In-School Management Policy

“Mol an Óigeagustiocfaidhsí”

Introduction

In-School Management has been operational in the school since 1999 and the duties were last revised in January 2018.

Rationale

As the school has expanded so have the duties associated with a developing school and procedures have to be put in place to distribute leadership, share the workload and give a sense of ownership to staff. This is done through communication and delegation. As far as is possible, it is proposed to match the responsibilities of the posts to the central tasks of the school.

Relationship to School Ethos

St. Malachy’s Girls’ School strives to promote the individual and collective personal and professional development of staff and this policy is in keeping with those aims and ideals.

Aims/Objectives

• To ensure efficiency and further facilitate the smooth running of the school
• To establish section procedures for posts of responsibility
• To foster collegiality
• To harness the unique talents of individual teachers towards providing a happy, efficient and child-friendly school environment
• To delegate prudently so that each post holder feels valued and contributes positively to organisational and curricular areas.

Procedures and content

• List tasks
• Assign tasks
• Secure Agreement
• Set Review dates

The tasks are listed and prioritised through whole staff consultation. The In-School Management team then meets and tasks are assigned, keeping in mind that there should be an organisational, curricular or pastoral aspect to the duties assigned.

The duties of all post holders are outlined in Appendix A of this document. All duties are presented to the Board of Management before they are assigned, and the chairperson of the Board has a role in the delegating procedure. The determination of duties is normally reached by way of consensus between all members of the teaching staff.

Review

A review procedure is held at the end of each school year. This review is carried out normally in the context of the changing needs of the school. No post holder will be assigned different duties without prior agreement.

Advertising a Vacant Post of Responsibility

• The post is advertised in-school where all eligible teaching staff have access to it
• This notice is sent to any staff who may be on maternity or sick leave/career break
• This notice will specify the duties attached to the post, the closing date for receipt of written applications, and the address to which application are to be sent. Ex-Quota and job sharing teachers are eligible to apply.
• The selection of applications for a post of responsibility is subject to the rules and constitution of the B.O.M.
• The Selection Board sets the criteria prior to interview short-lists, and calls candidates to interview
• Per circular 28/2011, the selection criteria and marking scheme are as follows:

In-School Management Team :

• Bríd Galligan
• Karen Tuite
• Michelle Martin
• Sabrina Maguire

Meetings:

Our ISM team meets at least once a month.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Post holders report to staff at staff meetings.
• Post holders carry out their duties outside of teaching hours.
• In addition to duties outlined the job description Post Holders are expected to encourage good staff relationships, to advocate correct communication procedures and to promote adherence to school policies.
• Duties will be carried out in partnership and co-operation with the Principal and with full involvement of the school community when applicable.
• Post holders duties may vary at times in order to meet the daily needs of the school.

The In School Management team works to promote good organisation and high standards of teaching and learning in the school. They do not assume sole responsibility and are supported in their work by the principal and staff in practical ways. Our school views this work as the responsibility of the whole staff under the guidance of the post holders. However, it is very important that the management structure is not seen as a divisive structure in the school. The Board of Management recognises and acknowledges the huge amount of voluntary work carried out by all staff members outside of normal working hours. The co-operation, commitment and enthusiasm of staff members is a huge asset to our school and is much appreciated by the school community.

Guiding Principles:

Duties and responsibilities will be carried out

• In partnership and co-operation with the Principal
• As part of the Senior Management structure of the school
• With full involvement of school community when applicable
• With flexibility to meet daily needs of the school
• Duties will be carried out outside of teaching hours

The Principal Ms.Galligan will help and support the I.S.M team in their responsibility and will take particular interest in the following areas to that end.

• Notice boards as Gaeilge in conjunction with the staff.
• Seachtain na Gaeilge in conjunction with the staff
• New Entrants/Departures
• Substitute Teachers
• Child protection Liaison person
• Work experience
• Green School initiative.
• To ensure that Roll Books/Registers / Schoolonline records are in order

The following criteria for each post are subject to change as per the requirements of the school.

