2nd February 2002 - IPPN Second Annual Conference

The Irish Primary Principals' Network 2nd Annual Conference

THEME: "The Challenge of Leadership"
DATES: Thursday 7th - Saturday 9th February 2002
VENUE: Corrib Great Southern Hotel, Galway

The largest ever gathering of primary schools principals will meet in Galway later this week at the start of the 2nd annual conference of the Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN). The development of best practice in school leadership is a key aim for IPPN and the keynote address at this year's conference entitled "Challenges for education leaders in the 21st century", will be given by Dr. Ed Walsh, President Emeritus, University of Limerick. (Copy of keynote address to follow.)

Management Consultants to examine Primary School Principals' Role
In an unprecedented move, IPPN has commissioned international experts Hay Management Consultants to analyse, profile and define the role of the principal teacher in a primary school. This is the first ever involvement of independent management consultants in evaluating a particular role within the Irish education system. The results will have far reaching consequences for the management of the States 3,400 primary schools. IPPN has initiated this review to progress a radical reform of how primary schools are managed.
In addition to 3,400 primary principals, all the education partners have been invited to participate in this unique external evaluation of a key role in education. This development takes place at a time when:

  • Alarming figures showing a continuous slide in the number of teachers applying for principalship - 1996 : 6 applicants per vacancy - 2001 : 3.5 applicants per vacancy
  • Increasing numbers of schools receive no applications for vacant principalships.
  • 75% of principals are still required to teach fulltime.
  • Parental expectations of primary education are increasing and becoming more diverse.
  • Compliance with legislation and government policy places a huge onus on principal teachers
  • The challenge of integrating children with special needs into mainstream schools has increased the responsibility and workload of many principals.

â€Â¢ Inadequate administrative support while school administration grows exponentially

 

IPPN has committed itself to leading the way in opening up a national debate on leadership in primary education. The crisis facing the role of the principals is symptomatic of an education system needing radical overhaul and structural reform. This conference will challenge our understanding of how schools will be led and managed in the future.

Further information from:
Seán Cottrell, : Tel: 086 6478717 and 1890 21 22 23
Director, IPPN

Tomás Ó Slatara,: Tel: 087 6486801
PRO, IPPN

Eamonn Drea, Managing Director : Tel: 01 6765994
Hay Management Consultants

IPPN Conference 2002 Programme

Thurs. 7th February.

19.30: "Leadership in Review" - Mr. Jim Hayes, President IPPN.

20.00: "Principalship for the Future"- Gearóid Uas. Ó Conluain, Deputy Chief Inspector DES

21.00: President's Reception.

Fri. 8th February.

09.00: Official Opening by Mr. John Dennehy, Secretary General, Dept. of Education and Science.

09.30: Keynote address-"Challenges for Educational Leaders in the 21st century"
-Dr. E. Walsh, President Emeritus, University of Limerick.

11.30: "School Leadership, Roles, Rights and Responsibilities"
-Mr. Seán Cottrell, National Director, IPPN.

13.30: Press Conference:

Seminars:
14.00: "The Role of Principal-What the Legislation Means"
- Mr. T. Boland, Principal, Legal Services, Dept. of Education & Science.

14.00: "21st Century Principals-21st Century Skills"
-Mr. Michael Farrell, Administrative Secretary, UCC.

14.00: "Principals and Boards of Management- A Vision for the future"
- Sr. Eileen Randles, General Secretary, CPSMA.

14.00: "The Role of Principal- An Independent Analysis"
-Mr. Frank Hartle, Education Consultant, Hay Management Consultants.

Sat. 9th February.

09.00: "School Leadership in the 21st Century"
-Mr. John Carr, General Secretary Designate, INTO.

09.45: "Special Education-Principal Issues"
- Ian O'Herlihy, Partner, Arthur O'Hagan, Solicitors
- David Ruddy, B.Ed.,Dip.,Law, B.L., Principal, Talbot N.S., Clondalkin, Dublin.

11.15: "Questions and Answers"- Chaired by Ms. Teri Garvey, RTE.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Seán Cottrell, Director 1890 21 22 23 (office) 086 6478717
Tomas Ó Slatara, PRO 087 6486801

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Last Updated: Saturday, 02 February 2002 00:00

27th November 2001 - IPPN Commission HayGroup to review the role of Principal Teacher

The Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) has commissioned independent management consultants to review the role of principal teacher.

The role of principal teacher has changed radically in the last five years. Parents, teachers, Dept. of Education and society at large have significantly increased expectations of the principal's role. Parallel to these changes many principals are seeking to relinquish their role and very few younger teachers are applying for principalships.

In response to these developments, the IPPN commissioned Hay Management Consultants to carry out an independent evaluation of the primary principals role. This is the first independent evaluation of the role of principal to be carried out in Ireland. It is designed to lead towards a redefinition of a principal's role in professional management and leadership terms, which will be appropriate to the needs of primary schools.

The process will be inclusive of all Education Partners and is designed to provoke fresh thinking on educational leadership. IPPN research indicates that there is an imminent crisis facing school leadership. A radical and holistic review of the role of principal as well as current school management structures is required to address this problem. IPPN envisages this evaluation process will challenge all principals and Education Partners to think differently about the future role of the principal.

IPPN is leading the process with the Hay questionnaire to all principals.

