Approved Allocation of Teaching Posts for the 2007/08 School Year - Secondary Schools (File

31 January 2007

VOLUNTARY SECONDARY SCHOOLS

APPROVED ALLOCATION OF TEACHING POSTS

2007/08 SCHOOL YEAR

1.Authorised allocation of teaching posts for the 2007/08 school year

(a) For the purposes of section 24(2) of the Education Act 1998, the allocation of teaching posts for the 2007/08 school year is calculated in accordance with the following rules and is based on the school’s recognised pupil enrolment on approved courses on 30th September 2006.

(b) In accordance with the terms of the new social partnership agreement “Towards 2016”, the relevant parties have agreed to enter into discussions in relation to the re-deployment of teachers so that new arrangements can operate in respect of the 2007/08 school year. Please note that no permanent vacancies may be filled pending the outcome of these discussions. The Department will notify schools of the new arrangements in due course. The school authority may, subject to all requirements, proceed to make other teaching appointments within the limits of the approved allocation.

(c) Schools should not enter into any final contractual commitments in respect of teaching appointments, whether new or extended, for the 2007/08 school year until it is fully satisfied in all respects that the commitment can be met from within the approved allocation as notified in writing by the Department.

2.Criteria on which the approved teacher allocation is based

2.1Pupil-Teacher Ratio

A proportion of posts in the allocation are determined on prescribed ratios of recognised pupils to teachers on a range of approved programmes as follows

a)A ratio of 18:1 is applied in respect of recognised pupils on established Junior Certificate (incl. JCSP), Leaving Certificate, repeat Leaving Certificate and Transition Year Programme. The teacher allocation derived from this calculation is rounded up to the next whole unit where the decimal is .83 or higher and is rounded down where the decimal is less than .83.

b)A ratio of 16:1 is applied in respect of recognised pupils on the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP). Schools undertaking the LVCP will not be disadvantaged in teacher allocation relative to their position if they had not been pursuing LCVP. In any case where an LCVP allocation at 16:1 gives rise to a reduction in the number of full posts allocated to a school, the allocation entitlement may be recalculated to ensure that the number of permanent posts is no less than the school would otherwise receive.

c)A ratio of 20:1.25 is applied in respect of each full group of 20 recognised pupils on the Post Leaving Certificate Programme.

d)An enhanced allocation is also provided in respect of the Leaving Certificate Applied. The first group of 20 participating pupils, irrespective of the programme year, will attract an allocation of 1.5 whole-time teacher equivalents. This allocation will apply in the case of the first group even where the actual take-up of approved places is fewer than 20. Each additional group of 20 participating pupils will attract an allocation of 1.25 WTE. Where there are less than 20 pupils in a group, the pupils concerned are included within the 18:1 ratio referred to in paragraph a) above.

e)An additional .25 teacher allocation is granted to each participating school for each group of up to and including 45 recognised pupils participating in the Junior Certificate School Programme subject to a maximum of 135 pupils. A school is restricted to one group of a maximum 45 JCSP pupils in the year it commences JCSP and in the following two school years.

2.2Ex quota

In addition to teacher allocations based largely on pupil teacher ratios described in paragraph 2.1 above, a number of ex-quota allocations are made in accordance with the following criteria:-

2.2.1aPrincipal:

Each school is allocated a post in respect of Principal.

2.2.1b Deputy Principal:

An ex-quota Deputy Principal Post is allocated to each school with an enrolment of at least 500 recognised pupils (such posts are filled in-quota in smaller schools). A second ex-quota Deputy Principal post is allocated to each school in the free education scheme or block grant scheme with a minimum enrolment of 1,000 or designated disadvantaged schools with a minimum enrolment of 900.

2.2.2Remedial/Learning Support:

Each school in the free education scheme or block grant scheme with an enrolment of less than 600 recognised pupils (excluding pupils on PLC Programmes) receives an allocation of .5 of a post. Schools with an enrolment of 600 such pupils and more receive a full post. Certain schools, which prior to 1989/90 had been allocated a permanent remedial teaching allocation in excess of the allocation determined by this formula, will be allowed to retain the higher allocation for 2007/08.

2.2.3aGuidance Counselling:

In accordance with the terms of PPT12/05, each school in the free education scheme or block grant scheme is granted an allocation on the following basis:

Schools participating in the DEIS programme will receive an allocation in accordance with the following schedule:

Schools outside the free education/block grant scheme with an enrolment of 500 or more receive an allocation of 1 post, while such schools with an enrolment of between 350 and 499 receive an allocation of .5 of a post.

