What's changed in primary teaching in Ireland?

waterfaerie

I have a permanent teaching position in Ireland. I'm coming towards the end of a 5 year career break and I have a big decision to make about where I want to settle. For the duration of my career break, I've been teaching overseas and I'm wondering, if I return to my position in Ireland, will I find it very different to when I left?

A lot of the discussion on here seems to relate to changes to secondary teaching, so I am interested to know what's happening in primary teaching. Obviously, the pay cuts are an issue but I am more interested to know about the conditions of work.

How often are staff meetings?
Are the planning requirements stricter?
Are teachers observed and checked up on more?
Do teachers still have the same amount of autonomy in their own classes?
What are the class sizes like?
With all of the difficulties, is there more or less collegiality between teachers than before? Are they helping each other out or becoming competitive?
Is there any indication that things may get worse, for example, is the Irish system slowly becoming more like the UK system or the US system in any way?
Is there anything else that's changed a lot since 2009 or may be in the pipelines for the future?

Any info would be appreciated, thanks!

byhookorbycrook

How often are staff meetings? Croke parkHRA once a week
Are the planning requirements stricter? yes
Are teachers observed and checked up on more? Yes
Do teachers still have the same amount of autonomy in their own classes? No
What are the class sizes like? 30 on average
With all of the difficulties, is there more or less collegiality between teachers than before? Are they helping each other out or becoming competitive? Depends on school
Is there any indication that things may get worse, for example, is the Irish system slowly becoming more like the UK system or the US system in any way? Yes
Is there anything else that's changed a lot since 2009 or may be in the pipelines for the future? Yes

Any info would be appreciated, thanks!

waterfaerie

Thanks for the reply. Can you elaborate a bit more? I suspected those would be the answers to most of my questions, but what are the details and to what extent are they affecting most teachers?

Thanks

byhookorbycrook

In which areas?

waterfaerie

In which areas?

Well, in all of them really. I'm trying to get a picture of what it's like. I suppose I've got rose tinted glasses about the whole thing but, compared to teaching here, I remember teaching in Ireland being a far more rewarding and lovely job.

I'm extremely dedicated and passionate about my career, but the system here is soul-destroying. I'm not looking for an easy job, but I am looking for an enjoyable job, which is what teaching always was to me at home. I'm scared that if I move home I'll find it to be just as awful as it is here or, at the very least, not as enjoyable as I remember it.

How often are staff meetings? Croke parkHRA once a week

Before I moved away the Croke Park agreement had not started and I heard talk of it involving teachers having to stay at school for an extra hour per week, but it was going to be at the school's discretion how and when they used that time. Are all schools actually having meetings every week? For how long? What is the purpose and content of them?

Are the planning requirements stricter? yes

How? What are the requirements now?

Are teachers observed and checked up on more? Yes

How? How often? By whom? Is there an appraisal process?

Do teachers still have the same amount of autonomy in their own classes? No

Can you please explain how they don't?

Is there any indication that things may get worse, for example, is the Irish system slowly becoming more like the UK system or the US system in any way? Yes

Is there anything else that's changed a lot since 2009 or may be in the pipelines for the future? Yes

Can you please elaborate? What else is worse? What else is changing or going to change?

I appreciate your answers. Some more detail would help me get a better idea of the situation. I'd love to hear some examples or experiences of Irish primary school teachers and what their working week is like.

byhookorbycrook

Croke park/HRA an hour a week, this time does not allow for training teams, sacramental preparation or any other extra teachers do out of school hours.

Planning and notes are much more detailed and you must outline any differentiation done ,open a continuum of support file for any child you are worried about. Test scores must come home at the end of each year and also outlined verbally to the parent/s .

We are quickly aping the UK system with objectives/targets/ school self evaluation and school improvement plans.
Incidental inspections are far more common and WSEs are more frequent.

Since 2009 ,we have been subjected to every silly sort of stuff from the DES. Schools have to deal with cyber bullying that takes place outside of school. We have to have policies on everything. SNA and resource hours have been cut to the bone. We must find extra time for literacy and numeracy , but w don't know where.

School book rental schemes will get SOME funding from the DES, but only if you haven't ever had one before.