Postgraduate Diploma in School Leadership (PDSL)
- Published: 17 April 2024
The following information may be of interest to teachers in your school who have five or more year’s post-qualification experience.
The Postgraduate Diploma in School Leadership (PDSL) / Dioplóma Gairmiúil i gCeannaireacht Scoile (DGCS) is designed to prepare emerging leaders with the knowledge, skills, confidence and qualifications for senior school leadership positions.
The programme is delivered in centres nationally by leading lecturers in Irish education, as well as tutors with extensive experience in educational leadership, and is part-funded by the DE and Oide.
In addition to learning about the theory and practice of leadership, participants will also experience two ‘situated learning opportunities’ (leadership visits) over the duration of the programme. Participants will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding and apply the knowledge and skills acquired through situated learning experiences that provide opportunities to observe leadership in action.
The application process is open and all information is available via www.ul.ie/pdsl.
Representation made to the Primary Education Forum re STEM grant application process and all further grants to support curriculum implementation
- Published: 10 April 2024
At the Primary Education Forum on the 25th March 2024, IPPN raised the issue on behalf of members regarding grant funding to primary schools under ‘Supports for Curriculum Change’, as part of Forbairt, the DE Annual Statement of Priorities 2024.
“I would like to speak about grant funding to primary schools as part of supports for curriculum implementation. To start with a positive, I’d like to thank the DE for recognising that schools needed additional financial supports this year and issuing the Cost-of-Living Grant to schools in Oct. 2023 and Jan. 2024.
Much discontent has been expressed by our members regarding the STEM grants process in Nov/Dec 2023. A lottery was not listed as a methodology in the Guidelines for this application process, but it was decided to use this to deal with the high number of applicants.
The of the STEM application process was delivered two days before the Christmas holidays, Wednesday 20th December, after school at 4:24 pm and this was considered very bad timing.
532 schools were successful out of a total of 2,700 who applied.
The wellbeing of many Principals was so affected by this process, with many reporting that they had spent hours/days on this application, which required a plan, costings etc.
Over 2,000 schools were shocked and disappointed that they got zero funding while others got 10,000 euro.
Capitation grants issued to schools are used initially to pay utilities, which are ever increasing, and if anything is left, this is then used for resources…I know this so well from my own experience as Principal.
We need resources to teach subjects - STEM, PE, Art - in fact all curriculum subjects to primary-aged children.
We were further disappointed to see similar application processes for grants required for the recent PE-Pilot project Physical Activity in Teaching & Learning. We believe that an application process to seek funding for grants to support curriculum areas is pitting schools against each other, a totally unfair approach to fund resources for subject areas, with some schools receiving no funding at all.
We’d ask the DE to consider a fair and equitable approach going forward. We are asking for funding for all schools, for curricular areas, especially in light of the new curriculum.
Note this is in line with Goal 2 of the Forbairt doc., to ensure equity of opportunity in education…this includes resources and funding. We ask for equally shared grant funding for all schools going forward”.
Louise Tobin, IPPN President
Health & Wellbeing Survey
- Published: 28 February 2024
The third and final phase of the Irish Principal and Deputy Principal Health and Wellbeing research will take place from 11th March to 19th April, 2024. It does not matter if you have not participated in the earlier phases of the research or, indeed, if you took part in Phase 1 but did not do so in Phase 2. Phase 3 is open to all principals and deputy principals.
IPPN particularly encourages school leaders who have been appointed over the last 12 months to see this as an opportunity to benchmark their personal health and wellbeing in the early stages of their senior leadership role. For those who have participated previously, it is an opportunity to monitor progress in this area and to assess the impact of any interventions you may have tried in relation to your health & wellbeing.
Your participation in this research ensures that your voice is heard. All members are encouraged to take time from their busy schedules to partake in the survey so that IPPN can build momentum with regard to the ongoing advocacy work to improve the current reality of the practice and experience of school leadership.
A link to the survey will be shared via email and SMS on 11th March.
Revised Constitution of IPPN
- Published: 06 February 2024
At the December meeting of the National Council, a revised Constitution was ratified. A number of amendments were made.
What is different?
- Insertion of ‘Main & Subsidiary Objects’ (mission)
- Clarification of who is the member in an “Acting” situation
- Removed any reference to the use of a single transferrable vote system
- Revised timeframes for the issuing of notices and documents for AGMs & EGMs (longer period)
- Clarified that Board members are included in the quorum for AGMs & EGMs
- Adjusted the language regarding the co-option of an Independent Director (from “Up to 3” to “At least one”)
- Insertion of stipulation that each committee will have specific Terms of Reference
- Updated the bullet points detailing the role of the President to align with the role specification.
Selina Carmody
- Published: 25 January 2024
Selina is an established teacher and leader with over 15 years of experience. She co-founded and became deputy principal of Wexford Educate Together National School upon graduating from Mary Immaculate College in 2008. Since the school’s establishment, Selina has overseen its growth from 20 pupils to over 200 currently. Since 2021, the school has taken part in the Educate Together Nurture Schools Pilot Project which provides targeted supports to students who are at risk of educational disadvantage, a programme which is aimed at enhancing social, emotional and behavioural skills, attendance, engagement, resilience and self-belief.
Selina relocated to the Middle East from 2012-2017, where she worked as a teacher, leader and deputy principal of a large ‘through-school,’ leading teams from pre-school to second-level. She designed and oversaw the implementation of a new national curriculum, and held responsibility for recruitment and induction of new teachers. In addition, she performed inspections and provided consultation to a network of schools in the region.
Selina completed a Masters in Leadership and Management in Education from South East Technical University in 2022, conducting a thesis on The Role of the Teaching Prinicipal. Her key areas of interest are curriculum development, school self-evaluation and the wellbeing of school leaders.
Selina was a National Council representative for Wexford for four years from 2017-2021. During this time, she provided support and networking opportunities for newly appointed deputy principles who had recently completed the ‘Tanaiste’ programme, as well as establishing a Deputy Principles’ Support Group in Wexford.
Selina was co-opted to the IPPN Board of Directors in 2022, and is currently part of a pilot project to provide coaching and mentoring to newly appointed Deputy Principals.
