IPPN

Published: 03 October 2017

The Professional Guidance Team has received a large volume of queries from principals on how to calculate the number of assistant posts of responsibility in their schools. The following bullet points address some of the most frequently asked questions that we have received in the support office:

• DES Circular 0063/2017- Leadership and Management in Primary Schools is effective immediately
• Table 4.1.1 of the circular details the number of API and APII posts that a school is eligible to appoint. Appointment figures are based on the number of teaching posts in the previous school year
• The role of principal, mainstream class teachers, special education teachers, home school liaison teacher and other authorised teaching posts are counted when calculating the number of authorised teaching posts in a school. A base school can also count a shared special education teacher
• API and APII Posts are filled through open competition in a school. An unsuccessful candidate may submit an appeal. Details of the procedures are provided in Section 21 of the circular
• Where a school has been approved an API post and an APII post holder is appointed, a school is permitted to fill the APII post, if it is within the threshold of APII posts allocated to the school (Table 4.1.1 )
• Where an API or APII post holder is absent for a minimum of 84 consecutive days or temporarily relinquishes their role, an acting post holder may be appointed (Section 14) subject to the post being within the threshold of API and APII posts allocated to the school
• The role of acting post holder is required to be filled by the next most suitable post holder with the longest service. In schools where there is no other post holder, an acting post should be filled by promoting the next most suitable senior teacher on staff (Section 14.6)
• Where a school has posts in excess of those listed in Table 4.1.1, they will continue to retain these posts unless current post holders retire, resign or leave.