BBC NI Education and Arts Correspondent. Not Harry Lime, but Dr Robert. Stroke survivor. Contact me on Robbie.meredith
@bbc
.co.uk but these are my views...
I have found this frankly wonderful archive of a Northern Ireland primary
#school
disco in the 1960s while working on a report and it might be the best thing I’ve ever seen.
It’s been the hardest week old friend. I miss you so much after over 13 years of love and loyalty. Grief is the price we pay for love, and I loved you so much. Sleep well best boy.
Thank you so much for all your love for this. Thanks to BBC Rewind
@BBCNewsNI
and some here who got in touch we know it was Holy Cross Parochial Hall
#Belfast
February 1964. And these two really did steal the show…
It’s not part of
#Belfast
city centre I’m often in but surely there’s an argument for closing the road that splits the UU campus and making it a pedestrian plaza?
Life is precious. I am so grateful for the wonderful doctors and nurses at RVH cardiology. So friendly, professional, clear and reassuring. Get me to a dance floor! (In a bit…)
Some quite startling
#teachers
pay disparities in this comparison compiled by the Northern Ireland unions. One of the reasons they’ve given for taking strike action.
#education
Wow! That escalated quickly…
Thanks for all your interest in the archive. Good to spread a little joy on a Monday. Hope they’re all still out there giving it loads.
I went to my local
#shop
this morning. A few gaps but 90% of shelves were well stocked. I’m thankful for what shop workers are doing right now. And if I’m honest, I barely gave it a second thought before.
I know there are protocols around these things - and she wouldn’t seek it - but surely there should be more public recognition of Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell in
#NorthernIreland
? A pioneering world renowned scientist who continues to inspire.
#education
Leading astrophysicist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell has inspired the next generation on a visit to Northern Ireland.
She gave a science lesson to girls at Belfast's Strathearn School.
I am disgusted and appalled by this. Some disagreed, some agreed with the points made but what have we come to when this is the result? It is disgraceful.
A threat has been made against a teenage girl who called for a novel containing racial slurs to be removed from the GCSE curriculum, her mother has said
Some positive news which deserves some attention. 450
#schools
have decided to run
@Education_NI
funded summer schemes this year of between 1-3 weeks for some of their pupils.
#education
A bit of a relatively recent historical curio. This was one the original concept drawings for the
#Titanic
slipways in
#Belfast
when the visitor centre was being built.
Questions
- how long?
- different for different sectors?
- special schools open?
- early years?
- open for vulnerable/SEN children?
- what about remote learning inequalities?
- GCSE/AS/A level exams?
- implications for working parents?
- transfer tests?
...and more
#education
I am cutting a fresh report for
@bbcnewsline
at 1025 but I’ll answer as many questions as I can on
#schools
and
#education
arrangements. I’ll post the department of education press release shortly but apologies if I can’t answer all queries.
The assembly’s research department has published a fascinating short paper showing where transfers went in
#AE22
- here’s the summary of party transfers.
It was a total pleasure to meet the twins and other pupils at
@ArvaleeSchool
for
@bbcnewsline
today. Lovely to see so many happy children...and I’d give these lads a TV show of their own.
#education
This sculpture from artist Kelly Morris and women from Shankill and Clonard who have lost a child is being launched at
#Belfast
city hall. City hall will also be lit pink and blue for
#babylossawareness
Grateful to mum Laura and Kelly for talking to me for
@bbcnewsline
Thank you to everyone who sent kind messages. I appreciate them so much. All is well. I’m very grateful for the fantastic expertise and care I received.
I found it moving today when a young pupil at Killylea PS told me “I love school, it’s brilliant, I love everyone at my school.” Obviously closure is necessary at present but so many children must be missing school so much.
Bags packed and finally ready to walk away from the
#Education
and
#arts
@BBCNewsNI
desk. I might be back soon...who knows...but I hope everyone has some rest at
#Christmas
Sayonara...
317 children need a P1 place in a special school. 160 places available.
568 children need a place in a special school nursery. 314 places available.
Hence the turn to mainstream provision.
Most recent figures from EA 14 June. No figures for older years children.
#education
This - produced by my
@BBCNewsNI
colleague
@Leanna_Byrne
- has now been viewed over 1 million times. The power of social media to tell wonderful stories.
Breaking:
#Coronavirus
: Special schools in Belfast to close from Monday. I’m told closure will be ‘indefinite’ until principals get appropriate guidance.
#education
#schools
Today’s
#Hillsborough
memorial event at Anfield was cancelled due to coronavirus so renowned campaigner Professor Phil Scraton made a memorial at his
#Belfast
home. Shared with his permission.
@LFC
#YNWA
#JTF96
The members of
@NUJBBCRegions
in BBC Northern Ireland on the afternoon shift striking against cuts. Strength to the members on tonight.
#solidarity
As revealed on
@bbcnewsline
the departments of
#health
and
#education
have reached agreement to prioritise some staff in special
#schools
in NI for vaccination. Further details on how and when not yet clear.
Not expecting any movement on
#schools
today. No chance of all pupils back on 8 March but questions going forward:
- could P1-3 be allowed to stay in school until Easter? Not a lot of enthusiasm among heads I’ve spoken to for bringing them in for 9 days then remote again. 1/2
As on
@BBCNewsNI
@bbcradioulster
1300 bulletin I understand plan on
#schools
is that:
P1-P3 back on 8 March, Y12-14 back before Easter (possible 22 March). Pupils in other years nor back until after Easter at earliest. But...possible that no executive decision today.
#education
Glad that we’ll can leave the house to walk or run once a day. Given so many can’t at the minute it’s a privilege. It’s up to us to do it responsibly.
#SocialDistancingWorks
Big Non
#AE22
breaking news. The Unite strike action in the
@Ed_Authority
from 11-31 May has been suspended. Further negotiations will now take place. So pupils at Glenveagh special school and others not facing more time at home.
#education
After almost half a century the recruitment of
#teachers
will no longer be exempt from fair employment law. Stormont has passed the bill from
@Chris_Lyttle
changing laws that date from 1976.
#education
For years,
#Saturday
had the same rhythm. Game of football then later on dander into town, couple of pints, see friends, hear music. Simple pleasures. I really miss it.
Every child in NI is offered a funded part or full time pre-school place though it’s not statutory. Over 90% of children take that up.
But for those with Special Educational Needs getting a suitable pre school place can be difficult and uncertain.
Why should that be?
#education
This is the incredible moment Lucy, a 13-year-old who is blind and neurodiverse, played a highly-complex Chopin piece, leaving
@MikaSounds
and
@Lang_Lang
speechless.
The Piano, presented by
@ClaudiaWinkle
, starts tonight at 9pm on Channel 4.
Stream Free on All 4.
#ThePiano