12 February 2009

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION COMMITTEES

APPROVED ALLOCATION OF TEACHING POSTS

2009/10 School Year

1. Authorised allocation of teaching posts for the 2009/10 school year

(a) For the purposes of section 24(2) of the Education Act 1998, the allocation of teaching posts for the 2009/10 school year is calculated in accordance with the following rules and is based on recognised pupil enrolment on approved courses in your Committee’s recognised schools on 30th September, 2008.

(b) In 2007 a re-deployment scheme was agreed to cater for teachers who were surplus as a result of school closures. In accordance with the terms of the social partnership agreement “Towards 2016”, the relevant parties have agreed to enter into further discussions in relation to the re-deployment of teachers in situations other than school closure.

Therefore VECs should note that vacancies, for the 2009/10 school year, may not be filled pending the outcome of these discussions.

The Department will notify VECs of the new arrangements in due course.

2. Criteria on which the approved teacher allocation is based

2.1  Pupil-Teacher Ratio

A proportion of posts in the allocation are determined on prescribed ratios of recognised pupils to teachers on a range of approved programmes as follows:

a) Recognised pupils on established Junior Certificate (incl. JCSP), Leaving Certificate, repeat Leaving Certificate and Transition Year Programme

A ratio of 19:1 is applied in respect of such pupils.

b) Recognised pupils on the Leaving Certificate Vocational (LCVP) and Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) Programmes

A ratio of 17:1 is applied in respect of such pupils.

c) Recognised pupils on the Leaving Certificate Applied programme (LCA).

The first group of 20 participating pupils, irrespective of the programme year, attracts an allocation of 1.4 whole-time teacher equivalents. This allocation will apply in the case of the first group even where the actual take-up of approved places is fewer than 20. A ratio of 17:1 is applied in respect of additional participating pupils.

d) Recognised pupils on the Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP).

An additional .25 teacher allocation is granted to each participating school for each group of up to and including 45 such pupils subject to a maximum of 135 pupils. A school is restricted to one group of a maximum 45 JCSP pupils in the year it commences JCSP and in the following two school years.

2.2  Ex quota

In addition to teacher allocations based on pupil teacher ratios described in paragraph 2.1 above, a number of ex-quota allocations are made in accordance with the following criteria:-

2.2.1a Principal:

A post is allocated in respect of Principal in each school

2.2.1b Deputy Principal:

An ex-quota Deputy Principal Post is allocated in respect of each school with an enrolment of 500 or more (such posts are filled in-quota in smaller schools). A second ex-quota Deputy Principal post is allocated in respect of each school with an enrolment of 1,000 or more or DEIS schools which have an enrolment of 900 or more.

2.2.2 Remedial/Learning Support:

An allocation of .5 of a post is made in respect of each school with an enrolment of less than 600 recognised pupils (excluding pupils on PLC programmes). A full post is allocated in respect of a school with an enrolment of 600 such pupils and more. Certain schools, which prior to 1989/90 had been allocated a permanent remedial teaching allocation in excess of the allocation determined by this formula, will be allowed to retain the higher allocation for 2009/10.

2.2.3a Guidance Counselling:

In accordance with the terms of circular PPT 13/05, each school in the free education scheme is granted an allocation on the following basis:

Recognised
pupil enrolment / Allocation
(hours per
week)
1000+
900-999
800-899
700-799
600-699
500-599
400-499
300-399
200-299
<200 / 47
38
36
30
28
24
17
13
11
8

Schools participating in the DEIS programme will receive an allocation in accordance with the following schedule.

Recognised
pupil enrolment / Allocation
(hours per
week)
1000+
900-999
800-899
700-799
600-699
500-599
400-499
300-399
<300 / 55
49.5
44
38.5
33
27.5
22
16.5
11

Schools outside the free education scheme with an enrolment of 500 or more receive an allocation of 1 post, while such schools with an enrolment of between 350 and 499 receive an allocation of .5 of a post.

