If you were to walk into any primary school and compared it to the classroom you might have sat in only a generation ago, apart from a big screen instead of a blackboard, the biggest difference you would see is the diversity of students in that room. One in four children in primary school have an additional need* and according to recent research over 45% of children with support needs are being failed in accessing their right to education. I have spent the last 15 years witnessing the slow collapse of services for children with additional needs in school. Join me over the coming weeks for 'Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education,' where I explore what I believe is the 21st century’s educational scandal."

Sources: https://www.sensationalkids.ie/our-impact/facts-figures/ and https://inclusionireland.ie/news-events/department-of-education-removes-vital-resource-while-45-of-children-with-support-needs-are-being-failed-in-accessing-their-right-to-edu/

You will not be surprised to hear that my first podcast of the 2024-2025 school year is about religion in schools. It's a topic I'm always coming back to and it never ceases to amaze me of how many different angles you can find from it. But what I want to explore in this episode is what do most schools mean when they talk about religion. Maybe a better title would have been, "What we talk about when we talk about religion in schools."

In this episode, I reflect on the implications of Josepha Madigan's departure as the Minister for Special Education and whether the position will ever exist again. I also ponder on the INTO's survey on physical aggression. Finally, we move to Estonia and explore why they are now kings and queens of Europe and why Ireland won't be the best education system in Europe by 2026.

In Part 2 of this episode, I explain why Catholic Schools' Week is like having a Men Only Golf Club then celebrating Men's Week during the year. By the end of the episode I have a depressing realisation.

It's Catholic Schools' Week in Ireland. In the first part of this 2-part episode, I examine why there's no need for this annual celebration. It is close to the bone but nothing should be free from scrutiny.

Donagh O'Malley is often referred to as the greatest Minister of all time for introducing free second level education. Well, move over O'Malley, there's a new sheriff in the Ministirial chair!

We are also always being told that schools are supposed to be centres of communities, especially in rural areas. If that’s the case, then it follows that services such as broadband would be centred around these places. So in this episode, if I were the MfE, I would be making broadband hubs around schools.

It's Monday, 3rd January 2022. Schools are due to open in 3 days. There are over 20,000 cases of COVID19 per day going around. Shops are closing due to lack of staff. How are we going to reopen schools and keep them open?

On New Year's Eve, Stephen Donnelly was interviewed on RTE Radio 1 about COVID19. The last 2 minutes of the interview focused on schools where he managed to say at least 6 things that simply weren't true. In this episode I dismantle the nonsense.

As we come to the end of 2021, I continue my Advent Calendar of my favourite moments of 2021 in education. And no singing from me this time, I promise!

In this special Christmas Special, I look back at our schools to find the highlights of the year where schools dominated the headlines - mainly in case there was a hint of them closing.

Is all well with wellbeing in schools? In this chat, I discuss wellbeing with Audrey Bryan where we find out why there's such a buzz about wellbeing in schools and is it all it's cracked up to be?

The Children's Lives Matter Report was published a couple of weeks ago. It is the third report, so far, in the series, and is one of the only reports that truly delves into the world of schoolchildren in Ireland. I love these reports because they venture into areas that others don't and give some facsinating insights to the education system.

Recently featured by Feedspot as the number 1 primary education podcast, visit some other primary education podcasts here: https://blog.feedspot.com/primary_education_podcasts/

In this episode, I wonder about the quantum of SET agendas and why the IPPN has decided to go against its members. I discuss why the media have reduced a completely changed curriculum down to sex. Finally I deny that I've been looking through your bins. Links to articles discussed can be found on anseo.net

With all the mixed messaging about schools, it has become very hard to believe what's being said. This is a real pity as we’ll see in this special episode where I argue we may have developed another virus and it’s potentially more dangerous.

In this live recorded episode I run through the note released by the Department of Education releasing extra people into the system to cover the sub crisis. However, will it be enough, why did we get to this point, and how will we prevent it from happening again?

My immediate-ish reaction to the news that Antigen Testing is coming to schools. Recorded on the evening on the announcement.

I was delighted to chat to Paula Galvin, a teacher of over 40 years. We discuss everything from the limitations of textbooks, why teachers are afraid to teach, and why the new SESE curriculum will be out of date when it’s released.

The NCCA are currently doing consultations on the plans for the new curriculum. I have major issues with the draft and I want to talk about them!

