for implementing curricular changes. Utilising the professional design framework [Loucks-Horsley, S., Stiles, K. E., Mundry, S. E., Love, N. B., & Hewson, P. W. (2009). "Designing Professional Development for Teachers of Science and Mathematics."…

In Ireland state funded support services provide Continuing Professional Development for teachers and school leaders. These services are staffed with teachers seconded from their schools on an annual basis for a maximum of five years. This study investigated the learning and experience of teachers seconded to a national support service, the…

The importance of school self-evaluation (SSE) as a school improvement mechanism has been acknowledged by increases in the number of countries with legal requirements for schools to conduct self-evaluation. Despite the provision of a range of support to schools to encourage their engagement with SSE, many implementation challenges have been…

In the Republic of Ireland, primary school teaching is a very attractive profession with pay being above the OECD average (Heinz and Keane 2018; Hennessey and Lynch 2017). This paper investigates how the Department of Education Inspectorate and the Teaching Council of Ireland position primary school teacher professionalism. The paper presents the…

Non-cognitive skills have increasingly been recognised as an important part of holistic education, but more research is needed on how best to ingrate them into existing educational frameworks. This study examined variables critical to the implementation of a non-cognitive skills programme in post-primary schools in Ireland. Teachers (N = 76) were…

Lesson study has received significant attention as a model of professional development among mathematics teachers. Evidence highlights its effectiveness in improving pedagogical practices and student learning, however, less is known about the predispositions which may encourage teachers' participation in Lesson Study or the impact of participation…

In recent years, arts partnerships have gained increased popularity as a means of delivering arts education and art-in-education in schools. Creating opportunities for both teachers and artists alike, arts partnerships can enhance a shared sense of purpose and mutual respect, while also developing creative skills, knowledge and expertise. Although…

This study examines teachers' experiences of transition at different points in time over a two-year period to encapsulate their journey to becoming a qualified teacher. Six novice teachers participated in a study in their final year of university through to their first year as a newly qualified teacher. Reflective journals, one-to-one interviews…

Geography is a subject in the Primary Curriculum in Ireland. It is taught in all schools with some examples of engaging and challenging practices, characterised by enquiry-based learning (EBL) of a range of content, with learning occurring inside and out. In other settings, Geography is more limited in scope and children's geographical experiences…

A TeachMeet is an informal gathering arranged by teachers to share and discuss practice with peers in a social setting. This paper focuses on reporting one fundamental finding of an in-depth exploration of TeachMeet, relating to the characteristics of the events; other findings are reported independently. TeachMeet originated in 2006, adopting…

Teacher-Artist Partnership (TAP) programmes in Ireland have, historically, tended to be ad-hoc, short-term, and underfunded. They have, moreover, lacked an explicit focus on teacher CPD. In 2014, a Government of Ireland funded initiative was set up to address these shortcomings and to explore how TAP, as a model of CPD, could support arts…

The task of effectively embedding digital technology use in classrooms is among the challenges currently faced by educators in Ireland and internationally. This paper builds on analyses conducted as part of a longitudinal evaluation of Ireland's Digital Learning Framework. Findings suggest that many teachers -- especially at the post-primary level…

Conferences are widely recognised as a central component of academic life, providing important opportunities for dissemination of research, professional networking, and extending scholarship. Notwithstanding this, concerns are increasingly voiced around such factors as the environmental and sustainability aspects of conference travel and hosting,…