Hay Management Consultancy

Role profile and evaluation - The Primary Principal

Process:
1. Questionnaire to all primary principals
2. Four focus groups (principals) to process key themes and issues from questionnaires.
3. All Education Partners to submit their experience and vision of school leadership based on their own perspective.
4. Examination and collation of leading international research on leadership in education.
5. IPPN Conference 2002 - Public debate (involving all stakeholders) on the future of primary principalship.

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 27 November 2001 00:00

5th July 2001 - Irish Principals support Colleagues in Tajikistan

Irish Principals Support Colleagues in Tajikistan


When Sean Cottréll, Director of the Irish Primary Principals' Network received a telephone call from Save the Children Fund, asking could IPPN help, the response from the IPPN office was "how, what, why, when and we will provide the who".

Sean Cottréll together with four other principal teachers, Carol Barrett, Grainne Duggan, Máire Fenton and Noel Brennan will be set off today (06-07-01) to travel to the Republic of Tajikistan in central Asia for six weeks. The purpose of this venture is to:

  • Deliver a series of workshops to head teachers on school management, classroom management, appropriate curriculum development and how to address the needs of children with physical and mental handicap.
  • Tajikistan, bordering Afghanistan is a former Republic of the Soviet Union independent since 1991. After five years of civil war the country suffered extreme drought which has resulted in the education system being ravaged by the negative impact of the market economy which has resulted in virtually no finance for public services
  • The five teachers are going on a voluntary basis this summer with a view to providing an appropriate intervention to their counterparts in Tajikistan. The project is co-ordinated and sponsored by Save the Children Fund.
  • Irish Primary Principals' Network is a professional association for principal teachers dedicated to their professional development and the advancement of their experience towards education policy. This is the first involvement of IPPN with principal teachers in a developing country.

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Last Updated: Thursday, 05 July 2001 01:00

15th February 2001 - Crisis Looms as 67% of Teachers Spurn School Principal Position

An independent survey commissioned by the Irish Primary Principals' Network provides worrying evidence that most teachers do not wish to become Principals. The IPPN believes that a crisis is looming in Primary Education unless the role of Principal Teacher is made more desirable and do-able. The countrywide survey of 245 teachers was carried out by Mercator Market Research from the 5th to 9th of February 2001. The research is being presented today (16th February) to the first National Conference of the Irish Primary Principals Network which is being attended by some 420 principals and guests in Galway. IPPN is a new professional association representing primary school principals in Ireland. It's objectives are to provide and facilitate personal, professional and career development and to be a national voice for the views and concerns of principals. When asked how likely they were to apply for the position of Principal Teacher at some stage in the future an alarming 67% of the teachers interviewed indicated they were unlikely to apply. Only 5% said they were very likely to apply. The trend is also getting worse with fewer applicants likely in the future. In response to the question: Do you consider that, compared with your views in the past, you are more or less likely to apply for the position of Primary Principals?, only 7% of the teachers surveyed indicated they were more likely to apply whereas a worrying figure of 46% responded that they were now less likely to apply.

The key factors in teachers' consideration in possibly applying for principalship were primarily related to adequate support and professional development. IPPN has already identified this as a key concern and has submitted proposals for a comprehensive professional and support structure for all principals and deputy principals. The factors are ranked below by the percentage of the sample who considered the issue important.

Adequate professional development and support for the position.- 94%
Professional Preparation for the position. -91%.
Suitability and fairness of procedures. - 90%
Adequate definition of responsibilities - 86%.
Principal Teacher's salary/allowance -80%
Stress relative to classroom teaching. -73%
Combining the duties of a principal teacher with class teaching -67%.

Department of Education and Science data about the numbers of teachers applying for Principalship also provides cause for concern:

1996: 5.4 applicants on average per vacancy.
1998: 4.5 applicants on average per vacancy.
2000: 3.5 applicants on average per vacancy.

Information received from CPSMA, Church of Ireland Board of Education and Educate Together, also confirms this alarming trend. The Education Secretaries consulted were aware of at least 10 schools with no application received for the post of Principal and over 30 schools with just 1 or 2 applicants. They were critically concerned over this sharp fall in applications and regarded it as a priority issue for primary education. Evidence was also received that many Deputy Principals are not interested in applying for the post of Principal. These results pose a serious challenge for all the Partners in Education. IPPN National Director Sean Cottrell said: This independent survey, backed up by the information provided by the management authorities, and the statistics of the DES clearly points to a crisis at the heart of our primary education system. The consequences for our primary schools are extremely serious should this trend continue.

Mr. Cottrell concluded that 'IPPN believes that the Principal's role must be urgently re-defined in realistic terms. The role is pivotal to ensuring that we all have well run schools. Parents depend on quality leadership in our schools for their children's primary education. The post of principal must be perceived by teachers as an attractive promotional prospect'. We are forwarding the results of the research to Minister Michael Woods and to the other education partners. We will be seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister to see how we can jointly tackle this issue. IPPN will be asking for the speedy implementation of all of the recommendations in the report of the DES working group on the role of the primary principal to help solve this current crisis. We will also hold talks with the Partners in Education with a view to making the post of principal in primary schools more desirable and do-able.

For Further Information
Tomás O'Slatara, PRO

Sean Cottrell, National Director

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Last Updated: Thursday, 15 February 2001 00:00

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