Category: News

The framework for the evaluation of teachers’ professional learning in Ireland is the result of a major four-year study commissioned by the Department of Education (DoE). It represents an important step towards meeting commitments made by the DoE to evaluate and enhance the professional development activities of teachers and school leaders. The TPL evaluation framework comprises four components for consideration in any TPL evaluation. These were selected for inclusion following detailed desk-based research; empirical research with teachers, pupils and TPL providers; and input from the project’s Steering Group. The four components of the TPL evaluation framework are:

• Context;
• Key features of TPL;
• Teacher outcomes; and
• Student, school or system outcomes.

Full details of the framework can be accessed here.

The ERC is pleased to have launched three new reports about the achievement of primary school pupils in Ireland. The reports draw on two large-scale studies that took place in 2021: the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), and the National Assessments of Mathematics and English Reading (NAMER).

• PIRLS 2021: Reading results for Ireland describes the reading achievement of pupils at the start of Fifth class in Ireland, with results presented in an international comparative context (57 countries took part in PIRLS 2021). The report can be downloaded here.
• The National Assessments of Mathematics and English Reading 2021: Performance Report describes the reading achievement of Second class pupils and the mathematics achievement of Sixth class pupils on tests tailored to the national curriculum in Ireland. The report can be downloaded here.
• Ireland’s National Assessments of Mathematics and English Reading 2021: A focus on achievement in urban DEIS schools draws on NAMER data to examine the reading and mathematics achievement of pupils attending Urban DEIS Band 1 and Band 2 schools. The report can be downloaded here and an infographic summary is available here.

The Educational Research Centre (ERC) is seeking applications from hard working candidates for ‎inclusion on a panel of casual staff. The Centre operates from DCU St Patrick’s Campus in Drumcondra ‎and also from its Test Department on Richmond Road Drumcondra. At various times of the year the ERC ‎requires casual staff to help dispatching testing materials to schools. The testing materials relate to ‎either ongoing research projects taking place in the Centre or to the purchase of assessment materials ‎by school (the bulk of which take place in Spring time). The ideal candidate(s) will work well in a fast-‎paced environment with a team that delivers excellent customer service at all times. All available posts ‎are on a casual basis and depend on project funding and the projects ongoing at any given time. ‎

The current vacancies relate to work scheduled to take place over the coming months: ‎
Work scheduled in the ERC, St Patrick’s Campus:‎

• ‎18th April 2023 – 2nd June 2023, 9:30 – 16:30

‎Work scheduled in the Test Department, Richmond Road:

• 20th March – 12th May 2023, 9:00 – 17:00 ‎

The usual schedule is Monday to Friday during packing periods and is susceptible to change. Some ‎weekend work may be available in the Test Department depending on the volume of orders received. ‎These time frames are indicative only and may be reduced or extended as required, depending on work ‎volumes.‎

Salary: €14.00 per hour.

Duties:‎
• delivering excellent levels of customer service at all times
• restocking shelves
• accepting incoming orders ‎
• processing and packing orders ‎
• processing and packing school materials for research projects
• counting inventory
• ensuring orders and materials are shipped in a timely manner
• answering school enquiries by phone and by email
• other responsibilities as necessary

Requirements:‎
• ability to work on own initiative
• excellent customer service skills
• organised with the ability to prioritise and manage time efficiently
• excellent communication skills ‎
• attention to detail producing accurate output
• hardworking, self-motivated individual
• experience of using computers would be a distinct advantage
• willing to work overtime and outside office hours. ‎
• full proficiency in English
• permit to work in Ireland essential

How to Apply:‎
Applicants should submit their CV and a short cover letter to vacancies@erc.ie. Please use ‘ERC Casual ‎work’ in the email subject line. The cover letter should outline how applicants meet the requirements ‎of the role and confirm availability for the required dates.‎

Applicants will be selected based on the information they submit to the ERC. The ERC may telephone ‎applicants in advance of finalising its selection to clarify points in their applications. Prior to ‎commencing the work, applicants will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement to help ensure ‎test and data security. Training will be provided. ‎

For any questions on the processing or storage your data please contact vacancies@erc.ie.