The postholders in conjunction with the staff will as a group have responsibility for:

• Sourcing and ordering Resources
• Assembly
• School Newsletter
• Curriculum revision
• Book Rental Schemes

Appendix A

List of Duties which may be delegated to Post-holders

Administrative

• Attendance at In-school management meetings outside of school hours
• Position of Deputy DLP
• Morning and afternoon supervision
• Accident reporting and supervision
• Care and safe custody of school equipment and teaching aids and resources
• Co-operation with the principal and the B.O.M in matters relating to school maintenance, heating and cleaning, care and general appearance of school and school grounds
• Supervision of and work for pupils whose teachers are absent
• School records and official forms
• The supervision of school and class libraries
• Catalogue/Audit and maintain audio and visual equipment
• Updating the schools ‘Health and Safety’ policy
• Position of safety Nominee
• Co-ordination of the annual Risk Assessment in consultation with the Safety Officer
• Co-ordinating of First Aid
• Co-ordination of the fire drill
• Cataloguing and maintaining the school library to include buying, labelling, issuing of book and the maintenance of a library system
• Co-ordination of library competitions and events
• Co-ordination of visiting literary personnel
• Co-ordination of book fairs
• Co-ordination of special events- Christmas concert, Ceili, Sacraments, etc
• Co-ordination of local area initiatives-competitions, participation in events etc
• Co-ordination of the use of the school hall by outside agencies
• Maintenance of the roll books, registers and LeabharTinrimh
• Informing staff on the student management system
• Co-ordinating of CPD for staff members
• Dissemination of information to staff members
• Co-ordinating the production of a ‘School Newsletter’
• Co-ordinating inventory, distribution and maintenance of school furniture and fittings

Pastoral

• The effective supervision of the pupils before and after school
• Arrangements, in agreements with staff and B.O.M for effective communication with parents
• Co-ordination of charity events and collections
• Assistance and care of new pupils, foreign pupils and pupils with disabilities in consultation with the school’s care team
• Co-ordination of the preparation for the sacraments in consultation with class teachers, the principal, parents and the parish sacramental team
• Assistance and provision for children not involved in sacramental preparation
• Position of Religious Co-ordinator
• Position of Assembly Co-ordinator
• Position of Contact Person with the H.S.E.
• Position of Pastoral Care Co-ordinator for people in financial difficulty, in need of free books assistance.
• Social Officer
• Staff-room Co-ordinator
• Catering Co-ordinator for special events
• Arrangements for educational tours and outings
• The promotion of savings

Curriculum

• Responsibility for organising Gaeilge within the school to include resources, policy and the promotion of the language and culture within the school community
• Responsibility for organising English within the school to include resources, policy formation and new literacy initiatives
• Responsibility for organising Maths with the school to include resources, policy formation and new numeracy initiatives
• Responsibility for organising SESE within the school to include the care, storage and updating of equipment and resources centrally
• Responsibility for organising Visual Arts within the school to include the care, storage and updating of equipment and resources
• Responsibility for organising PE within the school to include the care, storage and updating of equipment and resources centrally
• Responsibility for organising SPHE within the school toinclude the co-ordination of the Stay Safe Programme and resources
• Responsibility for organising Music within the school including the co-ordination of the school choir
• ICT Co-ordination to include the review of the e-learning plan, the purchasing of IT equipment in consultation with the staff, principal and the BoM, computer suite time-tabling and maintenance, the auditing of hardware and software, staff CPD in IT.
• SEN Co-ordinator to include planning, updating policy, gathering data, compiling data, presentation of aggregated data to the staff, BoM and the DES, applying for resources, facilitating and development of IEPs, liaising with outside agencies, parents and the SEN team, updating the principal and deputy principal and co-ordination of new initiatives
• Responsibility for organising environmental issues within the school including the Green Flag committee
• Updating school textbooks, arranging for the ordering, cataloguing, care and distribution of new publications
• Co-ordination of visits of new publications
• Co-ordination of visits from book companies and presentations/displays for teachers
• Co-ordinator for quiz competitions