The decision to establish a Centre for School Leadership on a partnership basis between IPPN/NAPD and the DES represents a new departure and presents a unique opportunity for the development of a coherent continuum of professional development for school leaders. It is the shared objective that the Centre will become a centre of excellence for school leadership and the lead provider of supports. The CSL’s responsibility will extend across the continuum of leadership development commencing with pre appointment training through to induction of newly appointed principals to continuous professional development throughout the leader’s career. The Centre will also advise the DES on policy in this area. During the initial phase, the Centre will have a particular focus on the needs of newly appointed principals and experienced principals experiencing professional difficulty and/or challenging situations.
The CSL will:
- Lead, support and advise on a strategic framework for a continuum of leadership development for schools Support, lead and coordinate professional leadership programmes for primary and post primary schools.
- Lead and manage a pilot programme of leadership development for newly appointed principals and a coaching service for serving principals encountering professional difficulty and/or challenging situations
- Support the design, development and delivery of quality continuous professional development (CPD) for leaders utilising innovative approaches with a proven record of success
- Foster a culture of engagement with CPD among school leaders
- Ensure cohesion and consistency across programmes
- Ensure adherence with DES standards for school leadership and Teaching Council CPD framework when available and if appropriate
- Devise a quality assurance framework for the professional development leadership provision
- Work collaboratively with IPPN, NAPD, the DES and its support services, networks and other education partners and providers as appropriate
The vision, mission and value statements have been developed by the team following consultation with stakeholder groups and practitioners throughout the year.
Vision: Our vision is a community of school leaders, who feel supported and valued as professionals and who have access to high quality continuous professional development.
Mission: To bring our vision into reality CSL will ensure the provision of high quality professional development opportunities for aspiring and serving school leaders, thus improving the learning outcomes for school communities
Values: The Centre for school leadership’s work will be guided and informed by the values of trust, respect, collaboration, integrity, professionalism, empathy and openness.
A Steering Group (SG) which is representative of all the partners IPPN, NAPD and DES sets priorities, provides direction, support for the Centre and its Director. The role of the SG is to oversee the work of the Centre for School Leadership in the development of a coherent continuum of professional development for school leaders commencing with pre appointment training through to induction of newly appointed principals to continuous professional development throughout the leader’s career.
The responsibilities of the Steering Group include:
- Setting priorities and providing direction and support for the Centre and its Director.
- Approving and monitoring the Centre’s programme of work annually in line with identified
- Suggesting amendments where appropriate
- Approving the budget for the Centre’s programme of work annually.
- Administrative support for the SG is provided by Clare Education Centre
- Department of Education & Skills - http://www.education.ie/en/
- National Associate of Principals and Deputy Principals -http://www.napd.ie/
- Irish Primary Principals Network - http://www.ippn.ie/
- Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools - http://www.accs.ie/
- Joint Managerial Body - http://www.jmb.ie/
- Education and Training Boards Ireland - http://www.etbi.ie/
- Catholic Primary School Management Association - https://www.cpsma.ie/
- Scottish College for Educational Leadership - http://www.scelscotland.org.uk/
- Teaching Council - http://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/
- National Council for Curriculum and Assessment - http://www.ncca.ie/en/
- Junior Cycle for Teachers - http://www.jct.ie/home/home.php
- Associate of Teachers'/Education Centres in Ireland - http://www.ateci.ie/
- Clare Education Centre - http://www.clareed.ie/
- Irish National Teachers’ Organisation www.into.ie
- Education Board www.ireland.anglican.org
- An Foras Patrúnachta www.foras.ie
- Educate Together www.educatetogether.ie
- National Association of Management Boards of Special Schools www.nambse.ie
- Muslim Primary Education Board www.muslimeducation.ie
- National Council for Special Education www.ncse.ie
