Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:292. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of reinstating the numbers of assistant principals to the highest previous level. [28851/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 4 July 2024
Ceisteanna (292)
Freagraí scríofa
I recognise the key role school leadership has in promoting a school environment which is welcoming, inclusive and accountable
Budget 2017 allowed for the commencement of restoration of middle management posts as part of an agreed distributed leadership model and meant lifting the rigidity of the longstanding moratorium on these posts. The equivalent of approximately 1,300 middle management posts (Assistant Principal I and Assistant Principal II) were restored at both primary and second-level. (2,600 in total)
My Department committed to annually revising the allocation of Posts of Responsibility to take into account retirements during the school year which has ensured that the current level of Posts of Responsibility (PORs) are maintained in the school system. The Sectoral Bargaining process under Building Momentum for the primary sector has been used to increase posts of responsibility (POR) in primary and special schools by 1,450 posts.
Budget 2024 has also provided for an additional 1000 post of responsibility (500 APII posts in both primary and second-level) for the 2024/25 school year and a revised Post of Responsibility Schedule has issued to schools to reflect this increase in Assistant Principal II posts available to schools from September 2024.
In the intervening period to enhance middle management structures in schools, enrolment thresholds for Deputy Principals were altered to allow for additional Deputy Principals in our second-level schools. The number of posts allocated in respect of the Deputy Principal allocation has increased from 393 in 2016 to 1024 for 2024/25 school year i.e. a significant increase of over 630 Deputy Principal posts in 8 years. These additional posts provide resources to focus on leadership and management in our schools.
As a result of Budget 2022, I ensured that all primary schools with a teaching principal have a minimum of 37 Principal Release Days. i.e. one administrative day per week since September 2022. Schools with one special class have 4 additional release days, a total of 41 in the school year and schools with 2 special classes have admin principal status.
Other measures introduced at primary level in the intervening period in relation to School Management structures include:
• all teachers in 2 teacher schools gaining Deputy Principal status as opposed to holding AP II posts.
• Administrative Principal pupil threshold reduced from an enrolment of 178 to 169 with Deputy Admin Principal threshold reduced from and enrolment of 655 to 573.
As well as general teaching posts improvements, a new leadership framework introduced in 2017 allows for flexibility in identifying and prioritising the evolving leadership and management needs of schools. This shared leadership model supports school leaders in the overall management and operation of schools. It provides for the assignment and re-assignment of post holders to specific roles and responsibilities to meet a school’s evolving needs. Today, 1 in 3 primary and second-level teachers hold management positions in our schools.
My Department and I are currently turning our thoughts to Education 2050 and how we take the best elements of our schools and build on this to create a system for future generations. The small schools project is an example of school communities coming together to explore and trail new ideas for the future including how admin supports can assist teaching principals with their administrative duties. It is acknowledged by my department that implementing policies while teaching can be challenging.
As well as general teaching posts improvements, a new leadership framework introduced in 2017 allows for flexibility in identifying and prioritising the evolving leadership and management needs of schools. This shared leadership model supports school leaders in the overall management and operation of schools. It provides for the assignment and re-assignment of post holders to specific roles and responsibilities to meet a school’s evolving needs.
The estimated full-year cost of reinstating the numbers of assistant principals to the highest previous level is €27.7m i.e. €4.4m at primary level and €23.3m at second-level.