26th March 2004 - IPPN Welcomes Judgement in favour of Nano Nagel Junior School
IPPN welcomes today's landmark judgement in favour of Nano Nagle Junior School, Clondalkin .
This favourable judgement is a vindication of good practice and positive anti-bullying policies in place in primary schools across the country. This result provides encouragement and affirmation to primary school principals in their efforts to provide a positive and caring environment for all children entrusted to their care.
10th February 2004 - UCD Professor Launces Strong Attack on Privatisation of Education in Ireland
10th February 2004 Principals Fight to save Small Schools
Principals fight to save Small Schools
The Irish Primary Principal's Network (IPPN) will publish an interim report on the future of small schools in Ireland at their Annual Conference on Thursday. This research report, jointly undertaken with St. Patrick's College of Education, Drumcondra, examines a variety of options and possibilities that should enable smaller schools to thrive and prosper into the future.
This research document conclusively identifies that -
- The learning experience of children in small schools is comparable to that of children in larger schools.
- There are alternatives to amalgamations.
- International models provide proof that 'clusterings' can work.
- Small schools are an intrinsic part of the social fabric binding small communities together.
IPPN has taken the initiative in this particular area due to the fact that no serious consideration has been given to the future of small schools - over 80% of schools in Ireland can be classed as small schools with the Principal Teacher having full time duties as well as administrative and management functions. In recent times it has become apparent that smaller schools are being allowed wither on the vine.
This report will be the first part of the most comprehensive research to date on this particular subject.
Larry Fleming and John Curran, PRO, IPPN.
10th February 2004 - Principals take the lead in addressing Under-Performance
Principals take the lead in addressing under-performance
At their annual conference today, the largest gathering of Principals ever in Ireland will hear their Director, Sean Cottrell urge the DES and Management Authorities to address the lack of appropriate procedures required to empower principals to manage underperforming staff.
In an age of transparency and accountability schools are coming under greater scrutiny through Whole School Evaluation (WSE). Currently the principal is the only member of staff identifiable in this process. Given that the principal is being held accountable through both legislation and WSE, for the quality of teaching and learning, principals must have the appropriate procedures, training and support structures to manage the performance of their staff.
Underperformance is a very sensitive issue. Because of this it has not been addressed in a meaningful way before now. This is an issue that can affect all members of the school community: children, parents, teachers, principals and the B.O.M. IPPN urges the DES and management authorities to provide training and support in this area.
Most principal teachers report little experience of underperforming staff. On the contrary principals speak with great pride of the professionalism, commitment and amazing goodwill of their school staff. Because the issue of underperformance has never been addressed or researched there are no statistics available to profile the scale of the problem. The incidence of underperforming staff though relatively very small, is a serious problem when it occurs, with broad implications for the entire school community.
The problem can manifest itself in a variety of ways - people who "can't do" the job, "won't do" the job, "won't let others" do their jobs, "behave in a way which negatively effects professionalism and general staff morale". Underperforming staff can include S.N.As, caretakers, secretaries, teachers and principals.
There are currently a number of barriers to managing underperformance:
1. Governance gap - Education Act 1998, Section 24 requires the DES and management authorities to develop procedures for dealing with performance management. None have been developed to date.
2. The Education Act fails to clarify the relative roles of the principal and the inspector in the management of the professional competence of staff.
Meanwhile IPPN advises BOMs and principals to utilise the Dept. of Enterprise and Employment(2000) Statutory instrument when difficult situations arise for discipline of staff in the workplace. This is a generic procedure which can be used in any workplace in the absence of locally developed and agreed procedures.
Larry Fleming and John Curran, PRO, IPPN.
