+ Leadership The Professional Voice of Primary Principals ISSUE 29 • DECEMBER 2005
If we are serious about providing Quality Learning for our children in the future, we must invest now in Quality Leadership for our schools.
Expectations are high that Benchmarking 2 will finally address and resolve the crisis that exists in recruiting and retaining Primary Principals. Latest evidence of appointments to Principalships during the Summer of 2005 shows a very worrying continuous decline in the number of teachers applying for the post of Principal.
In 2005 Administrative Principalships attracted an average of 2.5 eligible applicants. 12 vacancies had to be re-advertised due to the insufficient number of eligible applicants. If this is not a leadership crisis, what is?
The average number of applicants per vacant Principalship has fallen to 2.3 in 2005 from 2.9 in 2004. The average number of eligible applicants for Teaching Principalships in 2005 is 2.2.
Beannachtaí ar leith dhaoibh a Phríomhoidí agus Phríomhoidí Thánaisteacha Bunscoile na tíre. Rath Dé ar an obair tábhachtach atá idir láimhibh agaibh.
Value for Money ...............................2 Diary of Meetings November......2 Tomás Ó Slatara ................................3 Forbairt.................................................5 Manage yourself - not time!.........6 IPPN Recommendations to the DES Inspectorate ....................8 WSE - Why wait?..............................9 School Planning & Building .......10
IPPN’s report has been prepared by the IPPN Executive as a result of a three stage process. Firstly, a review of IPPN’s The Value of Leadership? (2001) was undertaken. This was followed by widespread consultation with Principals at our 26 county network meetings. The final input came from an analysis of the results of the recent IPPN ‘Fiche Ceist’ survey. Our report provides a clear, dispassionate, evidence based rationale designed to influence the Benchmarking Body through our Union and the Education Partners to address the salary anomalies of Primary Principals.
In Brief ...................................................11 Questions to the NEWB ...............12 The Visiting Teacher Service ......13 Legal Diary ........................................14 Budget Estimates............................16 Updated Primary School Data...16 Island Schools ..................................16 Public Private Partnerships .........17 One Teacher Schools.....................17
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Study Visit to Ontario ....................18 Go Games.........................................20 Online Claim Form ........................22 The National Council for Special Education ................22 Newly-appointed Principals.......23 Empowering Special Schools .....23 2005principals@ippn.ie ...............23 IPPN Conference 2006 ................24
CONTENTS
Guímid Nollaig faoi mhaise ar mhúinteoirí uile na h-Éireann agus ar gach duine a shaothraíonn chun tairbhe an oideachais in Éirinn.
A crucial part of the resolution of this on-going leadership crisis is for Benchmarking 2 to ensure that Primary Principals are financially rewarded commensurate with their leadership function, legal responsibilities and role complexity. If this is to be achieved a separate and appropriate
leadership grade and composite salary structure is a must for Principals. Benchmarking 2 offers the best chance to undo the damage and disappointment of 2002. IPPN has offered to present Principals' views on Benchmarking to the INTO. This offer has been accepted and a report will be forwarded to our Union and made available to our members, the Management Bodies and the DES.