Assistant Principal I and Assistant Principal II (formerly Special Duties posts), along with the Principal and Deputy Principal make up the middle management structure in schools.
Budget 2017 allowed for the commencement of restoration of middle management posts as part of an agreed distributed leadership model and meant lifting the rigidity of the longstanding moratorium on these posts at primary and post-primary levels. This recognises the key role school leadership has in promoting a school environment which is welcoming, inclusive and accountable.
€2.75m was allocated in Budget 2017 to restore middle management positions i.e. the equivalent of approximately 1,300 middle management posts at both Primary and Post-Primary. (2,600 in total)
Circular 63/2017, which was issued by the Department in September 2017, deals with and sets out a leadership and management framework for posts in recognised primary schools.
Circular 3/2018 is the corresponding circular for the Post-Primary Sector and it issued in early January. Both circulars are available on my Department's website.
The selection and recruitment process is well under way in most schools and the majority of these new middle management posts will be filled in the current school year.
Figures for the breakdown of teachers in promoted positions and for the number of APIs and APIIs which were removed from primary and post primary schools during the moratorium are in the following tables.
The estimated cost of restoring the number of middle-management posts in our schools to pre-moratorium levels would be approximately €50m and any further restoration would have to be considered in the context of future Budgets. However, there are needs across the system that must be balanced in the decisions made in each budget.
No. of APIs and APIIs removed from primary and post-primary schools during the moratorium
|
|
Primary
|
|
Post-Primary
|
|
|
|
2008/09
|
2017/18*
|
2008/09
|
2017/18*
|
|
APIs
|
1,605
|
958
|
5,600
|
3,178
|
|
APIIs
|
8,575
|
5,982
|
8,240
|
5,422
|
*2017/18 figures include the following posts of responsibility which were restored.
APIs - 268 at primary level and 378 at post primary level
APIIs – 1,032 at primary level and 922 at post primary level
Breakdown of teachers in promoted positions for the 2017/18 school year
|
|
Primary
|
Post Primary
|
|
APIs
|
958
|
3,178
|
|
APIIs
|
5,982
|
5,422
|
|
Deputy Principals
|
2,686
|
856
|
|
Principals
|
3,324
|
741
|
|
Total in management positions
|
12,950
|
10,197
|
|
Total teachers
|
36,904
|
29,550
|
|
% teachers holding management positions
|
35%
|
34.5%
|
