IPPN

Terms & Conditions for Networking

Published: 03 April 2025

IPPN’s Networking mailing list is an email-based forum for school leaders who are members of IPPN. The purpose of the mailing list is to provide a platform for school leaders to engage with one another in a spirit of professional collegiality, integrity and support, chun tacaíocht, misneach agus spreagadh a thabhairt dá cheile. It is in keeping with the fundamental principle underpinning the network that is IPPN. IPPN’s Networking mailing list is intended to -

provide a professional space where school leaders can develop an online community
strengthen collegiality between school leaders
enable school leaders to benefit from peer support
enable school leaders to exchange practical ideas, advice and information
enable school leaders to seek clarification on procedure and practice
enable school leaders to share resources

The Networking mailing list is moderated from Monday – Friday between 8.00am and 5.30pm.

Mail will be released by the moderator between these times. Mail submitted to the mailing list after 5.00pm will be moderated the next working day.

As an IPPN member and subscriber to the mailing list, you agree, through acceptance of these terms of use and protocols, to the following:

1. I am legally responsible for any content that I post. I may only post information that I have the right or permission to distribute. I agree to hold IPPN, its employees and its agents free from any liability arising from postings. This includes any direct, incidental, or consequential damages such as, but not limited to, loss of anticipated profits, benefits, use of data resulting from the use of this mailing list.

2. I will provide the following details in each posting:

Full name
School Name
County
Roll Number

3. I will not forward, copy or otherwise disseminate the content of postings with any third party.

4. I will send

Emails requesting peer-to-peer help, advice & support, offering peer-to-peer help, advice & support and sharing of resources (equipment, furniture, policies, etc.) to networking@ippn.ie
Emails of a sensitive nature or requests for professional guidance to advice@ippn.ie
Emails with observations on current issues impacting on leadership practice and on schools to advocacy@ippn.ie

5. I agree that any postings which are not in keeping with these terms of use or which contravene the following protocols will not be released to the mailing list.

Postings must not contain unlawful, obscene, defamatory, sexually explicit, profane, abusive or threatening comments or materials
Postings must not contain comments which may lead to reputational damage to individuals and organisations
Postings must be objective and balanced
Postings must be respectful
Attachment of files is not permitted
Postings must not contain any effort to promote the purposes of any organisations, supports, platforms or products at a cost to IPPN; financial, reputational or other
Promoting and/or canvassing of any third-party group, organisation, supports, services or platforms that IPPN considers to be in direct competition with its supports and services, or with regard to IPPN’s mission, vision and strategy, are not allowed
Unsolicited advertising, promotional content or any other form of commercial activity including those of benefit to charitable work, along with unsolicited recommendation of products or services is not allowed
Duplicate factual replies will not be released
Repeated requests for a particular resource will not be released to the mailing list – the moderator will request that the resource be submitted to IPPN for possible inclusion on its website
Requests for Resource Hours Clustering Arrangements will not be facilitated – this is facilitated on the EducationPosts.ie SEN Clustering Notice Board

Disclaimer
I understand and agree that:

IPPN cannot and does not guarantee the accuracy of any information posted to the mailing list
IPPN makes no representations or warranties with respect to any products or services reviewed or commented upon on the mailing list. Such postings are the sole view of the contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of IPPN
The decision of the moderator is final

Liability and Responsibility
You are legally responsible, and solely responsible, for any content that you post to a discussion. You may only post materials that you have the right or permission to distribute electronically. You agree to hold the sponsors of the IPPN Networking Mailing List harmless from any and all liability arising from your posting of any materials.

Accuracy
IPPN cannot and does not guarantee the accuracy of any statements made in or materials posted to the IPPN Networking Mailing List by participants. Participants are assumed to be speaking in their personal capacity, unless they explicitly state that their contribution represents the views of their organization.

Copyright and Fair Use
As a participant in the IPPN Networking Mailing List, you retain copyright of any materials of your own creation that you post to the IPPN Networking Mailing List. Members are not authorised to reproduce or disseminate those materials outside the context of the mailing List, unless specific permission is granted by the member.

Additional Information
IPPN retains the right to refuse to post any message that it considers to be in violation of the above rules and guidelines and may publish the messages posted to the IPPN Networking Mailing List in whole or in part.

IPPN does not hold archive data or mail released to the mailing list by individual subscribers.

Have your say - Member Consultation Survey

Published: 31 March 2025

Survey graphic

IPPN would be most grateful if you would take 10 minutes to complete our member survey, which will feed directly into the next IPPN strategy.