2.2.3b Guidance Enhancement Initiative:

Allocations were made to schools which were selected under the Guidance Enhancement Initiative (GEI). The GEI has been extended for the 2009/10 school year and allocations made under this initiative will be taken into account in determining a school’s allocation on foot of the above schedules. Thus a school will receive the higher of the allocation warranted by the above schedule or the allocation under the arrangements in place prior to the issue of circular PPT 13/05.

2.2.4 Designated Disadvantage & Home School Community Liaison:

Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) services have been extended to all schools selected to participate in DEIS (the Action Plan for Educational Inclusion).

In the light of the recent economic downturn the Government has had to make a number of difficult and challenging decisions in Budget 2009. One of these decisions was to withdraw Disadvantaged Area Scheme (DAS) and HSCL supports from any non DEIS schools for the 2009/10 school year.

DEIS Schools only:

Schools which were previously designated disadvantaged and allocated additional posts under different disadvantaged area schemes* were advised that half of the disadvantaged post should be used to develop HSCL services and the remaining half should be used to counteract, as far as possible, the impact of disadvantage on children in the school.

In addition to the above, a further half post was allocated specifically for HSCL purposes to schools under the different disadvantaged area schemes which were participating in the HSCL scheme.

For 2009/10, posts will be shared across primary and post primary level to facilitate local HSCL co-ordinators working with the families of disadvantaged children. The staffing schedules for the relevant schools will now show 1 full post for HSCL and a half post for DAS.

Any queries in relation to the posts outlined above should be directed to Social Inclusion Unit, Department of Education and Science, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.

* (Previous disadvantaged area schemes were implemented in 1988/89, 1990/91, 1991/92 and 1994/95)

2.2.5 Irish Language: An additional post is allocated in respect of each designated all-Irish school (School Classification 1).

2.2.6  Permanent Resource posts: These posts were allocated in previous years to some schools to support special classes/groups with identified special needs. VECs requiring additional teaching resources for special classes/groups/pupils in other schools should make application under paragraph 3 below.

2.2.7  Small School Posts: A number of VECs receive allocations under this heading.

2.2.8  Chaplain: An ex-quota Chaplain post is allocated in respect of Designated Community Colleges which is filled on the nomination of the relevant religious authority.

2.2.9  Remedial/Guidance: These posts were allocated in 1986/87 following applications made in respect of a number of schools catering for disadvantaged pupils. This allocation will continue in 2009/10.

3.  Requests for adjustment to the teacher allocation

Requests by VECs for adjustment to the teacher allocation will be considered by the Department in the following areas. Any such requests should be made before 13th March 2009 except where otherwise indicated.

3.1 Errors in the calculation of the initial allocation. While every effort has been made to ensure that the base data used to produce this provisional allocation is accurate, the school authority should satisfy itself that the data is correct and reflects the returns already made by the school in respect of its pupils and teachers.

3.2  Short term support for teaching in specific curricular areas affected by skills shortfalls or by staff allocation reductions which it has not been possible for the VEC to meet within allocation and which it has not yet been possible for the VEC to resolve through the normal planning and management processes.

Regulatory guidelines in respect of any such applications are set out in appendix 1 attached.

3.3 Projected increase in enrolment, which cannot be served within the approved allocation: Any such adjustment may be considered on a provisional basis and will be subject to confirmation of the actual enrolment. No contracts should be entered into with teachers in respect of projected enrolment until such time as the school authority is satisfied that the increased enrolment has fully materialised. Enrolment figures will be reviewed in September and the allocation granted based on the total actual September 2009 enrolment.

3.4 Programme Co-ordinator: In accordance with the terms of Circular Letter PPT 19/02, School authorities within their teacher quota will be compensated by way of a curricular concession for loss of teaching hours as a result of the programme co-ordinator appointment.

3.5 Special needs pupils: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO) process applications for additional teaching support and Special Needs Assistant support for pupils with special educational needs. Application forms for additional teaching support and special needs assistant support will issue directly from the NCSE.

