Dear school principal and teachers, 

The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) will be commencing Phase 2 of its Formative Assessment Using Digital Portfolios initiative for primary schools in November. It is envisaged that 36 schools in total from Dublin, Cork and Galway will be involved in this programme throughout the school year 2021/ 2022. This initiative focuses on the manner in which formative assessment can be effectively supported and enhanced in the classroom through the use of digital portfolios. Reflection upon this process will form a core component. 

Engagement in this project will involve the following key aspects: 

• Staff completion of a short online digital portfolio course (1.5 hours in duration) prior to November 17th, designed and delivered by PDST’s online learning platform TeacherCPD.ie. 
• Attendance at an online webinar on Nov 17th from 4pm - 5pm exploring the initiative and it’s key tenets. 
• Three school visits per school from a PDST advisor to support teachers in exploring, creating and using digital portfolios for formative assessment, along with a potential online support session. 
• Attendance at a Shared Learning Day in April. The format of this event will be in keeping with any potential public health guidelines at the time. If the event is face-to-face then sub cover will be provided for one teacher per school and the school principal if required.

If you wish to take part in this initiative, please complete the online expression of interest form here. Alternatively, this form is also available at www.pdst.ie/DigPortfolioForm. Closing date for expressions of interest is October 18th at 5pm. Schools will be randomly selected to participate and successful applicants will be contacted in late October.

If you have any queries regarding this pilot, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Kind regards, 

Michael Mc Namara Realtín Berry PDST Team Leader for Digital Technologies PDST Team Leader for STEM

Extra information:

Might suit an Accounting technician

Employee will deal with annual Audit, Budget applications, Exchequer Return, Desk Based Review, TAS package (to be updated by Department of Education)

This list is non exhaustive

6 months’ probation

Employee may work full time in the office or a blended version – in the office and at home. Employee will need access to files in the office from time to time. Current staff will train new employee in

Pay scale: ETB Grade IV, Point 1

Please see below some information on the Scríobh Leabhar project 2022. We hope to be involved in this project and will be inviting registrations straight after the Christmas Holidays.

In the meantime, if any school would like to start the preparation of their books, further information is available on the below sheet.

Arts-in-Education BLAST Residency Programme for 2021

This is a new project based on the structure of the TAP Residency Programme which was launched by the Minister for Education on June 4^th.

The aim of this scheme is to give more  pupils in schools all over the country the opportunity to work with a professional artist on unique projects to be originated and planned between the artist, the teacher and the school under the coordination of the Education Centre ESCI network of 21 full-time Education Centres.

This project is open to Primary and Post Primary Schools and gives the opportunity to have an in-school residency with a fully funded and trained Artist over a 20 hour period during the next academic year.

Closing date for Applications is the 30^th of September 2021 but your school is advised to apply as soon as possible as places per Education Centre are limited.

Please submit your application by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by post to West Cork Education Centre, The Square, Dunmanway, Co. Cork.

Click HERE for Application form and full guidelines of the project 

Competition to design a logo for BLAST - Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers

Click HERE for full details on how to enter