Gerard Larkin - Author

Teacher and writer. Hope to connect here with others to enjoy the journey he/him.

[Gerard Larkin - Author @GLarkinAuthor]

@RemoveTheRoom @NewtonEmerson @paulgivan Ditto. I agree with your campaign against seclusion rooms btw, or indeed any unnecessary physical restraint. Best of luck

[Si Lee @Vote4SiLee]

Only the SDLP, SF and People Before Profit voted against Minister Givan’s attempt to criminalise teachers engaged in lawful strike action. We see you Alliance, DUP, UUP, and TUV 😡

[Gerard Larkin - Author @GLarkinAuthor]

@Dan20665181 @I0I0IOO0 @magennis_m5031 @BBCNewsNI Teachers pay income tax, NI, VAT and every other tax. They are forced to contribute heavily towards their obligatory pension scheme. Sick pay entitlement is decent, maternity leave is poor.

[Gerard Larkin - Author @GLarkinAuthor]

@Dan20665181 @I0I0IOO0 @magennis_m5031 @BBCNewsNI Retrain as a teacher so?

[Gerard Larkin - Author @GLarkinAuthor]

@daftmare358 @CrowsView @BBCNewsNI Maybe you should train as a teacher yourself?

[Gerard Larkin - Author @GLarkinAuthor]

@RemoveTheRoom @NewtonEmerson @paulgivan If you were aware of how they are used, you wouldn’t ask the questions you’ve asked.
The forms are used for self-evaluation, not for inspectors.
Safeguarding inspections had no bars, none. Inspectors also audit parents and interview pupils throughout the school.

[Gerard Larkin - Author @GLarkinAuthor]

@RemoveTheRoom @NewtonEmerson @paulgivan Shaunagh, those are tools that schools use to identify strengths and areas for development so that their planning for development is strategic and complies with good practice and legal requirements. Think of them as audits which help schools identify where they need to go.

[Gerard Larkin - Author @GLarkinAuthor]

@RemoveTheRoom @NewtonEmerson @paulgivan No, absolutely not. I have no idea where you got that idea.

[Gerard Larkin - Author @GLarkinAuthor]

9/ This isn’t about safeguarding at all. It is about weakening industrial action and increasing teacher workload to force through Givan’s vanity project.

[Gerard Larkin - Author @GLarkinAuthor]

1/ Paul Givan has a pet project: TransformEd. It will require a huge increase in workload to implement. He persuaded unions not to take industrial action for a year to give him time to put it in place. Teachers were promised workload would be assessed and reduced.

[Gerard Larkin - Author @GLarkinAuthor]

8/ Teachers are already reporting burnout in huge numbers, with many considering leaving the profession. Increasing workload further, while ignoring recommendations to reduce it, risks pushing even more teachers out.

[Gerard Larkin - Author @GLarkinAuthor]

@RemoveTheRoom @NewtonEmerson @paulgivan Self-assessment and self-evaluation are two different things