E-scéal 27th February - New IPPN Logo / Circulars & Updates
- Published: 05 March 2025
Stay informed via your weekly E-scéal
- New IPPN Logo
- Review of IPPN Supports and Services
- Planning Prompts
- Summer Programme Portal is now live
- IPPN Roadshow - Workshops
- DE Circulars
- Sectoral Updates
- IPPN Deputy Principals’ Conference – Presentation Materials
- Leadership+ Issue 136 – The Primary Curriculum Framework: The Big Picture
- Be Well, Lead Well
- Did you know?
New IPPN Logo
2025 is a very special year for IPPN - we celebrate 25 years since the Irish Primary Principals’ Network was formally launched at an event in Dublin Castle by the then Minister for Education, Michael Woods.
We are marking this anniversary in several ways: video recordings of interviews with all 12 IPPN presidents, the 2025 IPPN Roadshow which is already underway, and an e-Publication to follow later in the year.
It is also an opportunity to make explicit what has always been understood and, with that in mind, we launched a new IPPN logo and strapline at the Deputy Principals’ Conference on 14th February.
Read More
Review of IPPN Supports and Services
IPPN provides a suite of supports and services to members in order to enhance leadership capacity and effectiveness and to better ensure the sustainability of school leadership roles. It is essential that those supports and services are in keeping with and informed by the needs of members.
Accordingly, it was agreed that it would be opportune to review the supports and services that IPPN provides and that such a review would be informed by data/evidence directly sourced from members.
This collated data/evidence could then be considered by support office staff and Board members to assess:
- the value that members attribute to individual supports and services
- the impact of those supports and services
- the levels of member engagement with those supports and services
- whether existing supports and services could be enhanced and
- whether other supports and services need to be developed and made available to members.
Watch/Listen
Read
Planning Prompts
Together with some planning suggestions for the coming week is a reminder to look to your own self-care. As the Time to Think piece reminds us, it is essential to your survival. Be proactive in building time away from work this week doing something that you enjoy. You encourage others to do so – now lead by example.
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Summer Programme Portal is now live
The Summer Programme Portal is live on EducationPosts.ie.
The Portal facilitates schools to source staff for the school-based Summer Programme. Priority access is being provided to Special Schools. Job Seekers (teachers, SNAs, students and other eligible professionals) create notices with their location, occupation, availability per week, and experience. Schools filter and view the entries and contact Job Seekers directly.
For details on the Summer Programme Portal on EducationPosts.ie, see the Help Centre.
For details on the Summer Programme, see the Department of Education website.
IPPN Roadshow – Workshops
Coming to a venue near you in March:
Register
DE Circulars
0020/2025 - Revision of Salaries for School Secretaries Previously Grant Funded Effective from 01 March 2024 / Athbhreithniú ar Thuarastail Rúnaithe Scoile arna Maoiniú Roimhe Faoi Mhaoiniú Deontas Coimhdeach ón 1 Márta 2025
0019/2025 - Revision of Salaries of School Secretaries and School Maintenance Staff in Community and Comprehensive Schools effective from 1 March 2025 ./ Athbhreithniú Tuarastal do Rúnaithe Scoile agus Baill Foirne Cothabhála i bPobalscoileanna agus i Scoileanna Cuimsitheacha ón 1 Márta 2025
0018/2025 - Revision of Salaries of Clerical Officers and Caretakers employed under the 1978/1979 Scheme under The Public Service Agreement 2024 - 2026 effective from 01 March 2025 / Athbhreithniú ar Thuarastail d’Oifigigh Chléireachais agus Feighlithe atá fostaithe i Scoileanna Náisiúnta faoi Scéim 1978/79 agus d’Oifigigh Chléireachais atá fostaithe in Iar-bhunscoileanna faoi Scéim 1978 faoin gComhaontú Seirbhísí Poiblí 2024-2026 ón 1 Márta 2025
0017/2020 - Revision of Salaries and Allowances of Certain Grades other than Teachers and SNAs employed by ETBs under The Public Service Agreement 2024 - 2026 effective from 01 March 2024 / Athbhreithniú ar thuarastail grád áirithe seachas Múinteoirí agus Cúntóirí Riachtanas Speisialta atá fostaithe ag Boird Oideachais agus Oiliúna faoin gcomhaontú faoin gComhaontú Seirbhísí Poiblí 2024-2026
0016/2025 - Revision of Salaries for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) under The Public Service Agreement 2024 - 2026 effective from 01 March 2025 / Athbhreithniú ar Thuarastail Cúntóirí Riachtanas Speisialta faoin gComhaontú Seirbhísí Poiblí 2024-2026
0015/2025 - Revision of Teacher Salaries under The Public Service Agreement 2024 - 2026 effective from 01 March 2025 / Athbhreithniú ar Thuarastail Múinteoirí faoin gComhaontú Seirbhísí Poiblí 2024-2026 ón 1 Márta 2025
0010/2025 - An Scéim Aitheantais Scoileanna Gaeltachta: Feidhmiú Leanúnach na Scéime (2025/26) i mBunscoileanna agus i Scoileanna Speisialta / Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme: Continued Implementation of the Scheme (2025/26) in Primary Schools and Special Schools
Amharc Read
The Online Registration Portals for the school-based Summer Programme 2025 are live and have been circulated to schools.
