In my experience excellent school leaders were also excellent classroom teachers. School leaders need a broad view on education and not just look inward to their own school. Also, good leaders display a keen interest in learning. #edchatIE

Nicely done Joe. Great discussion.

A mix of qualitities, adapability, problem solving, good communication, collaboration, emotional intelligence...#edchatie a clear vision....

Many thanks to @joerolston.bsky.social for moderating tonight's #edchatie. Interesting discussion as always.

Its very challenging to be a yearhead and teach two subjects to LC level...time to deal with the many issues/challenges to hard to come by and keep up high standards for actual classes...esp if in a Vol sec school. #edchatie

Thanks Joe!

It's not over yet but many thanks to @joerolston.bsky.social for hosting this stimulating discussion tonight. #edchatie

Míle buíochas @joerolston.bsky.social and all! 👏

Well that’s time for this evening’s hour of #EdChatIE - many thanks to everyone for the brilliant points of discussion. The conversation can continue - just continue to use #EdChatIE when you post. Thanks to @sccenglish.bsky.social for the opportunity to host this evening. Wishing you all the best!

Decided by DoE staffing allocations. Some recent changes. Time allowance should be available in voluntary secondary schools too, obviously. All schools should have at least 1 DP ex quota. #edchatie

Just before I formally wrap up a reminder that the next session of #EdChatIE is in two weeks time, March 24th, with @[email protected] on the topic “ESD in Ireland: the role of education in helping Ireland become climate leaders.”

Time and an overloaded workload...those not in leadership positions thinking everything is "part of your job"...when in realith we all have a very importany part to play #edchatie

Yes, so I would have had collaboration time every afternoon for; planning, CPD, school visits, moderation, resource management, pupil focus groups, action planning review and evaluations, preparation for staff meeting facilitation, reflective practice, lesson study, collaborative planning

I think further study (PDSL) on becoming a post holder has been transformative for me, with the opportunities they provide to discuss and reflect with colleagues, something that we don't do much of in school due to time constraints #edchatIE

Colleague quit hers this year as it just wasn't worth the hassle and stress... #edchatie

Anecdote the other day of people reversing out of AP1s. #edchatie

taking part in #edchatie for a start.

A very interesting point, Brian. Is there scope to increase our school capacity for more DPs and AP1s (with time in lieu) as a means of advancing teaching and learning in our schools. I always did wonder who decided on the threshold numbers for additional DPs etc. #EdChatIE

Final prompt from me for this evening on this discussion: what qualities define a highly effective school leader working in education today? #EdChatIE

#edchatie Some may be interested in this book edited by @stulock.bsky.social www.juliangirdham.com/blog/the-res...

Just under 10 minutes left on our #EdChatIE discussion on “Leadership in Irish schools: challenges and opportunities” - get those final thoughts at the ready! #EdChatIE

It galls me that post-holders do not get time in-lieu across all the various sectors in our education system (saying this having worked in the voluntary post-primary sector prior to moving into the ETB sector) #EdChatIE

In terms of opportunity. Time! If there was time, that a DP or Principal could take on a mentoring role if a teacher was interested. A structure for supports/mentors for those who wish to enter levels of management - similar in concept to supporting those new to teaching #edchatie

It would be fantastic if teachers who took on formal leadership roles were supported in taking on further study to inform and support that role. This would be helpful in filtering the various initiatives that might present themselves in different subject areas.. #EdChatIe

Yes, a regular note in the December 2024 #edchatie session we had on professional development in Irish schools.

#EdChatIE - how do the different systems compare, Laura? It seems some education systems centralise collaboration time as a key pillar of practice whereas in Ireland . . .

Craig Skeritt’s work is excellent. I highly recommend looking at his research on student leadership in schools too: huge food for thought provided. #EdChatIE

I think this is a crucial point: good will was eroded, as a result of that implementation, as well having an impact on healthy staff-rooms & collegiality. Colleagues are so time-tight now. #EdChatIE

So, let’s flip it a bit: what opportunities would you like to see materialise in leadership structures in Irish schools over the next 5-10 years? I include student leadership in that too. What can Irish schools learn from leadership models in other countries? #EdChatIE

There's also the issue that we do try to do EVERYTHING in our brief - when that just isn't always possible. We need to get better at prioritising and giving a clear 'No' when its needed #edchatie

Hard to believe we have just passed the half way point of this evening’s #EdChatIE discussion on “Leadership in Irish schools: challenges and opportunities” - so many great points raised already, do join in and follow #EdChatIE

A consequence of prescribed Croke Park hours to develop collaboration in schools may have actually had the opposite effect on the ground in schools, #EdChatIE

'The Big Mac of School Leadership': this feels like a graphic waiting to happen. #edchatie Along the lines of this beauty.

Yes, some posts just get too big for AP1 and another tier would allow greater development opportunities for schools, dependent on their needs #edchatIE

As a relatively new Deputy Principal, I could never detach myself from my 16 previous years in the classroom. Pedagogy is central to my own personal philosophy on educational leadership. Senior leaders should never forget this. #EdChatIE

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ... Bookmarked this just last week (I think - the school year is moving differently this year - could have been last week, could have five years ago 😂)

Yes, that’s the thing: that tier is already in place in many respects! Senior leadership teams & middle leadership teams can’t function without those displaying leadership in a voluntary capacity. #EdChatIE

I think there's some value to be had in looking at leadership structures overall to see if viable alternatives could be implemented. Would be good to have a survey of post holders to gain their views. Huge workload at the moment might put off some excellent candidates

Thanks Will. Raising the salient point of time! Despite the advent of prescriptive CP hours, are we still lacking meaningful collaborative time in our schools, when there is just so much to address? A bit like butter scraped over too much bread. #EdChatIE

And this can too often result in a big gap between teachers and leaders. The priorities of each can be far apart #edchatie

I suppose something to bridge the gap between AP1 holders and DP, which can take some of the administrative pressures off school leaders. Or, on the flip side, provide an earlier stepping stone to leadership. #edchatIE

I think that’s a key point Julian … teaching and learning (the principal point of schools) is often lower down the priority list for overburdened school leaders. #edchatIE

LAOS reminds me of one of those lovely McDonald Big Macs that you see advertised on television but then when you see it in reality . . . #EdChatIE

A great point raised here by Emma, does the sheer magnitude of the “everything” makes it hard to implement meaningful change in schools? Are schools different places now post-COVID. Has a culture of “quiet-quitting” crept into our schools? #EdChatIE

Also keen to hear ideas on fostering leadership potential in our students. Obvious outlets include sport and other extra curricular programmes but should there be a leadership programme in schools? #edchatIE

And sadly it always seems to be the leading teaching/learning that tends to be drowned out in the sea of admin/bureaucracy. School leaders are pulled in every direction. The age old question: how can leaders keep teaching & learning as a central focus? #EdChatIE

A very interesting point raised here by Humphrey about the current middle leadership structures in our schools: is it functioning to what it espouses to be? What do you mean by third tier? How do you envisage this? #EdChatIE

Hi Joe, Eileen, AP1, further ed, Waterford, looking forward to a chat on leadership!

Hi Joe. And worth us considering if the education system actually encourages, or depresses, leadership. #edchatie