A circular letter outlining the policy in relation to the retention and promotion of pupils in primary schools issued to the boards of management of all schools in March 2001. The policy as outlined in the circular letter was already outlined in rule 64 of the rules for national schools and in a previous Department circular 10/67. The purpose of the C – primary circular 11/01 – was to reaffirm the policy in relation to the retention and promotion of pupils.
In recent years, my Department has allocated considerable support for pupils with learning difficulties in schools. Learning support teachers, resource teachers, special needs assistants and a wide range of resources under the various schemes for schools in areas designated as disadvantaged are among the forms of provision allocated to schools for these pupils. The level of provision now available should enable pupils to make progress in keeping with their needs and abilities and to move consecutively through the different class levels in the school in keeping with their peers.
I am aware that there may be individual cases where a principal teacher, following consultation with the learning support teacher and class teacher and parents of the pupil, concludes that a pupil would benefit educationally by being held back for a second year. In such cases, my Department would favour the retention, provided there is an educational basis for the decision and if there is a clear programme for the pupil to follow. Children should only repeat a year for educational reasons and an additional level should not be created through the retention of all or a substantial number of pupils for a second year at a grade level.