The Educational Research Centre (ERC) is pleased to launch a new report that uses data from PIRLS 2016 to examine what Fourth class pupils thought about reading and how they experienced literacy at home and in the classroom. The report draws on questionnaires completed by pupils, their parents/guardians, and their class teachers. Findings from PIRLS 2016 are compared with those from the previous cycle of PIRLS in 2011. Additionally, data are compared by gender, and (with some limitations) by the DEIS status of pupils’ schools.

The report also considers the policy context of PIRLS 2016, which took place midway through the lifespan of the National Strategy: Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life 2011 – 2020 and in the final days of the 1999 language curricula. Policy implications from the report’s findings should be considered cautiously, given the very significant changes that have taken place since 2016 both within and beyond education systems. Nevertheless, this report provides a detailed picture of how pupils in Ireland thought about and experienced literacy learning before the COVID-19 pandemic, and as such forms a useful reference point from which to approach the post-pandemic PIRLS 2021 data that will be released in 2023.

The report can be downloaded here.

e-Appendices and information sheets summarising some key findings are also available here.

The Educational Research Centre (ERC) launches a new report on September 29^th 2022 which draws on data from three cycles of PISA – 2012, 2015 and 2018 – to examine trends in digital technologies in post-primary schools and students’ school and home contexts.  The report, Digital technologies in education – Ireland in the International Context: Trends and implications from PISA 2012-2018, draws on data collected from principals and students. The report presents trend analysis of students’ access to and use of digital technologies at school and at home, as well as reporting on schools’ capacity to use digital technology to support teaching and learning and their digital technology related policies. Students’ perceived competence and autonomy in using digital technologies are also explored.

Data are examined across a number of subgroups, including gender; whether a student is in junior or senior cycle; immigration status; economic, social and cultural status; DEIS status; school sector/gender composition; and school urban/rural location. The report also reflects on the policy and research implications of the findings.

The report can be downloaded here.

The press release can be downloaded here.

The Educational Research Centre (ERC) is delighted to launch two new reports from the third phase of a four-year study commissioned by the Department of Education, the purpose of which is to develop an evaluation framework for teachers’ professional learning in Ireland. The Phase 3a report outlines findings from a consultation with TPL providers and the Phase 3b report presents findings from a small-scale consultation with children and young people.

The Phase 3a report can be downloaded here.

The Phase 3b report can be downloaded here.

The press release can be downloaded here.

The ERC submitted its second strategic plan (2022-2024) to the Department of Education on April 1, 2022, and today published the plan on its website. The plan is built on the successes and learning from the previous three years, as well as the profound and evolving impacts of the pandemic. It presents a vision of the ERC as an organisation that prioritises stabilisation, followed by enhancement and, in some of its areas including analysis and assessment, innovation, over the next three years. The plan’s success relies on the establishment of a multi-year resourcing plan with the Department of Education. The outgoing CEO, Dr Jude Cosgrove, wishes the staff and Board of the ERC every success in implementing the new plan.

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Foilsíonn an FTO an dara plean straitéiseach (2022-2024)

Chuir an FTO an dara plean straitéiseach (2022-2024) faoi bhráid na Roinne Oideachais ar an 1ú Aibreán, 2022, agus is inniu an lá a foilsíodh an plean ar a suíomh gréasáin. Tógann an plean ar gach rud atá bainte amach agus ar an bhfoghlaim le trí bliana anuas, chomh maith le hiarmhairtí doimhne agus leanúnacha na paindéime. Cuireann an plean fís den FTO chun tosaigh ina léirítear é mar eagraíocht a thugann tosaíocht don seasmhacht agus don dul i bhfeabhas. Maidir le cuid dá réimsí atá bainteach leis an anailís agus leis an measúnú, tugtar tosaíocht don nuálaíocht sna trí bliana atá romhainn. Braitheann rath an phlean ar bhunú phlean ilbhlianta a bhaineann le hacmhainní a chur ar fáil i gcomhpháirt leis an Roinn Oideachais. Guíonn an PF ata ag dul as oifig, Jude Cosgrove, gach rath ar an bhfoireann agus ar Bhord an FTO agus an plean á chur i ngníomh acu.​

The Educational Research Centre (ERC) launches a new report on April 28^th 2022 which provides more detail on the performance of students in Ireland on the PISA 2018 reading literacy assessment. The report – Reading Literacy in Ireland in PISA 2018: Performance, Policy and Practice –  draws on data collected from principals, teachers, parents and students. As well as providing more detailed analysis of reading related constructs and how such constructs vary across different groups of students, the report also examines the implementation of the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy from the point of view of principals and teachers of English.