Tá na Tairseacha don Chlárúchán Ar Líne do Chlár Samhraidh 2025 atá bunaithe ar scoileanna oscailte agus scaipeadh iad ar scoileanna.
https://dessurveys.education.gov.ie/surveys/Summer-Programme-2025-Primary-Schools
Sectoral Updates
Department of Education
The DE invites school principals and teachers to complete important surveys. Your insights are invaluable in helping the DE assess the extent of teacher shortages and identify the key factors contributing to them. The surveys will remain open until Sunday, March 9.
By sharing your experiences, you will play a crucial role in shaping recommendations to address these shortages. Your input ensures that proposed solutions are grounded in the real challenges that schools face every day.
These surveys have been developed by the UNESCO research team as part of the Strategic Workforce Planning for Teachers project, conducted in partnership with the Department of Education and the European Commission.
Survey for school principals: https://forms.office.com/e/UwjJarUaVn
Survey for teachers: https://forms.office.com/e/g6wxGaDyBJ - Please pass to teachers to complete.
Teaching Council
Droichead
The last day to apply for Droichead in the 2024/2025 academic year is 5pm on Wednesday, 12 March 2025. Applications for 2025/2026 will open in September.
Apply here: https://ow.ly/KOyB50UKflO
Claim tax deduction on registration fee
Registered teachers who qualify for Flat Rate Expenses can claim a deduction for their Teaching Council registration fee. Log onto myAccount on http://Revenue.ie for further information.
Insights Report - 1 January – 30 June 2024
Read https://ow.ly/lpwT50V23B9
NCCA – Updated Aistear Framework
NCCA has developed a paper presenting the updated Aistear as a rights-based curriculum framework, with discussion around how the rights of babies, toddlers and young children can be realised in practice.
Read https://ncca.pulse.ly/1epyuqukcr
Creative Clusters Programme 2025
Applications are now open for the Creative Clusters Programme 2025. The programme is a Department of Education led initiative under the Creative Youth Programme.
Info and apply https://gov.ie/en/publication/7078b-creative-clusters-2025-call-for-applications/
IPPN Deputy Principals’ Conference – Presentation Materials
Materials from the following elements are available to view on ippn.ie:
• IPPN Speakers Brian O'Doherty, Pairic Clerkin, Catríona O'Reilly and Aoife O’Connor
• Keynote Speakers Dr Harry Barry, Karen Belshaw, Dr Patrick Sullivan and Marie Gleeson
• Seminars/Presenters Donncha Phelan, Oide, Coran Swayne, Padraig McCabe
Leadership+ Issue 136 - The Primary Curriculum Framework: The Big Picture
NCCA Deputy CEO Dr Patrick Sullivan
In terms of the Primary School Curriculum, the ‘big picture’ refers to the curriculum’s Vision, Principles, Key Competencies and Statements on Learning, Teaching and Assessment. These are contained in the Primary Curriculum Framework. The Framework is the foundation upon which the entire redeveloped Primary School Curriculum is being progressed.
Read
Be Well, Lead Well
Tip #10 Focus on the 3 Cs
- Connection - with staff, school community and self
- Compassion - for self and others
- Confidence - in your strengths
From Karen Belshaw at the IPPN Deputy Principals’ Conference, 13th February 2025
#BeWellLeadWell
Did You Know?
Wexford Education Support Centre
Creating Pupil Profiles for SEN Provision Through Effective Assessment Approaches
4th March at 4pm
Register
Legal Updates for Schools - Athlone Education Centre
Join David Ruddy for an online series covering:
📌 Staff Issues – Mar 3
📌 School Discipline – Mar 10
🕖 7 PM Online
Register
IPPN and social media
Follow IPPN on X and LinkedIn for regular updates
https://x.com/IPPN_Education
https://bit.ly/IPPN-LinkedIn
Hibernia - Free course for Principals and Treoraí
The course is aimed at those who host student teachers in their schools and classrooms. It involves:
• A self-paced, online course that teachers can complete at their convenience
• It provides practical strategies for effective mentoring, including observing, providing feedback and team teaching
Upon completion participants receive a digital badge to acknowledge their participation and showcase their professional development
Those interested in completing the course can register by emailing lmccormack@hiberniacollege.net.
For the attention of the BOM
CPD on Demand: Governance in the Public Sector
This session provides valuable guidance on navigating the complexities of public sector governance. Speakers address Public Sector Corporate Governance and recent updates to the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2014.
View
Arts in Education Portal - Application for documentation award
Three awards will be offered in 2025. Successful applicants will receive services to the value of €5,000 that will support them in the documentation of a current or upcoming project and a €500 stipend.
Criteria and Application
Barnardos Bereavement Webinars
Wed 5th March @ 1-2pm – A Mini Webinar focused on Ukraine
Culture & Context: Supporting bereaved Ukrainian families in Ireland - Barnardos
Tues 25th March @ 10am-1pm – A Training Webinar exploring the intersections of trauma and grief in the context of war and displacement
Chaos & Kaleidoscopes: Supporting bereaved families in the context of war and displacement - Barnardos
For the attention of parents
NPC Anti-Bullying Training for Primary Parents
Virtual Sessions, 4th, 5th, 6th March 2025 at 4pm
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Anti_Bullying_4PM_March2025
