NAPDPRINCIPALS AND DEPUTY PRINCIPALS Leader NAPDNAPD MEETSMEETS THETHE MINISTERMINISTER September A Publication of the National Association of 2014 Principals & Deputy Principals NAPDPRINCIPALS AND DEPUTY PRINCIPALS NAPDPRINCIPALS AND DEPUTY PRINCIPALS CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTSESHA TAKES TO CROATIALeader FOR THE BURNING ISSUES BIG CONFERENCE Page 15Page 22 Page 27 Page 29 Tom Collins Lucy McCullen Dubrovnik Mary & David FEATURES 34 43 The Solas Strategy The Very Useful Guide 7 A critical look at how the Solas strategic plan will impact on Further Education Jan O’Sullivan 48 Pat Maunsell Meeting the newly-appointed Minister Comment for Education and Skills 45 Derek West The New School Leaders ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Listings of recently-made appointments of 12 principals and deputy principals in all nine 6 Droichead Student Voice regions 10 Autumn in-service A challenge for school leadership Domnall Fleming REGULARS 11 Cornmarket Advice 14 Conference 15 NEW!! 4 The Burning Issues Presidential Musings 19 Respecting our Flag Tom Collins shares his insights into the 20 Child Protection Law most pressing concerns issues for Irish 5 education The National Executive 21 Latest ESRI Research Barry O’Callaghan 26 Iguana 22 NEW!! 29 The Leader Reader 27 ESHA Conference The Deputy Principal First in a series considering the special 24 28 Spirit of Community role of the DP Phoenix 36 The Arts Supplement Derek West 42 Regional speakers 32 NAPDPRINCIPALS AND DEPUTY PRINCIPALS 47 Bulletin Board Young Social Innovators Leader Looking for support for a dynamic schools This month’s cover: project Our thanks to Charlie McManus, for taking the portraits of Jan O’Sullivan, paving the way to the interview on Page 7 Bronagh O’Hagan and promising wondrous landscapes in the NAPD Calendar for 2015. NAPD MEETS THE MINISTER September A Publication of the National Association of 2014 Principals & Deputy Principals NAPDPRINCIPALS AND DEPUTY PRINCIPALS 2 NAPD Leader NAPDPRINCIPALS AND DEPUTY PRINCIPALS FROM THE EDITOR FROM THE EDITOR Leader EDITOR: Derek West Email: [email protected] Capturing Diversity Mobile: 087 289 1443 ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS he catch-cry ‘Ar Aghaidh Le Cheile’ has been invoked many times by NAPD. The Association grew out of How to contact Leader the determination of a group of forward-looking You can send your comments, replies, T letters to the editor etc. principals and deputy principals to find a single, united voice for school leaders. Almost fifteen years on, although E: [email protected] Nick West our second-level schools operate in three parallel sectors, Photo: Photo: that voice is becoming stronger and more united. DISCLAIMER This year the Leader would like to capture as much of the diversity of our education sector as Articles produced in this publication we can. We want to hear as many individual voices from across the spectrum. solely represent the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect We are keen to listen specifically to deputy principals, to find out what makes them tick and to those of NAPD. Every effort has been arrive at a deeper understanding of their role and function in our schools. We’re starting with made to fulfil requirements with regard Mary Hanley, formerly of St. Caimin’s in Shannon, just because she’s a consummate to reproducing copyright material. professional, even in her retirement. She was deputy to David Barry’s principal for many years NAPD will be glad to rectify any and we’re asking them both to cast their minds back to that time together and to give us the omissions at the earliest opportunity. benefit of their considerable wisdom. Barry O’Callaghan, who heads the Leading 4 Learning group in NAPD wants to hear about the current burning issues in Irish education. He has started by grilling Tom Collins, who has PUBLISHING INFORMATION occupied a series of key posts at third level, but who has a deep insight into the second-level Published by NAPD scene. You will find him candid and thought-provoking. Layout & Print: We have also been fortunate to meet Jan O’Sullivan, just as she settles into the demanding Mark Daniel post of Minister for Education & Skills. She will find Ruairi Quinn a hard act to follow, but she CRM Design & Print, seems determined to take on the baton of curricular reform and to push the equality agenda. Unit 6, Bridgecourt Office Park, She will not be rushed, but we should not underestimate her determination. Dublin 12. The Leader Reader is different in this edition. It is given over entirely to Lucy McCullen, a Photography: guidance counsellor in Ballincollig Community School. She has written a remarkable book, The Derek West, Paddy Boyle, Guided Way, which gives a powerful account of her work with young people who face a raft of Dermot Carney & Charlie McManus challenging issues. NAPD has supported the publication of her book, which will be distributed to participants at the