3.6 Traveller enrolments: Additional teaching hours are allocated to schools on the basis of an additional .07 teacher per Traveller pupil enrolled. Schools must notify its enrolment of Traveller pupils in order to draw down the allocation. Form T 09/10 should be completed and certified by school authorities to claim this allocation. It is envisaged that applications will be made by the normal closing date, but applications in respect of late enrolments may be considered. This allocation will be made on a provisional basis subject to confirmation by the school authority of actual attendance by the pupils by their inclusion in the school’s certified October Returns. If pupils are not in attendance the provisional allocation will be withdrawn.

3.7.1  Language Support: Claims for continuation or first allocation of additional teaching hours in relation to additional teaching hours for schools catering for non national pupils with significant English language deficits should be made on form NN 09/10

This allocation will be made on a provisional basis subject to confirmation by the school authority of actual attendance by the pupils by their inclusion in the school’s certified October Returns.

If pupils are not in attendance the provisional allocation will be withdrawn.

3.8 Should a VEC have supernumerary posts (i.e. permanent posts in excess of entitlement) it is envisaged that these posts (where retained) will be deployed by the VEC to meet additional teaching needs in respect of additional allocations approved by the Department under paragraph 3 of this letter.

.

4. Appeals against Decisions by Department regarding initial or additional allocations

The Minister for Education and Science has established an Appeals Board which will operate independently of the Minister and the Department. Decisions of the Board will be final. The Appeals Board will consider appeals by school authorities against decisions of the Department of Education and Science in regard to teaching staff allocations to Second Level Schools and to Vocational Education Committees for the 2009/10 school year. Detail of the appeals procedure is set out in Appendix 2.

5. Forms

Associated forms are available on the Department’s Website at www.education.ie

under Education Personnel > Post-Primary >Teacher Allocations.

A. Killian

Principal Officer

Post Primary Teacher Section

Department of Education & Science

Athlone

List of forms and Closing Dates – 2009/10

Form / Closing Date / Form no. and relevant paragraph
Application for additional teaching support for essential Curriculum Needs (Curricular Concessions) – Part 1
Application for projected increase in enrolment – Part 2 / 13 March 2009 / CC 09/10 (Part 1 and 2)
Para 3.2 and 3.3
Application for additional 1.5 hours per week per traveller pupil enrolled
Allocations will be subject to confirmation of actual attendance
Return this form by registered post / 13 March 2009 / T 09/10
Para 3.6
Application for additional teaching hours to cater for non national pupils with significant English language deficit.
Allocations will be subject to confirmation of actual attendance
Return this form by registered post / 13 March 2009 / NN 09/10
Para 3.7


APPENDIX 1

Second Level Teacher Allocations 2009/10

Additional Teaching Support for essential Curriculum Needs (Curricular Concessions)

Regulatory Guidelines

1. Introduction

Each school management authority is required to organize its curriculum, teaching timetable and subject options having regard to pupils’ needs within the limits of the approved normal staffing allocation made in accordance with criteria and policies agreed by the Minister for Education and Science from time to time.

A school authority may from time to time encounter unanticipated difficulty (which it has not been in a position to immediately resolve through its school planning and management processes) in meeting essential curricular commitments to pupils within the normal staffing allocation. In such circumstances, the Department will as an exceptional matter consider requests by a school authority for a staffing concession as short-term support.

Any applications should clearly demonstrate how the management authority has engaged in effective school planning and inter-school co-operation, where appropriate, to ensure local needs are most effectively and efficiently met. A school authority will have carried out a full review before submitting an application for additional teaching support.

2. Application for short term support (Curricular Concession)

Applications may be made by school authorities to the Department of Education and Science, Post Primary Teacher Allocation Unit, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. Any such application must be submitted (on a VEC scheme basis) on the approved standard form, CC 09/10

In general only one application per school authority for the 2009/10 school year may be made. Schools are requested to submit a typed version of the application. The closing date for applications is 13th March 2009. Late applications will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances. School authorities are advised to obtain proof of postage. The Department intends to notify decisions to School Authorities by end of April 2008.

Applications must set out relevant supporting information as clearly and succinctly as possible on the application form provided. It is the responsibility of school authorities to ensure that its application is complete, clear, and accurate and on time. As applications will need to be processed in a short time period, the scope for further communication by the Department with schools on the details of applications is extremely limited.