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.