forthcoming annual conference in Galway. In the Leader, she explains the rationale behind the book. CONTACT INFORMATION We have an extensive Arts Supplement, to encourage schools to participate in Creative 11 Wentworth, Eblana Villas, Engagement [which will be showcased on October 4 in Collins Barracks]. There’s news of an arts Grand Canal Street Lower, conference at the National Gallery, as well as two inspiring articles about the links between Dublin 2 theatre, drama and education. Tel: (01) 662 7025 We’re nailing a new ‘Bulletin Board’ to our pages and we hope that the Regional Fax: (01) 662 7058 Representatives will keep us fully informed of the activities of interest to principals and www.napd.ie deputies around the country. We invite you to let us know what’s coming up [to Email: [email protected] [email protected]]. There’s lots more in this edition – The Very Useful Guide continues to offer practical advice. You can read about Further Education, European Education, the Irish flag, a new school building, the student voice… We welcome the newly-appointed school leaders. Apart from offering them support and advice, we hope to see them joining us, to ensure that the voice of principals and deputy principals continues to be heard loudly and clearly and le chéile. Find NAPD On-Line [www.napd.ie], Derek West, on September 2014 Facebook, Twitter and Vimeo. NAPD Leader 3 PRESIDENTIAL MUSINGS Padraig Flanagan WELCOMES AND DANCE OUR WAY OUT WELL-WISHINGS OF THE LIMBO? May I take this opportunity to wish you Not for the first time, school leaders find all well as you settle into another school themselves in a very difficult position as year. It is often a difficult and demanding Junior Cycle reform remains in limbo. I time for school leaders and I hope you urge Minister O’Sullivan and the Teacher Padraig Flanagan took the opportunity to get a decent Unions to engage in immediate and A quote from the report neatly break over the Summer. meaningful dialogue. There is an obvious summarises the challenges we face as compromise possible as I believe there is school leaders – ‘In the 21st century no In particular, I welcome the two hundred sufficient goodwill on both sides to principal should feel unsupported in the or so newly-appointed school leaders progress the current impasse. However, face of growing job complexity, increased who have commenced their new roles it is imperative that constructive scrutiny, stress from public accountability recently. I expect you will find your job engagement commences immediately. and decreased control over the ways in demanding, but hopefully also rewarding. Otherwise, we are in grave danger of which the accountability targets are met.’ Please remember that NAPD is there to losing the momentum that is so necessary support and guide you, at both local and for curricular reform. national level, as you lead your school. PROGRESSING CPD Over the summer NAPD has participated in a working group tasked by the DES to progress a model of professional development support for school leaders. We have been working to develop a focussed mentoring programme and coaching support for newly appointed principals. Such a programme will then be piloted for an initial three-year period. We are disappointed that this work focuses only on newly-appointed principals and does not include deputy principals. Nevertheless, it has been a worthwhile experience working with Ruairi Quinn colleagues in IPPN, PDST, NIPT, the Jan O’Sullivan Teaching Council and the Inspectorate. I would also like to welcome my Limerick HEALTH/WELL-BEING SURVEY The fruits of our labour will benefit newly neighbour, Jan O’Sullivan, as the new Preliminary results are becoming appointed principals in future and will Minister for Education and Skills. I wish available from our Welfare Committee’s complement the current Misneach her well and I look forward to meeting sponsored survey on health and well- programme. with her in the near future as we seek to being in association with Monash Much remains to be done in the area of achieve greater support for our University. Apart from the heartening professional development for aspiring, leadership role. statistic that most school leaders report recently-appointed and experienced high job satisfaction in their role, there school leaders. We fervently believe that TRIBUTE are very concerning issues arising from NAPD is the body best suited to lead and It is also appropriate that I pay tribute to the survey results. In particular, as a evaluate this professional development in the outgoing Minister Ruairi Quinn. He profession we have real problems with the future. may not have got everything right but he workload and stress. This is hardly news had a genuine interest in education as to any of you but the challenge for us as I look forward to our National well as having a keen appreciation of the an association is to lead the effort to Conference at the Radisson Blu in Galway importance of NAPD in Irish education.