2nd February 2002 - First Time Ever that Management Consultants Examine School Principals Role
First time ever that Management Consultants examine school Principal's role
HayGroup Management Consultants have been commissioned by the Irish Primary Principals' Network to analyse, profile and define the role of a principal teacher in a primary school. This is the first such ever involvement of independent management consultants to evaluate a particular role within the Irish education system. The results may have far reaching consequences for how primary schools are managed given the clear dissatisfaction currently with the role of principal as voiced by principals themselves and evidenced by the alarming fall off in the number of teachers applying for vacancies.
With 75% of principals also engaged in full time class teaching and an overburdening level of administration in large primary schools, IPPN has initiated a process which will independently analyse the role of principal teacher. All the Education Partners have been invited to part-take in this review, 3,300 principals have been surveyed and specific attention being given to the model of school leadership in countries like Finland, Denmark and New Zealand where increased emphasis on the structure and quality of school management correlate to the high standard of pupil performance.
Ends
Further information from:
Seán Cottrell Jim Hayes Tomas O Slatara
Director, IPPN President, IPPN PRO, IPPN
1890 212223
2nd February 2002 - IPPN Second Annual Conference
The Irish Primary Principals' Network 2nd Annual Conference
THEME: "The Challenge of Leadership"
DATES: Thursday 7th - Saturday 9th February 2002
VENUE: Corrib Great Southern Hotel, Galway
The largest ever gathering of primary schools principals will meet in Galway later this week at the start of the 2nd annual conference of the Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN). The development of best practice in school leadership is a key aim for IPPN and the keynote address at this year's conference entitled "Challenges for education leaders in the 21st century", will be given by Dr. Ed Walsh, President Emeritus, University of Limerick. (Copy of keynote address to follow.)
Management Consultants to examine Primary School Principals' Role
In an unprecedented move, IPPN has commissioned international experts Hay Management Consultants to analyse, profile and define the role of the principal teacher in a primary school. This is the first ever involvement of independent management consultants in evaluating a particular role within the Irish education system. The results will have far reaching consequences for the management of the States 3,400 primary schools. IPPN has initiated this review to progress a radical reform of how primary schools are managed.
In addition to 3,400 primary principals, all the education partners have been invited to participate in this unique external evaluation of a key role in education. This development takes place at a time when:
- Alarming figures showing a continuous slide in the number of teachers applying for principalship - 1996 : 6 applicants per vacancy - 2001 : 3.5 applicants per vacancy
- Increasing numbers of schools receive no applications for vacant principalships.
- 75% of principals are still required to teach fulltime.
- Parental expectations of primary education are increasing and becoming more diverse.
- Compliance with legislation and government policy places a huge onus on principal teachers
- The challenge of integrating children with special needs into mainstream schools has increased the responsibility and workload of many principals.
â€Â¢ Inadequate administrative support while school administration grows exponentially
IPPN has committed itself to leading the way in opening up a national debate on leadership in primary education. The crisis facing the role of the principals is symptomatic of an education system needing radical overhaul and structural reform. This conference will challenge our understanding of how schools will be led and managed in the future.
Further information from:
Seán Cottrell, : Tel: 086 6478717 and 1890 21 22 23
Director, IPPN
Tomás Ó Slatara,: Tel: 087 6486801
PRO, IPPN
Eamonn Drea, Managing Director : Tel: 01 6765994
Hay Management Consultants
IPPN Conference 2002 Programme
Thurs. 7th February.
19.30: "Leadership in Review" - Mr. Jim Hayes, President IPPN.
20.00: "Principalship for the Future"- Gearóid Uas. Ó Conluain, Deputy Chief Inspector DES
21.00: President's Reception.
Fri. 8th February.
09.00: Official Opening by Mr. John Dennehy, Secretary General, Dept. of Education and Science.
09.30: Keynote address-"Challenges for Educational Leaders in the 21st century"
-Dr. E. Walsh, President Emeritus, University of Limerick.
11.30: "School Leadership, Roles, Rights and Responsibilities"
-Mr. Seán Cottrell, National Director, IPPN.
