Written Answers. - School Staffing.
Paul McGrath
Question:
121
Mr. P. McGrath
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if he will urgently review the staffing provision at a primary school (details supplied) which is due to lose two teachers in September 2003; and if, given that this school is classified a disadvantaged school and enrolment numbers for September 2003 are to increase dramatically, he will agree to the retention of one of those staff members.
[12475/03]
The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. This is in accordance with guidelines agreed between my Department and the education partners.
The enrolment of the school in question has decreased from 87 pupils on 30 September 2001 to 74 pupils on 30 September 2002. This latter enrolment will entitle the school to a staffing of a principal and two mainstream class teachers for the 2003-04 school year.
The school also has a concessionary post which was allocated when the school amalgamated in September 2000. Where such a concessionary post is granted, the school retains the additional teacher for as long as the staff involved at the time of the amalgamation remain in the school. If a teacher who is on the staff of the school at the time of the amalgamation voluntarily leaves the school after one year from the date of the amalgamation, the concessionary post is withdrawn and staffing is determined solely by reference to the mainstream staffing schedule. However, in such circumstances, where a teacher leaves during the school year, a temporary teacher may be appointed to the end of the school year.
The new disadvantage programme, Giving Children an Even Break, was launched in January 2001 to tackle educational disadvantage at primary level. This programme subsumes the previous process of designation of schools that serve areas of educational disadvantage. My Department's approach is now refined to ensure that the individual "at risk" pupils are targeted. Rather than the old method of designating additional schools, my Department provides support that is commensurate with the levels of concentration in schools of pupils with characteristics that are associated with educational disadvantage and early school leaving. The school referred to by the Deputy is included in the rural dimension of the programme and is benefiting from the allocation of supplementary grant aid towards providing additional educational supports for the children concerned.
Rural schools with the highest concentration of pupils with characteristics that are associated with educational disadvantage have been allocated the services of a teacher-co-ordinator who will work in clusters of four or five schools. However, certain schools in this group, including the school in question, are isolated from other similar schools and it was not possible to include them in a cluster. In such cases, these schools are receiving financial supports as an alternative to teacher-co-ordinator support.
An independent appeals board was established to adjudicate on appeals from boards of management on mainstream staffing teacher allocations in primary schools. The appeals board operates independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision is final. A circular outlining these new procedures issued to all primary schools. The staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the 2003-04 school year was considered by the appeals board on 9 April 2003. I understand that the board of management of the school was notified of the decision of the appeals board on 10 April 2003.
