Posts of Responsibility in Schools

Circular 03/2018 is amended as outlined on Interviews for Leadership and Management Positions in Recognised Post Primary schools for the school year 2021/2022

See: Leadership and Management In Post-Primary Schools

See: Recruitment/Promotion and Leadership for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary Schools

Posts of responsibility are part of a school's leadership and management structure. They are promotion posts and are referred to as Principal, Deputy Principal, Assistant Principal I and Assistant Principal II.

School leaders typically refers to formal leadership roles including teachers with posts of responsibility who carry out roles and responsibilities integral to the administration, management and leadership of the school. Both leadership and management roles are considered at all times as serving the school’s core work: learning and teaching.

Appeal System for Permanent Principal and Deputy Principal Appointments

Types of roles and responsibilities

In relation to Assistant Principal posts, roles and responsibilities which need to be performed for the effective leadership and management of the school are determined through a consultation process between the Principal, Deputy Principal(s) and the teaching staff. This consultation process is informed by the leadership and management needs and priorities of the school.

In-school leadership and management needs and priorities vary from school to school depending on the school size, location and levels of educational attainment of the pupils.

Assignment or re-assignment of roles and responsibilities to Assistant Principals is delegated by the Board of Management/ ETB to the Principal.

Moratorium on posts of responsibility

Circular 0044/2019 (Primary) and Circular 0003/2018 (Post Primary) lift the rigidity in relation to the long standing moratorium on posts of responsibility.

Assistant Principal posts allocation

Assistant Principal posts of responsibility may be filled by school authorities in accordance with the allocation set out in 0029/2024(Primary) and 0031/2024(Post Primary).

Calculation of seniority

Seniority has been phased out as a stand-alone criteria in the appointment of Assistant Principals at Primary level.

At Post Primary level, it is being phased out for Assistant Principal posts over a two year period. During this period, teaching service in relation to seniority of teachers can be calculated on the following basis:

(a) Voluntary Secondary Schools - in accordance with paragraph D in Appendix Two of Circular PPT 29/02

(b) ETB Schools - in accordance with Circular PPT 15/02

(c) Community and Comprehensive Schools - in accordance with Circular PPT 07/02

Procedures for appointment to posts of responsibility

For appointments to posts of responsibility please refer to:

Primary

• Circular 0044/2019 - Recruitment/Promotion and Leadership for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary Schools

Post-Primary

• Circular 0003/2018
• Circular PPT05/02
• Circular PPT06/02
• Circular 04/98

Please note the following amendments to Circular 0044/2019 and 0003/2018:

Section 7 of Chapter 3 and Section 10 of Chapter 4 of Circular 0044/2019 are superseded by the new version of LAOS 2022 - Looking at our School

Section 2 of Circular 0003/2018 is superseded by the new version of LAOS 2022 Looking at our School

Payment of a post of responsibility allowance

Once appointments have been made, a Board of Management should notify the relevant Payroll Section in the department.

Primary

• Post of Responsibility form

Post-Primary

• POR 1
• POR 2

See also

• Circular Pay 0004/2010 - Revision of Teachers Salaries with effect from 1 January, 2010
• Primary POR Application Form
• Post Primary POR Application Form
• Payroll Services