Mayo school principals call for more deputy principals

MAYO school principals have joined colleagues from Ireland’s Education & Training Boards (ETBs), including Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim ETB, in calling for an increase in the allocation of deputy principals in ETB post primary schools with DEIS designation.

Over 300 delegates attended the ETBI Principals & Deputy Principals Conference 2024, which heard calls for more deputy principals to address the ‘high administrative burden’ on principals.

Education and Training Boards Ireland has called on the Department of Education to increase the allocation by between 0.5 and one deputy principal per school, depending on its size.

Paddy Lavelle, General Secretary of Education and Training Boards Ireland said: “The Deputy Principal role is a crucial one: the high administrative burden placed on Principals means the Deputy Principal is, typically, the staff-member available to identify challenges or risks for the student body or individual students; to provide support to students experiencing difficulties; to keep a watching eye on at-risk students and to liaise with other support services to ensure all students get the care and attention they need.

“From the feedback we’ve received from our principals, this increase will help relieve the administrative burden and free them up for a greater focus on Teaching and Learning, providing increased support for student support and wellbeing, and professional support for their teachers,” Mr Lavelle added.

“The allocation of more deputy principals can transform a school, freeing up school leaders to support students and teachers develop relationships where talent can shine,” said Dr Katriona O’Sullivan, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science in Maynooth University, and bestselling author of ‘Poor’.