IPPN

Published: 11 October 2018

IPPN’s Professional Guidance Team has experienced an increase in the number of queries being received from our members on the options available to them in filling an Acting Post.

Before appointing a teacher to an Acting Post, the Board of Management must ensure that the acting post is warranted.

Acting Appointments may be either:

• Short-term – Absences less than one school year i.e. start during the school year and do not extend beyond the end of the school year
• Long-term – Absences that are a minimum period of one school year

How to fill short-term acting posts:
Acting Principal - The Deputy Principal should be promoted to fill an Acting Principal's post. If the Deputy Principal decides not to act, the Deputy Principal’s allowance could cease to be paid for the duration of the acting period. In this instance, the next most senior Assistant Principal I post holder is appointed. In schools without an Assistant Principal I, the most senior suitable Assistant Principal II may be appointed as acting Deputy Principal.

Acting Assistant Principal I – The most senior suitable Assistant Principal II post holder shall be promoted to fill an Acting Assistant Principal I post.

Acting Assistant Principal II - Filled by the promotion of the most senior suitable teacher within the staff.

How to fill long-term acting posts:
A Board of Management may fill long-term acting posts following the same steps as short-term acting posts in the schools.
It is a decision for each Board of Management to decide on the options to fill an acting post in the school which meets the leadership demands of the role and is considered to be in the best interests of the children. A Board may decide to fill these posts through internal competition.

Click here to view DES Circular 63/2017 - Leadership and management in primary schools