Sincere thanks to the several hundred members who have already completed the survey. It will close on Friday, 11th April.

Click here to hear from Aoife and Regina from the IPPN Board of Directors about the survey

Professional Guidance: Class Allocation – 'Picking the Team'

Published: 10 March 2025

In sport, the manager’s ability to select the best team formation, from the panel of players available, is often the difference between winning and losing. While education is not about winning or losing, as school leader you can certainly identify with the role of the team manager, or in the case of Teaching Principals, player-manager. Other than the wisdom needed to recruit the best people, the skill of allocating teachers to different teaching roles is probably the most important function a school leader has in determining the overall quality of learning in a school.

The Class Allocation process should be considered more in the context of TEAM and Teamwork, and less in the context of individual preference. This judgement call of balancing the needs of the school with the preference of the staff member is a delicate and sometimes lonely one, hence the expression ‘the loneliness of the Manager’s job’. Such balance is best achieved by engagement in school and staff-wide preparatory work beforehand.

Different types of school, as well as issues such as custom and practice, classes of extraordinary size or pupil needs all point towards one conclusion - there is no perfect way of going about the process of allocating classes. There are, however, common elements that apply to every school.

For many school leaders, the annual challenge of which teachers will teach which classes can sometimes prove to be problematic. The school leader must weigh the options carefully, bearing in mind the preferences of teachers, the needs of the school or a particular class and other information particular to a school situation that may influence decisions. To be clear from the outset, the function of allocating teachers to classes is both a duty and a responsibility of the Principal. This means that the parents, the Board of Management and the staff of the school cannot and must not be part of the final decision-making process.

It is advisable to have a policy of staff rotation - moving to different classes after a number of years teaching the same class level. This allows staff to develop their own professional experience across a range of classes. If such a policy is not in place at this stage, it might be best to wait for the new school year to develop one, in consultation with staff. A discussion with the Deputy Principal regarding the considerations involved in arriving at a final decision can provide much-needed support in what can be a challenging process.

Change can help to freshen the thinking in certain areas, particularly around the implementation of new strategies. Many schools use a preference sheet where each teacher gets to select their first, second and third choice of class level. Normally, the five categories used are Infants/1st & 2nd/3rd & 4th/ 5th & 6th/Support Teaching. If the school has a Special Class, this will also of course feature.

This is helpful to the Principal in reaching a decision. Class-based moves should not be announced at staff meetings without each person present knowing beforehand the class to which they have been allocated.

Some staff members may be disappointed with decisions. Discuss with the teacher any of the challenges facing them and any supports they may need in their particular situation. No guarantees can or should be made to any staff member with regard to class allocation in the future, as circumstances change from one year to the next.

It may be agreed that decisions taken around staff allocation should be kept confidential amongst staff until close to the end of the school year. This, however, is a matter to be decided by each school. Whatever arrangements are put in place, ensure that all staff are aware of and comply with the school procedures and agreed policies.

Some difficult conversations can often ensue from the class allocation process. The Leadership Support Team is available to discuss the thrust of these conversations and the language used prior to engaging in them. Contact the Support Office on 021 4824070.

12 Feb 2025 - Staffing and Special Education Teacher (SET) Allocation Circulars & Applications for Review

Published: 11 February 2025

The annual staffing circular (0011/2025) and related appendices and SET Allocation circular (0004/2025) issued to schools on Tuesday 11th February. The combination of the two circulars details the total allocation of teaching staff to schools for the 2025/26 school year and the rationale that underpins that allocation.

DE advice to schools damaged by storm Éowyn - notify DE and request to postpone training

Published: 29 January 2025

Wed, 29 January 2025 - Notify DE if significant damage

We understand that many schools have been impacted by the recent storm, with some experiencing damage to buildings and a loss of power or water. We appreciate principals and boards of management are doing everything they can to ensure schools re-open as soon as possible.

The department’s planning and building unit is working closely with a small number of schools that have experienced significant damage. We are offering support and advice on managing the impact, including information about insurance or our Emergency Works Scheme for repairs.

If your school has significant damage that is affecting its operations, please contact us at emergency_works@education.gov.ie.

Your school patron or management body can also provide advice and support in these matters. We recommend that you contact your insurance provider for guidance on handling storm-related damage.

Subcategories

On Your Behalf

Listed below are some of the meetings, events, projects, media/PR and other advocacy-related engagements that were progressed since the start of the school year.