In October 2021, Teaching Principals were told that if they opened 2 special classes, they would become an admin principal. This decision affected around 30 schools. However, was it the right decision? In this episode I wonder why.

Did you know the Department of Education doesn't provide a specific grant for cleaning staff so schools have to cobble together the money from funds that are supposed to cover other expenses? However, like secretaries and caretakers, shouldn't the Department of Education be paying cleaners directly?

As we crawl to the mid term break, I look back on the extraordinary week when representative bodies forgot their only job (to represent their members) and I discuss what you felt were the worst things that COVID19 has shone a light on in the education system.

I've never worked in a Special School so what right have I to say what they need. Luckily I had some help! In this episode I interview Anne Hartnett, principal of St. Paul's Special School in Cork. She tells me all about Special Schools and, rather than me, Anne tells us what she would do if she was the Minister for Education.

Based on a super interview by Kieran Cuddihy on Newstalk today, Minister Norma Foley tried to explain why her department removed Banked Hours from children with additional needs. In this episode, I analyse her responses to the interview and explain Banked Hours and what principals on the ground have been doing. Credit: some audio from the interview is interspersed in this episode.

In this podcast episode, I discuss the challenges in special education, specifically the issues with school allocations and the ineffectiveness of the current system. I also delve into the expansion of the school transport system and the complications arising due to patronage. Lastly, I touch on the topic of Irish exemptions and the audit of schools with high exemption rates. Additionally, I reflect on the ownership of newly built schools by religious bodies despite being funded by the state.

This might not sounds like the most interesting episode in the world but if you ever wondered why it takes so long for your school to fix a leaking roof or to buy your child a laptop, listen in as I explain why the tendering process slows down everything but also has a much larger effect on the local economy.

School caretakers are paid from the ancillary grant, which is given to all schools by the Department of Education each year based on the number of pupils enrolled in the school the previous year. This grant is also supposed to cover the wage of all ancillary staff including secretaries, cleaning staff, etc. but, in general, it doesn’t cover much of those costs unless a school pays less than minimum wage. The Department of Education does not pay caretakers directly and like the secretary episode, if I were to make this episode as short as possible, the bottom line would be that school caretakers should simply be paid directly by the Department of Education in the same way teachers and SNAs are paid directly.

For the last couple of years, I’ve been telling you what I would do if I were the Minister for Education but today I am joined by Gary Keogh, who, after many years working in the UK has some advice for me - in a way it might be best called What I Wouldn’t Do If I were the MfE. Gary has over 10 years’ experience in education, working in secondary school, undergraduate / postgraduate teaching, adult education, and teacher-training. He is the author of three books, has run marathons and even finds time to play gigs as a singer/songwriter. He says he is a dad-to-be, which should put a stop to his gallop! Gary asked me if I’d be interested in talking to him because, like me, he has witnessed how the Irish Education System tends to blindly follow the education trends of the UK and while that may have had some benefits 20 years ago when I was a newly qualified teacher, the same cannot be said now.

I haven't done an episode about COVID19 in a long time because I'd just be repeating myself. However, big decisions need to be made and I outline what I think those decisions might be.

Principals are only paid by the DES to manage teachers, not SNAs, not caretakers, not secretaries nor bus escorts or anyone else. In this episode, I’m going to argue that if I were the Minister for Education, I would be paying principals for managing all members of a school team.

Incredibly, it is possible for a teacher to be fired if it can be proved that their religious views undermine the ethos of a school. In this episode I'll be going through why we really need to abolish the law, (Section 37), which allows for you to be disciplined or overlooked for a position for simply being yourself.

While one could never put the word "honest" in the same sentence as "politician", the concept of spin has never been more rampant. Even the word spin is spin for the word lying! Whether it's adjustments instead of cuts or the mantra that schools are safe during COVID19, it's hard to believe anything. The same goes for consultations and in this episode I'll be arguing that I would be transparent about them!

How in the name of whatever god you like, does school insurance manage to get wrapped up with the Catholic Church? In this episode, I try to make an episode about school insurance somewhat interesting.

On July 9th 2021, I was subjected to some racist abuse on social media from members of the National Party. In part 2 of this special episode, I continue to talk about the experience and how it paled in comparison to what I and many others go through every day in schools.