2.2.3bGuidance Enhancement Initiative:

Allocations were made to schools which were selected under the Guidance Enhancement Initiative (GEI). The GEI has been extended for the 2007/08 school year and allocations made under this initiative will be taken into account in determining a school’s allocation on foot of the above schedules. Thus a school will receive the higher of the allocation warranted by the relevant schedule above or the allocation under the arrangements in place prior to the issue of circular PPT12/05.

2.2.4aDesignated Disadvantage:

Additional posts were allocated to designated secondary schools under different disadvantaged areas schemes implemented in 1988/89, 1990/91, 1991/92 and 1994/95. Under these schemes, designated schools are allocated an additional ex-quota post. A small number of schools are allocated more than one such post. These allocations will continue in 2007/08 for schools continuing to cater for pupils up to leaving certificate level.

2.2.4bHome School Community Liaison:

A half post is allocated to each designated school under the different disadvantaged areas schemes implemented in 1988/89, 1990/91, 1991/92 and 1994/95 who are participating in the Home School Community Liaison Scheme. A number of schools which were not designated in the above schemes but who were admitted in 1995/96 to the Home School Community Liaison Scheme are allocated a full ex quota post. This allocation is made subject to the school authority assigning a teacher full-time to HSCL duties to accord with HSCL Scheme requirements. These allocations will continue in 2007/08 for schools continuing to cater for pupils up to leaving certificate level.

2.2.5Irish Language:

An additional post is allocated in respect of each designated all-Irish school (School Classification 1).

2.2.6Permanent Resource posts:

These posts were allocated in previous years to some schools to support special classes/groups with identified special needs. Other schools requiring additional teaching resources for special classes/groups/pupils should make application under paragraph 3. below.

2.2.7Remedial/Guidance:

These posts were allocated in 1986/87 following applications made in respect of a number of schools cateringfor disadvantaged pupils. This allocation will continue in 2007/08.

3.Requests for adjustment to the teacher allocation:

Requests for adjustment to the teacher allocation will be considered by the Department in the following areas. Any such requests should be made before 28th February 2007 except where otherwise indicated.

3.1Errorsin the calculation of the initial allocation: While every effort has been made to ensure that the base data used to produce this provisional allocation is accurate, the school authority should satisfy itself that the data is correct and reflects the returns already made by the school in respect of its pupils and teachers.

3.2Short term support for teaching in specific curricular areas affected by skills shortfalls or by staff allocation reductions which it has not yet been possible for the school management to meet within allocation and which it has not yet been possible to resolve through the normal planning and management processes.

Regulatory guidelines in respect of any such applications are set out in Appendix 1 attached.

3.3Projected increase in enrolment, which cannot be served within the approved allocation: Applications (on form CC07/08, part 2) will be considered on the basis of 95% of the projected total enrolment. Schools will be notified if any additional allocation is warranted by the projected numbers but additional allocations will not be sanctioned until the actual enrolment is confirmed. No contracts should be entered into with teachers in respect of projected enrolment until such time as the schoolauthority is satisfied that the increased enrolment has fully materialised. Enrolment figures will be reviewed in September and the allocation granted based on 95% of the total actual September 2007 enrolment.

3.4Programme Co-ordinator: In accordance with the terms of Circular Letter PPT 17/02, School authorities within their teacher quotawill be compensated by way of a curricular concession for loss of teaching hours as a result of the programme co-ordinator appointment.

3.5Special needs pupils: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO), will process applications for additional teaching supportand Special Needs Assistant support for pupils with special educational needs. In accordance with Circular Letter PPT 01/05, school authorities within their teacher quota may proceed to make the necessary staffing adjustments on receipt of the decision of the SENO. For this purpose the teacher quota is as determined at the date of the initial schedule of Department supported posts. All other schools, including those where the surplus position changes subsequent to the date of the initial schedule, should await the direction of the Department of Education and Science before making any teacher staff adjustments. Application forms for additional teaching support and special needs assistant support will issue directly from the NCSE.

3.6Traveller enrolments: Additional teaching hours are generally allocated to schools on the basis of an additional .07 teacher per Traveller pupil enrolled. Schools must notify its enrolment of Traveller pupils in order to draw down the allocation. Form T07/08 should be completed and certified by school authorities to claim this allocation. It is envisaged that applications will be made by the normal closing date, but applications in respect of late enrolments may be considered. This allocation will be made on a provisional basis subject to confirmation by the school authority of actual attendance by the pupils by their inclusion in the school’s certified October Returns.

If pupils are not in attendance the provisional allocation will be withdrawn.

3.7Refugees/Non Nationals: Additional teaching hours are made available for schools catering for non national pupils with significant English language deficits in accordance with table 1. These extra resources are available for a maximum period of two years for an individual pupil. It is necessary for schools to apply for the additional allocation certifying the number of such pupils enrolled. Schools should ensure that applications are only made in respect of qualifying pupils who have not already received the provision for the maximum of two years (including provision made in other post primary or primary schools). It is envisaged that applications will be made by the normal closing date, but applications in respect of late enrolments may be considered.

