Focus on Wellbeing & Core Purpose

As you know, Phase 2 of the Irish Principal and Deputy Principal Health and Wellbeing survey commenced in midFebruary. It is crucial that your voice is heard within the research survey to ensure the reality of the impact of school leadership is clearly articulated.

We are very encouraged by the numbers who have registered for and completed the survey to date. We are aware that some of you have registered for the survey but have yet to complete it but trust that you will get an opportunity to do so in the coming weeks. The window for completion of the survey closes on Friday, 7th April, so you still have plenty of time to register and participate. The data will carry more weight if we have high participation rates so we would urge you to take the opportunity to do so, as soon as possible – see E-scéal and ippn.ie for details.

We are confident that the research will generate rich data that will benefit school leadership, schools and the wider education system.

Free School Books Scheme

In our report Primary School Leadership: The Case for Urgent Action – A Roadmap to Sustainability, IPPN’s analysis of the current reality of school leadership clearly demonstrates that school leadership capacity and effectiveness are systematically and irrefutably undermined by the number of tasks and responsibilities that are ascribed to school leaders that have nothing to do with their core purpose.

It is in this context that IPPN recently wrote to the Minister for Education to express school leaders’ concerns with regard to the Free School Book Scheme. While noting that IPPN and school leaders fully support the aspiration to minimise school costs for parents, the letter explained that the concerns centre on the following key issues: the manner in which the scheme will operate the logistical implications for schools and school leaders in terms of its administration the capacity of schools to manage this, and the extent to which it will meet parental expectations.

IPPN put forward recommended actions in this regard. See your weekly E-scéal for updates in relation to this.

In this issue

By External Contributors:

Catríona O’ Reilly – NCCA key updates (in On Your Behalf) Legal Diary – Is the Admissions to School Act working? –David

Ruddy

Anna Pons, OECD – Empowering Students to Shape our Schools and Societies

NCCA – Publication of the Primary Curriculum Framework

David Brennan, associate with PDST – Reverse mentorship and the digital learning framework

DP Carmel Stokes – A tribute re. Tony Cahill RIP, Principal of Monaleen NS, Limerick Rich Burchill – Be the Balance.

By IPPN and the Leadership Support Team:

IPPN Submissions: Literacy, Numeracy & Digital Strategy, Child Protection review, STEM

Damian White – Reflections: Looking at our Schools –from every angle

Brian O’Doherty – The President’s Pen: Are we really in this together?

Jack Durkan – Building the team

Angela Lynch – Wellbeing as a health and safety issue

Jennifer McCarthy – Autumn meetings schedule, Ciall Ceannaithe summer course

Geraldine D’Arcy – Editorial, Submissions, On Your Behalf, ippn.ie resources, And Finally, Deputy Principals’ Conference 2023 overview

Reminder: Airgead Bunscoile – No new versions after 2022/23.

We sincerely thank all our contributors, our advertisers and everyone who is involved in bringing you each issue of Leadership+

Your content suggestions are very welcome to editor@ippn.ie. Note the editorial guidelines on www.ippn.ie under Supports – Leadership+.

Is sinne le meas, Leadership+ Editorial Team

Brian O’Doherty Páiric Clerkin Geraldine D’Arcy President CEO Editor