On July 9th 2021, I was subjected to some racist abuse on social media from members of the National Party. In this special 2 part episode, I talk about my experience. Many people asked me what they could do to help. If you ask the question, you've got to be ready for an answer!

In this latest episode of the podcast 'If I were the Minister for Education', I explore the recent happenings within the Irish primary education system, discussing the aftermath of SET allocations and the implications this had on schools and teachers. The episode also delves into the issue of Irish school buildings being gifted to private religious bodies and assesses the impact of this decision. Finally, I explore why the Scottish see the Irish education system in such a positive light, primarily referring to Ireland's performance in PISA tests. Show notes available on Anseo.net

The final part of this series where I explore  life after COVID19 in schools where I whip through PODs and Bubbles, fridges in staff rooms, principal release days, hand washing, principals being on call 24/7, virtual staff meetings and attendance awards! Phew!

In this part of this episode, I explore what school will be like after COVID19 and ponder on whether we need schoolbags anymore, how school tours will work in the future and whether we should finally get rid of Croke Park Hours. I also wonder whether we actually need Parent Teacher Meetings at all when we can access parents much more easily these days. Finally, with remote schooling, has the tipping point come to say goodbye to homework?

No more Homework - some schools stopped HW and liked it!

In this part of the episode, I'll explore whether we should keep direct email communication with families, virtual assemblies, soft openings and the reasons why we should finally stop sacraments being school events.

Fianna Fáil are like that class you can't leave for one minute. The second your back is turned they're off causing mischief. In less than 2 days since recording the first part of this podcast, they were off spinning around Twitter about how great they are. In this part I look at staggered breaks, outdoor teaching and the mitigation measures our union fought for.

In this special look back at 2020-21, I'll examine some of the things we might keep once COVID19 restrictions end. This is part 1 and I'll be offering my thoughts on unexpected visitors, Christmas Concerts and why we don't need inspectors anymore.

In this episode, I explore a number of ways developing schools are screwed over by the Department of Education in terms of money and resources. Funnily enough, the NCSE get a bashing for doing the same thing. I also introduce "The Norma Foley Rule" and welcome the new Flourish Curriculum, I mean, Resource into your local Catholic schools.

The Departmental Strategy Statement (2021-23) was released this week with all sorts of goals for education. Listen to me grumble my way through this document and explode with rage at various points. Unlike the Department, I won't blame COVID19 for everything wrong. It was well-wrong before 2020 came along.

Did you know that up until from 1997 to 2012, there were never more than around 40 circulars produced by the Department of Education in a year? Since 201 5, it's never been less than 80. In this episode, I explore why we need to reduce circulars to one per term and how it's entirely possible to do so.

Although it's nearly June 2021, it feels like it's August 2020, with another lot of documents published late in the week from the Department of Education. This week it was cleaning grants and ventilation guides. Join me as I try to make sense CO2 monitors and why cleaning grants have been cut again.

In this special episode I take the guidelines from this year's summer programme and try and explain how it will all work to any school thinking of doing it. My school has been running a summer programme every year for the last 13 years so hopefully it will be of use.

In this episode of 'If I were the Minister for Education', I explore the current state of Irish primary education, particularly focusing on SET (Special Education Teaching) allocations. My research reveals that developing schools have been majorly overlooked in SET allocations, leading to a significant resource gap compared to non-developing schools. I discuss how there has been a minor increase in total resources but the allocation has inadequately catered to the growing student population in developing schools. I also discuss my findings from county to county and even delve into the effects on different schools depending on their patronage. Remember to subscribe at https://www.anseo.net/subscribe for more insights into the Irish primary education system and check out the data for yourself on anseo.net.

Did you know it costs the State €2m every year to post out payslips to school staff? In this episode I look at examples of wasting money in the Department of Education and what could be achieved if we spent money more wisely.

In part 2 of this episode, I spend about an hour going through the 9 recommendations from the National Principals' Forum in their report on Additional Educational Needs. Part 1 was an introduction to set the context of the report so it might be worth listening to first.

In this special episode, I look at the report written by the National Principals' Forum, titled: Critical Analysis of Supports for Pupils with Additional Educational Needs and their School Leaders in Irish Primary Schools, which gives 9 recommendations to government to help solve the continuing decline of supports to children with additional needs. Part 1 is mainly an introduction and Part 2 will go through each of the 9 recommendations in more detail.