13.30: Press Conference:
Seminars:
14.00: "The Role of Principal-What the Legislation Means"
- Mr. T. Boland, Principal, Legal Services, Dept. of Education & Science.
14.00: "21st Century Principals-21st Century Skills"
-Mr. Michael Farrell, Administrative Secretary, UCC.
14.00: "Principals and Boards of Management- A Vision for the future"
- Sr. Eileen Randles, General Secretary, CPSMA.
14.00: "The Role of Principal- An Independent Analysis"
-Mr. Frank Hartle, Education Consultant, Hay Management Consultants.
Sat. 9th February.
09.00: "School Leadership in the 21st Century"
-Mr. John Carr, General Secretary Designate, INTO.
09.45: "Special Education-Principal Issues"
- Ian O'Herlihy, Partner, Arthur O'Hagan, Solicitors
- David Ruddy, B.Ed.,Dip.,Law, B.L., Principal, Talbot N.S., Clondalkin, Dublin.
11.15: "Questions and Answers"- Chaired by Ms. Teri Garvey, RTE.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Seán Cottrell, Director 1890 21 22 23 (office) 086 6478717
Tomas Ó Slatara, PRO 087 6486801
27th November 2001 - IPPN Commission HayGroup to review the role of Principal Teacher
The Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) has commissioned independent management consultants to review the role of principal teacher.
The role of principal teacher has changed radically in the last five years. Parents, teachers, Dept. of Education and society at large have significantly increased expectations of the principal's role. Parallel to these changes many principals are seeking to relinquish their role and very few younger teachers are applying for principalships.
In response to these developments, the IPPN commissioned Hay Management Consultants to carry out an independent evaluation of the primary principals role. This is the first independent evaluation of the role of principal to be carried out in Ireland. It is designed to lead towards a redefinition of a principal's role in professional management and leadership terms, which will be appropriate to the needs of primary schools.
The process will be inclusive of all Education Partners and is designed to provoke fresh thinking on educational leadership. IPPN research indicates that there is an imminent crisis facing school leadership. A radical and holistic review of the role of principal as well as current school management structures is required to address this problem. IPPN envisages this evaluation process will challenge all principals and Education Partners to think differently about the future role of the principal.
IPPN is leading the process with the Hay questionnaire to all principals.
Hay Management Consultancy
Role profile and evaluation - The Primary Principal
Process:
1. Questionnaire to all primary principals
2. Four focus groups (principals) to process key themes and issues from questionnaires.
3. All Education Partners to submit their experience and vision of school leadership based on their own perspective.
4. Examination and collation of leading international research on leadership in education.
5. IPPN Conference 2002 - Public debate (involving all stakeholders) on the future of primary principalship.
5th July 2001 - Irish Principals support Colleagues in Tajikistan
Irish Principals Support Colleagues in Tajikistan
When Sean Cottréll, Director of the Irish Primary Principals' Network received a telephone call from Save the Children Fund, asking could IPPN help, the response from the IPPN office was "how, what, why, when and we will provide the who".
Sean Cottréll together with four other principal teachers, Carol Barrett, Grainne Duggan, Máire Fenton and Noel Brennan will be set off today (06-07-01) to travel to the Republic of Tajikistan in central Asia for six weeks. The purpose of this venture is to:
- Deliver a series of workshops to head teachers on school management, classroom management, appropriate curriculum development and how to address the needs of children with physical and mental handicap.
- Tajikistan, bordering Afghanistan is a former Republic of the Soviet Union independent since 1991. After five years of civil war the country suffered extreme drought which has resulted in the education system being ravaged by the negative impact of the market economy which has resulted in virtually no finance for public services
- The five teachers are going on a voluntary basis this summer with a view to providing an appropriate intervention to their counterparts in Tajikistan. The project is co-ordinated and sponsored by Save the Children Fund.
- Irish Primary Principals' Network is a professional association for principal teachers dedicated to their professional development and the advancement of their experience towards education policy. This is the first involvement of IPPN with principal teachers in a developing country.