The report also reflects on the policy implications of the findings and makes a number of recommendations related to reading literacy and gender; English language learners; engagement in reading and the development of reading skills and strategies; target setting and PISA; the teaching of English and supporting literacy development across the curriculum.

The report can be downloaded here.

The press release can be downloaded here.

The Educational Research Centre (ERC) is excited to announce the launch of its new online ordering ‎platform for paper tests which is available for schools to use through ERC DOTS (the Drumcondra ‎Online Testing System). ‎

The new ordering system for paper tests is available for all schools to use, even if you have not ‎previously used DOTS or do not plan to use online tests. ‎Your DOTS login details were issued by email to your school’s email address in early April 2022. The DOTS login page is: schooladmin.erc.ie

From now on, we will no longer be accepting orders via the old order form, but don’t ‎worry if you need some help getting started. We have developed this simple step-by-step guide to ‎walk you through the process.

Note for post-primary schools: The Post-Primary Assessment and Diagnosis–English (PPAD-E) test for ‎‎1st Year students will be available to order online later this year. For now, orders for the PPAD-E ‎should be made by submitting an order form and DPA (available here) to tests@erc.ie.‎

If you have any questions about either our paper tests or online testing, please see the information ‎brochures and Frequently Asked Questions on www.tests.erc.ie. ‎

Still can’t find the information you’re looking for, or want to provide feedback on our new service? ‎Email us on tests@erc.ie.‎

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Tá lúcháir ar an bhForas Taighde ar Oideachas (FTO) seoladh a ardán ordaithe nua ar líne do thástálacha páipéir a fhógairt atá ar fáil do scoileanna le húsáid trí ERC DOTS ( Córas Tástála ar Líne Dhroim Conrach).

Tá an córas ordaithe seo do thástálacha páipéir ar fáil do gach scoil le húsáid, fiú murar úsáid tú DOTS cheana nó mura bhfuil sé i gceist agat trialacha ar líne a úsáid. Eisíodh do chuid sonraí logála isteach chuig ríomhphost do scoile i mí Aibreán 2022. Is é seo leathanach logála isteach​ DOTS: schooladmin.erc.ie

As seo amach, ni bheimid ag glacadh le horduithe ar líne tríd an sean-fhoirm ordaithe, ach ná bí buartha má bhíonn cúnamh uait agus tú ag tosú. Tá córas simplí céim-ar-chéim againn chun tú a threorú tríd an bpróiseas.

Nóta d’iar-bhunscoileanna: Beidh an triail Post-Primary Assessment and Diagnosis–English (PPAD-E) do dhaltaí Bliain 1 ar fáil le hordú ar líne níos déanaí i mbliana ach, faoi láthair, ba chóir orduithe don PPAD-E a dhéanamh trí fhoirm ordaithe a chur isteach mar aon le DPA (ar fáil anseo) chuig tests@erc.ie.

Má tá aon cheist agat faoin ár dtástálacha páipéir nó faoin ár dtástáil ar líne, féach le do thoil ar na bróisiúir faisnéise agus ar na Ceisteanna Coitianta ar www.tests.erc.ie.

Má tharlaíonn nach dtagann tú ar an eolas atá á lorg agat, nó más mian leat aiseolas a sholáthar ar ár seirbhís nua? Cuir ríomhphost chugainn ag tests@erc.ie.

The ERC’s Governing Board has approved the appointment of Dr Aidan Clerkin as the new Interim Chief Executive of the ERC. The current Chief Executive, Dr Jude Cosgrove, is finishing on April 29 to take up a position with the European Commission.

The Board and staff of the ERC wish to acknowledge and give sincere thanks to Jude for her outstanding leadership and dedication to the ERC since her appointment in 2018.  The Board and staff congratulate Jude on her European Commission appointment and wish her well in her new role.

