IPPN

IPPN Statement on Minister Hanafin's address at Conference

Published: 05 February 2005

IPPN Statement following Minister Hanafin's address to the IPPN Conference at CityWest.

IPPN President Virginia O'Mahony acknowledged the significance of Minister Hanafin's presence at the IPPN conference and her address to 750 principals gathered there. The Minister was warmly received by the large gathering of primary principals and spoke with great style and humour at what she described as 'the beginning of the Conference Season'.

IPPN is pleased with the Minister's understanding of the challenging role of the Principal and her recognition of the extent to which the Department of Education and Science was responsible for the massive increase in bureaucratic administration which has added much to the principals workload.

We welcome Minister Hanafin's clear recognition of the leadership role of the principal and the need to provide further professional development appropriate to their leadership role. In acknowledging the valuable contribution that IPPN makes to the education system through its support and representation of primary principals, the Minister acknowledged that the DES valued IPPN as an important education partner and would consult on policy issues through its representative network.

In her response to the Minister, IPPN President, Virginia O'Mahony acknowledged the affirmation of principals by the Minister but asked that this would be matched by a more professional quality of service from the DES to school principals - "Principals are seen by parents as the public face of the education system and consequently require accurate information from the DES as well as reliable responses to requests for resources within the promised time frame."

In his address to the Minister, Seán Cottrell, Director, referred to the evidence provided by 850 principals surveyed on the issue of Principals workload. In describing the incremental nature of additional responsibilities placed upon principals he likened it to a lobster placed in cold water with the temperature being turned up slowly. Most principals feel "well and truly cooked now". However, Sean referred to the workload shock experienced by newly appointed principals as the lobster being thrown into a cauldron of boiling water with the instant desire to leap back out again!

On the issue of the Minister's three priorities of Special Education Needs, Education Disadvantage and reducing class size for better educational outcomes, Sean Cottrell called upon the Minister to consider what best strategic approach would assist in achieving her three priorities as Minster for Education and Science. Given the Ministers earlier acknowledgement of the pivotal role played by principals in a school's success, Sean outlined the multiplying and accelerating factor of an effective principal in each of the three priority areas. Similar to the Health Sector, additional resources in their own will not achieve the desired improvement of services without high quality strategic leadership and management.

In reference to the role of teaching principal IPPN was pleased to hear the Minister acknowledge the difficulty of this role. Sean Cottrell compared the plight of administrative and teaching principal to that of airline pilots - a transatlantic 747 with 2 pilots, a cabin crew of 20 and 400 passengers. However in contrast, the Aer Arann flight from Dublin to Knock does not expect a single pilot to load the baggage, serve the tea, answer the passenger call bells as well as flying the aeroplane!

The need to make progress in addressing the principals workload and in particular the workload encountered by teaching principals has dominated IPPN's Annual Conference. A significant feature of the 850 principals responses was their desire to be relieved of non-educational responsibilities and time wasting bureaucracy so they can return their core function of managing and influencing the quality of teaching and learning.

ENDS

IPPN Conference 2005, Inspiring Professionalism

Published: 05 February 2005

IPPN CONFERENCE 2005, INSPIRING PROFESSIONALISM
FEBRUARY 3RD - 5TH
CITYWEST HOTEL, SAGGART, CO. DUBLIN

On Thursday next, over 750 primary school principals will gather in City West Hotel in Dublin to begin their annual conference. The theme of this year's conference is "Inspiring Professionalism". Over three days, Ireland's school leaders and educators will engage in networking, debate and brainstorming on a variety of issues and topics relevant to Irish education.

Politicians devise education policy, civil servants formulate it but it is school leaders who implement it. IPPN, as the professional voice of primary principals, has organised a wide-ranging, stimulating and topical conference to tap into the experience and skills of our school leaders to inform and support the development and growth of our education system.

Delegates from every part of the country, from schools large and small, will be addressed by Mary Hanafin, T.D, Minister for Education and Science and Dr. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin on Friday. Among the many topics to be dealt with in workshops over the three days are Education Disadvantage, Underperformance, The Future of Small Schools, Legal Issues for Principals, Staff Recruitment, Whole School Evaluation and Conflict Management. Delegates will also be addressed by Virginia O'Mahony, President, IPPN and Sean Cottrell, National Director of IPPN

This conference promises to be topical, informative and stimulating and may well sow the seeds for innovative initiatives in our primary schools by principals.