Table 1. Allocation of additional hours to cater for significant English language deficit of non national pupils.

Claims for continuation or first allocation of these resources should be made on form NN 07/08.

This allocation will be made on a provisional basis subject to confirmation by

the school authority of actual attendance by the pupils by their inclusion in

the school’s certified October Returns.

If pupils are not in attendance the provisional allocation will be withdrawn.

3.8Where schools have supernumerary posts (i.e. permanent/CID posts in excess of entitlement) it is envisaged that these posts (where retained) will be deployed by the school authority to meet additional teaching needs in respect of additional allocations approved by this Department under paragraph 3. of this letter.

4. Quota Position

It is necessary to clearly establish the school’s current and projected teaching staff appointments position relative to its approved allocation for 2007/08. This is necessary to enable surplus posts and vacancies to be identified. It is necessary for the school to identify current teachers in 2006/07 who will be leaving or teachers returning to the school for 2007/08. A standard form CP1 has been issued to all schools which shows the current appointments position. Please complete this form and amend where necessary before returning it to the Department.

In addition to form CP1 the school is required to complete form CID3 identifying those teachers to whom a CID contract will be granted in the 2007/08 school year. Please note that the form must be completed and returned, even where the return is nil.

5. Appeals against Decisions by Department regarding initial or additional allocations

The Minister for Education and Science has established an Appeals Committee which will operate independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision will be final. The Appeals Committee will consider appeals by school authorities against decisions of the Department of Education and Science in regard to teaching staff allocations to Second Level Schools and to Vocational Education Committees for the 2007/08 school year. Detail of the appeals procedure is set out in Appendix 2.

6. Forms

Associated forms are available on the Department’s Website at

under Education Personnel > Post-Primary >Teacher Allocations.

A. Killian

Principal Officer

Post Primary Teacher Section

Department of Education & Science

Athlone

Co. Westmeath

List of forms and Closing Dates – 2007/08

* All schools must return forms CP1 and CID3
APPENDIX 1

Second Level Teacher Allocations 2007/08

Additional Teaching Support for essential Curriculum Needs (Curricular Concessions)

Regulatory Guidelines

1.Introduction

Each school management authority is required to organise its curriculum, teaching timetable and subject options having regard to pupils’ needs within the limits of the approved normal staffing allocation made in accordance with criteria and policies agreed by the Minister for Education and Science from time to time.

A school authority may from time to time encounter unanticipated difficulty (which it has not been in a position to immediately resolve through its school planning and management processes) in meeting essential curricular commitments to pupils within the normal staffing allocation. In such circumstances, the Department will as an exceptional matter consider requests by a school authority for a staffing concession as short-term support.

Any applications should clearly demonstrate how the management authority has engaged in effective school planning and inter-school co-operation, where appropriate, to ensure local needs are most effectively and efficiently met. A school authority will have carried out a full review before submitting an application for additional teaching support.

2.Application for short term support (Curricular Concession)

Applications may be made by school authorities to the Department of Education and Science, Post Primary Teacher Allocations Section, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.

All applications for curricular concessions must be on the approved standard application form,

CC07/08.

In general only one application per school authority for the 2007/08 school year may be made. Schools are requested to submit a typed version of the application. The closing date for applications is 28th February 2007. Late applications arising from career breaks and job sharing decisions will be accepted up to 7th March 2007. Other late applications will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances. School authorities are advised to obtain proof of postage. The Department intends to notify decisions to School Authorities by Mid April 2007.

Applications must set out relevant supporting information as clearly and succinctly as possible on the application form provided. It is the responsibility of school authorities to ensure that its application is complete, clear, and accurate and on time. As applications will need to be processed in a short time period, the scope for further communication by the Department with schools on the details of applications is extremely limited.

Applications should only relate to curricular concessions. Separate procedures and criteria will apply in the case of applications for additional teaching resources by school authorities for pupils with special needs, Travellers and non-nationals with significant English language deficits. Educational Disadvantage is also dealt with under separate programmes. Increased allocations will not be granted in respect of ex-quota allocations (including Principal, Deputy-Principals, Guidance, Remedial/Learning Support, Disadvantage and Home School Community Liaison) other than in accordance with general policy.

3.Criteria on which applications will be considered

Applications may be granted by the Department where a school authority shows that sudden and unanticipated staff changes have resulted in pupils not being able to continue the study of a particular subject to the end of their programme. It is expected that save in most unusual circumstances, this will only arise where a school is in a developing or declining enrolment situation.

4.School Management Action

A school management authority which decides that it is necessary to apply for a curricular concession will be expected to confirm and demonstrate in its application;-