IPPN

Published: 21 May 2009

After many years of highlighting difficulties in relation to children transferring from primary to second-level schools, we are delighted to bring news of an agreed national approach to the transfer of student information. A one-page Student Transfer Form which has been jointly developed by IPPN and the NAPD will satisfy the planning needs of second-level Principals and remove the need to prepare students for pre-entrance assessments. These have always been a considerable stress factor on parents, students, Principals and Teachers alike. This Student Transfer Form will also address the issue of confirming enrolment to the primary school, enabling a student's name to be removed from the roll book and will reduce instances of multiple enrolment. This should reduce the overall workload on primary and second-level Principals in relation to pupil transition.

Process
Working with NAPD (second-level Principals) during the last 12 months, we have developed an agreed Student Transfer Form which is to be used as follows:

• After second-level schools have enrolled students, they will send a "Student Transfer Form" for each student that they have enrolled to the relevant primary school
• The teacher of 6th class (and the SEN support teacher, where relevant) will complete the standard form which the Principal will sign-off on and return to the second-level school
• Where special education needs are involved, informal dialogue may take place between the relevant teachers in both the "sending" and "receiving" schools.

The data transferred using the standard form will completely remove the need for second-level schools to conduct any form of pre-entrance exams/assessments etc.

Benefits
There are a number of significant benefits to be gained from this:

• A standardised approach to data transfer across all schools
• An end to the preparation of children for multiple entrance assessments by teachers of 6th class
• The freedom to teach the full primary curriculum up to the end of 6th class
• The reduction of parental, student and teacher anxiety in relation to the process of transferring to second level
• Better practice, informed by research which is professionally defensible by teachers and Principals
• The development of more open and professional relations between primary and second-level schools.

A copy of the one-page Student Transfer Form can be downloaded from the link below. Comprehensive notes are available with the form, including guidance in relation to parental consent. While entrance assessment for September 2009 has already taken place, IPPN and NAPD encourage all Principals to use the Student Transfer Form for current 6th class children. This will build confidence for all concerned in using this approach to student transfer in the 2009/2010 school year.

Click here to access the Student Transfer Form

Last Thursday (14th May), NAPD and IPPN met with representatives of the NCCA. This was a very productive meeting, where we discussed in-depth the issue of student transfer within the broader context of curriculum and assessment. It was reassuring to discover that the NCCA are actively engaged in research, and developing strategies in bridging the current gap that exists between the curriculum content and methodologies in 6th class and 1st year.

Cheaper Heating Oil for Schools - IPPN needs your help
IPPN is currently entering negotiations with Heating Oil suppliers in order to achieve lower prices on heating oil for schools. In order to succeed in these negotiations, we must present accurate annual school consumption figures. With this in mind, we have put together a quick survey on EducationOpinion.ie to gather these figures and would ask you to please take a few minutes to complete it. All you will need to hand are your school's fuel bills since 1st September 2008.

By completing this survey you will put IPPN in a strong bargaining position to make a positive difference to the annual costs facing your school. There are also additional advantages to be considered such as special offers on home heating oil for Principals and Deputy Principals. On that basis, we trust that you see the importance in completing the survey linked below by this coming Friday the 22nd of May at 5pm.

Please note, as with all IPPN surveys the views of individual respondents are confidential.

Click here to access Heating Oil Survey

Is sinne le meas
Larry Fleming & Seán Cottrell