Full timetable, list of speakers and workshop titles below:

TIMETABLE & SPEAKERS
Thursday, 3rd February

3.00 pm Registration & Conference Exhibition

6.15 pm President's Reception with Supper

7.30 pm Conference Facilitator:
Ms Caoimhe Máirtín, President,
Coláiste Mhuire,
Marino Institute of Education

7.35 pm Fáilte an Uachtaráin,
Ms Virginia O'Mahony
7.40 pm Whole School Evaluation
Mr Eamon Stack
Chief Inspector, DES
8.00 pm The Teaching Council
Ms Áine Lawlor, Director

8.15 pm Panel Discussion - Ms Caoimhe Máirtín

8.30 pm Close

Friday, 4thFebruary

9.00 am Conference Facilitator: Caoimhe Máirtín
9.05 am Minister for Education & Science
Ms Mary Hanafin, TD
9.30 am Inspiring Professionalism
Virginia O'Mahony, President IPPN
Seán Cottrell, Director IPPN

10.00 am Open Forum

10.15 am Conference Exhibition and Refreshments
11.30 am School Ethos, Management & Governance
Dr Diarmuid Martin - Archbishop of Dublin

12.00 pm New Future for Smaller Schools Dr Mark Morgan, Tomás Ó Slatara

12.30 pm Lunch
2.00 pm Concurrent Workshops (A 1-16)

3.15 pm Conference Exhibition
4.00 pm Concurrent Workshops (B 1-16)
5.15 pm Conference Exhibition

8.00 pm Gala Dinner

Saturday,5th February

9.00 am Concurrent Workshops (C 1-16)

10.15 am Conference Exhibition & Refreshment
11.15 am Leadership in 21st Century Ireland
Ms Geraldine Kennedy - Editor, Irish Times

12.00 pm The New Zealand Experience of Principalship
Marie Dunphy & Helen O'Sullivan

12.30 pm Conference Overview & Close 12.30 pm Lunch

WORKSHOP TITLES

Addressing Education Disadvantage - An Integrated Approach

Addressing Underperformance - Procedures for Dealing with Underperformance

Leadership Development for Schools

Managing Staff - Different Strokes for Different Folks

Legal Issues for Principals - Current Practice

New Horizons for Smaller Schools

Managing change in SEN

National Education Psychological Service

National Education Welfare Board

Reviewing In-School Management

National Council for Special Education

Staff Recruitment - Best Practice

Strategies for Teaching Principals

The Role of Deputy Principal

The Skills of Conflict Management

Whole School Evaluation

Self Care - Relax and chill out by the pool

Networking - Meet & greet your website colleagues

Primary Principals concerned at Second Level Principals position on Testing

Published: 01 February 2005

Primary Principals are very concerned at the views expressed today by the President of NAPD, representing Second Level Principals, on standardised testing of children in Primary Schools.

For over two years a joint sub-committee of IPPN and NAPD has been working on standardising procedures for the transfer of student data from primary to post-primary schools in a professional and holistic manner which reflects the whole curriculum and not merely literacy and numeracy. Such a complex and student - sensitive issue as transition from First to Second Level School, deserves greater consideration from school leaders than narrow - focused testing. Primary Principals are deeply committed to the successful implementation of the revised Primary curriculum. Narrow - focused testing threatens the very raison d'etre of such a forward thinking curriculum.

ENDS

Further information from:

Virginia O'Mahony, President IPPN
Seán Cottrell, Director IPPN

Netd@ys 2004

Published: 15 October 2004

Netd@ys is taking place this year from the 22-27 November. Perhaps your school would be interested in getting involved.

Netd@ys - a European Commission initiative-is an annual celebration of the use of new media (multimedia, internet, videoconference or audio-visual facilities) in the areas of education and culture. This is an excellent opportunity for schools and organisations to showcase their work in the field of ICT.

The theme for Netd@ys 2004 is 'Dialogue between Cultures'. Schools and organisations are invited to submit ICT projects on this theme.

To register your project please visit www.netdayseurope.org

Once your project is accepted, your school/organisation will be awarded a Netd@ys "Label". Details of the project will be put on the Netd@ys Ireland website www.netdaysireland.ie and on the Netd@ys Europe website www.netdayseurope.org

The Education Service of Léargas has produced a CD ROM showcasing 11 of the successful Netd@ys 2003 registered projects. The CD ROM provides information on the project concepts, methodologies, successes and also looks at difficulties encountered during the project. Short videos from selected projects, outline both pupils and teachers experiences and sample images provide a flavour of the activities organised. A technology matrix provides a useful guide to how the various technologies were used within the projects. This CD ROM is an invaluable teaching aid to any teacher interested in developing a project using technology