IPPN

Important IPPN Research on School Leaders’ Physical & Emotional Health – COMING SOON!

Published: 25 November 2020

As part of an increasing focus on Sustainable Leadership, IPPN is working with Dr Jolanta Burke and Dr Majella Dempsey of Maynooth University to undertake deep research into primary school leaders’ health, both physical and emotional. This important research had been planned for April/May but the pandemic required that we push it back.

Why participate?

We will need as many school leaders as possible to complete the survey, to ensure that the data is reliable (representative of all school leaders) as well as credible and comprehensive.

The survey results will

allow you to compare your health practices to your peers’ results and see what changes you could make to enhance your wellbeing
provide evidence-based data that we will be able to use in our meetings with education stakeholders to best advocate for the changes that need to be made in your schools in order to improve your and your colleagues’ personal health
help IPPN to structure the necessary support, webinars, conference and training events that best suit you as a school leader
help current and future leaders to shape and streamline their leadership role so that we can ensure sustainable leadership for the future.

We do know the pressures you face on a daily basis. We also know that your physical and emotional health is of paramount importance – to you personally, your family and friends, your colleagues, your pupils and the wider school community. It is also very important to IPPN, and we urge as many school leaders as possible to participate in the research.

When can we complete the survey?

We will launch the survey next week in a dedicated email and will send a link via SMS also. There will be information in E-scéal as well as on ippn.ie and social media.

What else is IPPN doing to make your role more sustainable?

There will be opportunities for school leaders to participate in IPPN research relating to the preparation for leadership, middle leadership, governance and other aspects of sustainable leadership in the coming months. We will keep you informed of our plans via E-scéal, Leadership+ and our other communication channels.

SNA Croke Park Hours

Published: 19 November 2020

Many principals have sought clarity for their Boards of Management in relation to the ‘SNA 72 Croke Park hours’. Fórsa and the DES have issued guidance to schools in relation to these hours. Fórsa have indicated that they are referring this matter to the Workplace Relations Commission. In the meantime, Boards of Managements and the principal, acting on their behalf, should continue to operate the agreed SNA contract and DES Circular 0071/2011.

Click here to view DES Guidance

Click here to view Fórsa Guidance

External research: Beliefs about multilingualism in the primary school classroom

Published: 19 November 2020

School leaders are invited to take part in a research study conducted by Diana Ludusan, as part of a final year undergraduate research project in Clinical Speech and Language Therapy Studies, Trinity College Dublin, along with supervisor Dr. Kathleen McTiernan. The aim of the study is to explore teachers' beliefs about multilingualism in the primary school classroom. The online survey will take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

Your views are important and your contribution would be appreciated. The contribution of your friends and colleagues in the teaching profession is also welcome, so please feel free to forward this message to other teachers.

Click here to access the survey

This project was granted ethical approval by the Research Ethics Committee of the School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences, Trinity College Dublin. All data collected is anonymous. If you wish to withdraw from the survey, you can do so at any point by exiting the survey.

Minor Works – Primary Payment

Published: 19 November 2020

In response to member queries, IPPN sought clarification from the DES regarding the recent announcement of €55 million Minor Works Grant by Minister Norma Foley TD and the significant larger figure per pupil allocated to post primary schools.

The following factors were taken into account by the Department in determining the appropriate levels of minor works grant funding to operate at primary and post-primary levels:

Minor works funding is available to primary schools on an annual basis. There is no similar scheme at post-primary level.
School buildings by their nature are generally much larger at post-primary level than at primary level.
There are a wide variety of specialist rooms and various plant and equipment at post-primary level, that would not be a feature at primary level.
This all added to a greater level of complexity to the management and operation of post-primary schools to have them ready for re-opening for
September 2020 and continue in operation during the school year in a Covid 19 environment.
It is also worth noting that there is a greater level of flexibility in the public health guidance on physical distancing arrangements at primary level compared to post-primary level. This impacted on the scale of reconfiguration works that were needed in post-primary schools to facilitate a full return to school.

A total of €90m minor works funding is being provided to primary schools - €60m was paid in July/August and a further €30m will be paid in early December.

A total of €70m minor works funding is being provided to post-primary schools - €42m was paid in August and a further €25m will be paid in early December. The balance of €3m will be provided to schools that need additional support.

Leadership+ Issue 116 - SMALL SCHOOLS SPECIAL ISSUE

Published: 19 November 2020

In this issue:
Small schools

Climbing with Teaching Principals
Small schools Value for Learning-Rev. Prof. Anne Lodge, Director of the Church of Ireland Centre, DCU Institute of Education
Small Schools: What IPPN is doing
The Dilemma of the Teaching Principal, Shane O'Donnell, Principal of Scoil Bhríde Fourmilehouse, Roscommon
Leading a small, growing school Sarah Richards, Principal of Whitechurch NS, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
Governance in Small Primary Schools, Dr Ken Fennelly, General Synod Board of Education
Balancing the discourse around small schools, Anna Mai Rooney, Deputy Director Primary, CSL

From the Archives:

Time Management for Principals-the Principal’s Plight; To My Grown-Up Son, Tom Feeley
Teaching Principals: A possible approach to timetabling
Teaching Principals: 10 steps for sleeping better at night; The evolution of multi-tasking; 10 self-care commandments for principals
Pat Moore: 'Working smarter, not harder'
Multi-grade Classes: Challenges for Schools and Teachers, Amanda Quail and Emer Smyth, ESRI

Other featured content

Legal Diary: The Custody and Guardianship Headache for Schools, David Ruddy BL
Deputy Principals Standing Shoulder to Shoulder, William John Casey, Deputy Principal, Scoil Barra, Ballincollig
Supporting staff wellbeing in extraordinary times, Noreen Coll, Deputy Principal of St. Kilian’s JNS, Dublin
Keep smiling; modelling resilience, Robbie O'Connell, Principal of St Brendan's NS, Blennerville, Co. Kerry
Direct Provision and Inclusiveness in Education, Dr Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children
Educational Inequality: Insights from the Growing Up in Ireland Study, Prof Selina McCoy, ESRI
Irish Primary School Leadership during COVID-19: Principals’ Report, Amy Fahy, School of Education, TCD
COVID-19 and Irish primary schools, Merike Dermody, ESRI
The Draft Primary Curriculum Framework: An Update on the Consultation Process, NCCA