The Board and staff are delighted at Aidan’s appointment and at the expertise and experience that his appointment provides for the ERC.

The ERC welcomes the announcement of the expansion of DEIS at primary and post-primary levels. The ERC has been working with the Department of Education for many years on the monitoring and evaluation of DEIS and has supported work on the revised DEIS identification model.

The revised DEIS identification system is possible as there have been considerable developments in recent years in the data available to the Department of Education through the primary and post-primary online databases (POD and P-POD). Data from POD and P-POD are combined with the Pobal HP Deprivation Index to determine schools’ levels of concentrated disadvantage which in turn determines eligibility for DEIS. The application of the HP index represents a considerable improvement over the original survey-based measures and the ERC welcomes these developments.

We look forward to continued collaboration with the DoE on this work.

For further information, see https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/71054-minister-foley-announces-32-million-major-expansion-of-the-deis-programme-incorporating-310-new-schools/

In April and May 2022, the Educational Research Centre (ERC) will be involved in scoring student responses on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).  TIMSS is an international comparative study of mathematics and science achievement at both primary (Fourth class) and post-primary (Second Year) level. It takes place every four years and over 60 countries are participating in the current cycle of the study.

For more details about these temporary positions, please click here.

The Educational Research Centre (ERC) is delighted to launch a report on the second phase of a four-year study commissioned by the Department of Education, the purpose of which is to develop an evaluation framework for teachers’ professional learning in Ireland, with a focus on student wellbeing. This report contains findings from a survey of teachers and principals carried out in Spring 2020.

The report can be downloaded here.

The press release can be downloaded here.

September 2021: The ERC is delighted to welcome our new Head of Governance and Corporate Affairs, Damian Downes, and congratulate him on his appointment.

 Damian was previously Director of Corporate Services at the Medical Council (2019 – 2021), and College Secretary and Registrar at the National College of Art and Design (2011 – 2019). Prior to that, he was the Chief Executive at Kilkenny Arts Festival, and also worked as Head of Finance at the National University of Ireland.

 Damian will oversee corporate projects and provide leadership and strategic direction on a range of critical functions including risk, compliance, data governance, communications, and financial management.

 Our new Head of Governance and Corporate Affairs joins us at an exciting and challenging time, which coincides with the development of ERC’s second strategic plan (2022-2024).

We are delighted to announce the publication of the first three articles in Volume 44 of our new online-only Irish Journal of Education (IJE), which you can access here. You can also access all previous issues of the IJE. The new online-only publication format means that we will be publishing articles as they are reviewed and accepted, resulting in more rapid publication. The IJE is open-access and peer-reviewed.

Please see erc.exsite.ie/ije for more info or email us at ije@erc.ie to submit a paper or a proposal.

The Educational Research Centre (ERC) launches a new report on June 30th 2021 examining the home ‎and school learning environments of 15-year olds in DEIS and non-DEIS schools. The report – Beyond ‎achievement: home, school and wellbeing findings from PISA 2018 for students in DEIS and non-‎DEIS schools – also describes findings regarding students’ attitudes, educational and career ‎aspirations, and wellbeing.‎

Some of the key positive findings were that students in both DEIS and non-DEIS schools had access to a ‎wide range of extra-curricular activities, and virtually all participating students had principals who ‎reported that there were school policies in place to student support wellbeing. School principals ‎reported that all students had access to extra-curricular sports, and large majorities of students also ‎had access to other extra-curricular activities including lectures or seminars; band, orchestra or choir; ‎maths competitions; or art clubs. Another welcome finding was that parents of students in DEIS ‎schools generally held positive views regarding school policies aimed at supporting parental ‎involvement in education. ‎

Download the report Download the infographic

The ERC has published a report on its independent evaluation of the implementation of the Digital Learning Framework (DLF). The DLF is an important strand of the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020. The report describes the perspectives of Digital Learning Team leaders (or principals) and teachers, considers progress in implementing the DLF, and describes implications, including those for the new Digital Strategy for Schools. You can access the press release, executive summary and full report at the links below.

Press release for DLF Wave 1

Executive Summary for DLF Wave 1

Full Report for DLF Wave 1