IPPN

Published: 30 January 2003

The Title of IPPN Conference 2003 was 'Professionalism - Putting Policy into Practice'.

In the context of the Report by HayGroup Management Consultants "Defining the Role of the Primary Principal in Ireland", IPPN recognised that the important issue of In-School Management/Post of Responsibility needed to be critically reviewed.

A Sub-Committee prepared this position paper - "In-School Management - A Critical Review 1997-2003", to examine those issues that needed to be addressed to maximise the potential of the existing In-School Management structures for the benefit of all involved in primary education. (This sub-committee was led by Pat Kavanagh, Wexford).

The report has been submitted to the DES, Management Bodies, and the INTO. It is essential that members of IPPN have an opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to the review of In-School Management.

Principals and Deputy Principals are invited to reflect on this document and to convey their comments to IPPN by post or e-mail (Subject Line Re: "I.S.M.") to info@ippn.ie. Your feedback is requested by March 31st 2003 and the document may be downloaded in MS Word format by clicking here.

Is mise le meas,

Seán Cottrell
Director

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Published: 15 January 2003

By now you will have received your copy of Tacaí­ocht 3 which addresses several key issues for Principals and Deputy Principals. You will be aware that IPPN as a professional association, cannot process issues relating to pay and conditions on behalf of our members. With this in mind we are suggesting that Principals and Deputy Principals use the only structures available to them i.e. to submit motions to their local branch of the INTO, for annual congress next Easter. Included are some suggested motions, which address certain key issues in this area:

• Congress demands that all school staff members, teachers, ancillary and part-time, should count (a) towards the point where an administrative principal is appointed and (b) should count in reckoning release days for principals and deputy principals.

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• Congress demands that the allowances for principals and deputy principals be increased significantly to reflect the increased responsibility in managing whole school staffs, which now consist of teachers, ancillary and part-time members

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• Congress demands that an agreed procedure to allow principals to step down after seven years, without loss of allowance, should be put in place as soon as possible.

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• Congress demands that the CEC negotiate a separate salary scale for principals and deputy principals where the minimum allowance for a principal teacher is greater than the allowance of any deputy principal.

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• Congress demands that there be an agreed hourly allowance for overtime and that there be agreed system to recoup expenses for school related activities.

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I hope you will see the importance of using this opportunity to raise this important area of concern through the appropriate channels.

Is mise le meas,

Seán Cottrell
Director

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Published: 10 January 2003

Key Issues in recruiting & retaining Principals - INTO

See attached document "Tacaíocht 3"

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Mentors Required for Newly Appointed Principals

Almost 200 new principals have been appointed to primary schools this year. Requests to IPPN for mentoring support from newly-appointed principals have grown considerably reflecting the huge challenge facing teachers when appointed to school leadership for the first time. In order to meet this increased demand for mentoring services, IPPN has initiated a mentoring scheme in each of our 26 county networks. IPPN wishes to hear from Principals in each county who are willing to help mentor a first-time Principal.

The Department of Education and Science initiated the Leadership Development for Schools programme (LDS) in 2002 to provide comprehensive induction, training and support for school leaders at primary and post-primary level. Part of LDS's function will involve the establishment of a mentoring programme for school principals. At primary level, IPPN has been working closely with LDS - sharing experience of our existing mentoring programme - with a view to providing a comprehensive and effective mentoring service nationally which will meet the professional needs of each newly appointed principal.

Principal teachers with 3 or more year's experience, when appointed as mentors, will be offered training and guidance by LDS to help them fulfil their role. Through our structure of 26 county networks, a mentoring organiser will then match each mentor with a newly appointed principal.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please contact the IPPN office at: 1890 21 22 23, e-mail: info@ippn.ie, or write to: Mentoring Service, IPPN, Glounthaune, Co. Cork.

Related documents

Tacaí­ocht 3

Key issues in recruiting & retaining principals - INTO.

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Published: 10 December 2002

New e-mail services available for members on www.ippn.ie

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legal@ippn.ie
This is a query line dealing with legal issues in schools. General queries of a non-confidential nature will be answered by Mr. David Ruddy - IPPN's Legal Advisor.
The email address of this query line is: legal@ippn.ie

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insurance@ippn.ie
This is a query line dealing with school insurance issues. General queries of a non-confidential nature will be answered by Mr. Brian Tobin, Allianz Church & General.
The email address of this query line is: insurance@ippn.ie

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finance@ippn.ie
This is a query line dealing with school finance issues and 'Airgead Bunscoile'. General queries of a non-confidential nature will be answered by either Mr. Donal Kerins, Principal Rushbrooke NS, Cobh, Co. Cork or Ms. Áine Stack, IPPN financial advisor.
The email address of this query line is: finance@ippn.ie

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curriculum@ippn.ie
This is a query line dealing with curriculum issues. General queries of a non confidential nature will be answered by Ms. Áine Lawlor, National Co-ordinator PCSP.
The email address of this query line is: curriculum@ippn.ie

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sdp@ippn.ie
This is a query line dealing with School Development Planning issues. General queries of a non-confidential nature will be answered by Ms. Eileen Flynn, National Co-ordinator SDP.
The email address of this query line is: sdp@ippn.ie

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What are the benefits of subscribing?

