22nd May 2007 - Schools - North and South - Get their heads together
20 Headteachers from primary schools across Northern Ireland are visiting and working with primary school principals in the south this week. The exchange visits began last year following a joint conference between the Irish Primary Principals Network and the National Association of Headteachers - the professional associations of primary school principals in both parts of the country.
"In the context of the historic events of this week with the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the beginnings of closer all-Ireland ties, this is a very good example of the type of co-operation and closer working relationships we can look forward to in the coming years." Said Tomás O Slatara, President of IPPN.
"Although our education systems are different, there are many common issues and challenges. We learn lots by visiting and working together with our colleagues in different schools." Said John McGrath, President of NAHT (NI). "As school leaders, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) are coming together to focus on the issue of Cultural Diversity. With an ever increasing migrant worker population it is an issue which is evident on both sides of the border and is affecting schools in both jurisdictions in many similar, and yet many different, ways. The nationalities are diverse - Portuguese, Polish, Brazilian, Latvian, Lithuanian, East Timorese, Russian - to name a few, and each culture brings its own issues and challenges to the school door"
IPPN Executive member Gerry Murphy, St Joseph's Dundalk, hopes that "those schools already dealing with 'newcomer' children will explore along with the education partners how other schools have tackled the issue and also share their own good practice with other schools both in Northern Ireland and in the Republic. There are schools in which cultural diversity is not a challenge or an opportunity, yet, and we hope they will go home from these visits more prepared for when it finally does reach their school community."
This timely and historic initiative is receiving financial and other support from the DES and DENI and in particular from NcompasS through Léargas and British Council.
The Headteachers from Northern Ireland are visiting schools in Offaly. Louth, Roscommon, Clare, Tipperary and Donegal.
15th January 2007 - Diary Note: IPPN Annual Conference Killarney, 25th to 27th January
IPPN's Annual Conference takes place in the INEC, Killarney from Thursday 25th January to Saturday, 27th January 2007.
The theme of this year's conference is "Changing Ireland".
The Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) is the professional association of Irish primary school principals and deputy principals. With over 6,000 members from over 95% of all primary schools, the IPPN, established in 2000, has grown to become the authoritative voice of school leaders at primary level.
The conference always attracts a large attendance and this year, 700 school leaders will gather for three days to hear inputs from leading commentators and to attend workshops on a wide variety of topics. There will be a special Press Briefing on Thursday at 1.00 p.m. followed by lunch. Please let us know of any special requirements you may have with regard to timing of live interviews or print deadlines. We have IPPN spokespersons available on a wide range of education topics including:
- Special Education Needs
- New Irish Children
- Small Schools, Rural Schools
- Educational Disadvantage
- Information and Communication Technology
- School funding
Media Contacts:
John Curran - PRO - 087 231 4259 and 087 296 9168- pro@ippn.ie
Seán Cottrell - Director - 086 6478717
Tomás O Slatara - President - 087 2420118
IPPN Support Office - 1890 21 22 23
Keynote Speakers:
Terry Prone will be the facilitator over the three days and the conference will be addressed by
- Mary Hanafin, T.D., Minister for Education and Science
- David McWilliams, Economist, Journalist, Broadcaster, Author
- Emily Logan, Ombudsman for Children
- Sorina Selaru, the perspective of a "New Irish" parent
- Tomas Ó Slatara - President IPPN
- Seán Cottrell - Director IPPN
- Fergus Finlay - Barnardos - will facilitate a workshop.
Workshops:
A variety of practical workshops are available for principals to broaden their knowledge and hone their skills in a number of professional areas:
- Multigrade Teaching - Practical Strategies - Noel Loftus
- Staff Meetings - A Practical Guide to Success - Cóilín Ó Coigligh
- The School Plan - From the Shelf to the Classroom - Úna Feeley
- Handling Challenging Situations - using emotionally intelligent techniques - LDS Team
- In-School Management- In the smaller school - Bernard McHale
- Curriculum Leadership - In a Changing
- Marie McLoughlin
- Coping with Change - Courageous & Principled Leadership - Fergus Finlay
- Cultural Diversity - Alvina Grosu
- Preparing for Retirement - the Principal's Perspective - Gus Murray, Jim Hayes
- Achieving Work/Life Balance - Ruth Handy
Timetable
Thursday, 25th January
12.00 Trade Exhibition Opens
13.00 PRESS BRIEFING
15.00 Conference Registration Opens
18.00 President's Buffet & Reception
19.30 Conference Opening - Terry Prone
19.40 Fáilte an Uachtaráin - Tomás Ó Slatara, President, IPPN
20.10 International Confederation of Principals - Kate Griffin, President of ICP
20.20 Through the eyes of the Child - Emily Logan, Ombudsman for Children
21.00 Close
Friday, 26th January
09.00 Minister for Education - Mary Hanafin TD
09.40 Changing
- Seán Cottrell, Director, IPPN
10.10 Conference Exhibition & Refreshments
11.15 Concurrent Workshops - Session 1
12.30 Lunch / Exhibition
14.00 The Perspective of a New Irish parent - Sorina Selaru
14.15 GiorraíÂonn Beirt Bóthar:
Distributing Leadership Gerry Murphy, Marcella Ó Conluain
16.15 Conference Exhibition & Refreshments
15.00 Concurrent Workshops - Session 2
19:30 Gala Dinner
Saturday, 27th January
09.00 Conference Exhibition & Refreshments
10.00 OECD - Improving School Leadership
Paddy Flood and Virginia O'Mahony
10.15 Primary Education - Sound Economics? - David McWilliams
11.15 Questions & Answers
Panel facilitated by Terry Prone
12.15 Conference Exhibition
12:45 Lunch
14:00 Conference Close
15th November 2006 - How much is a childs Primary Education worth? - 77 cent a day?
How much is a child's primary education worth? - 77cent a day?
A recent survey of 200 primary schools conducted by IPPN (the Irish Primary Principals Network) has found that 97% of our primary schools do not receive enough to cover their basic running costs and 80% of schools depend on fundraising from parents to cover the shortfall.
Primary schools get €141 per child every year. This is to cover the basic costs of keeping the building open and operating so that teaching and learning can take place. It is meant to pay for heat, light, insurance, telephone, cleaning, and security as well as Art and Craft supplies, PE equipment, science materials, books, software and other educational resources for use by children.
13th November 2006 - Improved Administrative Support for Primary Principals
Following many years of raising the matter with the DES, we are pleased to inform you that three welcome improvements have been announced by the Minister which will provide better administrative capacity for Principals in a small number of schools.
The measures announced include:
- full-time administrative deputy principal in schools of 24 or more mainstream class teachers
- A full time administrative deputy principal in schools with five or more special classes - excluding dyslexia & mild general learning disabilities
- A full time administrative principal in schools with 4 or 5 teachers where there is an autism unit approved by the NCSE.
