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Transition Year students from St Patrick's Cathedral Grammar School get practical experience of working with film equipment

The overnight Oscar success that took years of hard work

Staff at Ballyfermot College of Further Education have good cause to celebrate this week. One of their animation graduates, Richard Baneham, won an Oscar for his work on Avatar -- and two other graduates had also been nominated.

Staff only: Today's straight-A geniuses don't even know the basics

By E Grade

According to recent reports the number of perfect Leaving Certs with six A1 grades has risen by 500pc in recent years -- shocking, considering that a guy in my brother's class (let's call him Lucas O'Bréinbosca) only managed three As 20-odd years ago... and he's now the professor in an Oxbridge university. Oh yes, and he also plays piano, guitar and flute and while still a student was offered a contract by the manager of a famous Irish trad band. Never mind that, apparently he's a drooling slack-jawed thicko compared to today's Leaving Cert hot-shots.

In my opinion: Collaboration is key to international success

It has long been my firm belief that the future of higher education in Ireland will be best served by a network of collaborating institutions, each of which has a distinctive mission and develops international excellence in appropriate priority areas of teaching and research.

Will Church-free secondary schools get the go-ahead?

By Kim Bielenberg

The multi-denominational group Educate Together is to step up its campaign to open its first second-level schools amid growing signs of Government reservations about the idea.

Staff only: Heard the one about the tall, blond Austrian PE teacher?

By E Grade

Here's a variation on an old joke. "Question: what do you call a person who hangs around with educators? Answer: A PE teacher." This never seemed to ring with so much truth as when our new PE guy, Nickie Herzog, arrived a while back.

In my opinion: Listen more carefully to Deaf children's needs

The education and development needs of Deaf and hard of hearing children are critically unique, particularly in the very early developmental years.

Even Einstein failed exams. So, everything is relative

By Kim Bielenberg

The mock Junior and Leaving Cert exams are already over in many schools. Over the past few weeks, thousands of pupils have had their first nerve-jangling experience of severe exam stress.

Staff only: Get used to disappointment and you'll be fine

By E GRADE

If, like me, you are in a job that brings you into daily contact with the younger generation, then you too will have doubts about their ability to cope with this grave new world that offers them nothing but disappointment.

In my opinion: Why people respect this most noble of professions

UK Tory leader David Cameron recently pledged to raise standards in schools by turning teaching into "a noble profession".

Everyone has a degree but nobody can fix a carburettor

It is almost an article of faith in education. In order to succeed in life, every school pupil must go on to university. A well qualified workforce is regarded as the foundation stone of a successful economy, but some academics are beginning to question the received wisdom that all young people should aspire to a degree.