Symposium on Strengthening & Supporting Small Schools John - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Symposium on Strengthening & Supporting Small Schools

John Boyle, General Secretary

26 June 2019

Recruiting retaining and supporting teachers

• 1. Appointment and Retention Figures in 2,3 and 4 teacher schools:

Rationale for appointment figures of 18, 48 and 78 respectively. Budget 2020 must reduce teacher appointment figures in small schools to pre-recession levels.

• 2. Payment of outstanding award to principals: The 2007

adjudication in favour of primary school leaders must be paid. The award would increase the principal’s allowance from €9,310 to €12,238 in 1-5 teacher schools.

• 3. Classroom assistants: Provision of a classroom assistant to all one-

teacher schools.

Lif ifting Workload Burdens

a) Recognition of the challenge of teaching multiple classes: Preferential class sizes and adequate PDST support for teachers in these settings. b) Administrative load on Teaching Principal: Provision of one release day (leadership and management day) per week to all schools with teaching principals. c) Provision of “cluster posts”: Permanent positions to cover principal release days in clusters of 5 small schools. d) Administrative Staff: Caretakers and Secretaries to be available to all small schools.

Supporting schools wit ith declining enrolment

a) Agreed protocol: When school enrolment falls below required thresholds. b) Link to pre-schools: Closer links between early childhood and care settings and primary schools. c) Professional support: Professional support networks for teachers in clusters of small schools.