Principals / DPs will be able to pose specific questions (not confidential) about an issue which is pertinent to your school situation. These queries will be answered by a specialist in the subject area and you will be sure of a speedy response. In times when it's so difficult to get people to return messages or even answer telephones, it is esential that principals can have their questions answered. In addition each member who is subscribed to these query lines will be able to view the response given to other members. In this way, you will have access to informaton which may be relevant to your school now, or at some stage in the future.
As Frankie Byrne used to say "it may not be your problem today but it might be some time in the future"

These query lines are not for general discussion rather the provision of answers / informed opinions by area specialists. Discussion about amongst members will continue on networking@ippn.ie

If you wish to subscribe please log on to www.ippn.ie and click on 'mailing lists'

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"Why Are Some Principals Handing Back The Keys?"

My name is Jim Ryan and I am teaching in Clondalkin, Dublin 22. I have been teaching there for the past eighteen years and hold the position of assistant principal.

I am appealing for volunteers to assist me in a dissertation I am writing as part of the coursework for the Masters In Education (Educational Leadership) in St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, under the supervision of Dr. Ciaran Sugrue, Head of Post Graduate Studies. I have contacted the I.N.T.O. and the D.E.S. in relation to the study. The I.N.T.O. informed me that they would not have that information. The D.E.S. asked me to forward a request, in writing, and I am awaiting a reply, but they are unsure if they will be able to supply me with the information required.

The purpose of the study is to try to illicit reasons why some primary school principals are relinquishing their position as principal and stepping down, often returning to teaching in a classroom setting, resource teacher, etc. The fact that many return to class teaching implies (I feel) that they enjoy the teaching aspect of the job but must have found some aspect(s) of the principals role unsavoury.

On completion of the study I imagine that there may be numerous different reasons for persons stepping down. A trend may be obvious in relation to a certain size school, urban, rural, disadvantaged, etc, - I'm not sure. If certain aspects of the role are put forward by a number of participants then suggestions and recommendations could be put forward in the study to try to remedy these concerns. This, in time, if acted upon may relieve the pressures from others considering stepping down, may encourage others to remain in the role, and may encourage more to apply for the position of principal, which has been on the decline in recent years.

The methodology to be utilised in the study in to be in two parts.

Firstly, I hope to send a questionnaire to all willing candidates. This can be completed anonymously. The last question on the questionnaire will ask " if you are willing to put your name forward to be interviewed for this study could you please supply contact details." Only persons completing this section will be identifiable to me.

Secondly, I hope to conduct a more in depth interview with five willing candidates who supply contact details in the questionnaire. (The reasons for interviewing five is the time factor involved - I start the study in Jan 2003 and it must be completed by June 2003) This exercise would involve tape recording the interview to allow me to refer to points raised, when I am writing the dissertation. The five candidates who would be interviewed will not have any personal details whatsoever mentioned in the thesis. If citations from the interview transcripts are necessary they will take the form of ..."interviewee A, who teaches in a two teacher school, in a rural setting, in the West of Ireland, stated.......................................". The identity of the interviewees will not be revealed in the study.

Seán Cottrell has agreed to send this message through your electronic newsletter to assist me in trawling as wide as possible for my research. I was hoping, through IPPN, that I may be able to find volunteers who would be willing to complete a short questionnaire. The problem is I do not know how many principals are out there who have stepped down. I would be extremely grateful if you could see fit to volunteer to complete this questionnaire. Even if you are not interested in completing the questionnaire but have stepped down from the position of principal I would be grateful if you could let me know, to give me an idea of the overall figure involved. The questionnaire is being designed, at present, and should be ready to be sent out in late January/early February 2003.

I have informed Sean Cottrell, director I.P.P.N., that I would make the findings of the study available to him when completed, which will be late June 2003.

Thanking you for taking the time to read this.

If the study is applicable to you I would be extremely grateful if you would contact me to (a) volunteer to complete questionnaire or (b) inform me that you have stepped down but are not interested in completing a questionnaire.

Thanking you,

Jim Ryan,
St. Bernadette's S.N.S.,
Quarryvale, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
(01) 4502629 (home) jimryan@utvinternet.com

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