ACCS is delighted to announce that the Middle Leaders Training Programme will be offered once again during the academic year 2023/24. This programme is accredited by the Centre for School Leadership and is one of the first programmes to be recognised in this way.

To date the ACCS team has worked with three cohorts of schools and in total 59 Community and Comprehensive Schools have taken part in the programme. All schools are invited to register for this training including those who have already engaged in previous years. Places will be offered on a first come first served basis and Boards of Management are invited to nominate a total of three delegates, one API, one APII and one member of the senior leadership team to attend this in-service. As places are limited and there is a very high demand for this in-service from schools, delegates are required to commit to both residentials and to the entire in-service programme.

Context:

·   DES Circular 0003/2018

·   School Self Evaluation (SSE)

·   Looking at Our School 2022 – a quality framework for post primary schools

Programme Objectives:

·   To develop a shared understanding of distributed leadership by API, APII and the SLT/SMT in school in the current context.

·   To build leadership capacity in school.

·   To explore the LAOS framework and effective change management strategies.

·   To establish a robust culture which supports effective pedagogy in the classroom.

·   To consider the central importance of relationships and communication when working with stakeholders.

Cost:

The cost to the school based on the in-service programme, materials, overnight accommodation plus meals is €350 per person per residential. Total cost of the in-service to the school for three delegates for the two residentials = €2,100. Schools are requested to pay this in two instalments before the start of each residential. The first €1,050 instalment is due for payment in October 2023 and the second €1,050 instalment is due for payment in March 2024. 

In order to participate fully, delegates will be required:

1.To complete work on an area of in-school research/activities in the area of distributed leadership in their own school.

2.To take learning back to school and to disseminate to the Board of Management, SLT, other post holders and staff in school.

3.To familiarise themselves with LAOS, SSE, Circular 0003/2018 and any other recommended reading during the in-service.

4.To bring along one of the School Improvement Plans (SIP) in the context of understanding their own reality.

5.To bring a fully charged device along to each residential.

Timeframe and Proposed Structure of In-Service:

Residential 1: 17th & 18th October 2023.

Venue: The Mullingar Park Hotel, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

Time: 17th October: 10.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. 18th October: 9.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m.

Residential 2: 5th & 6th March 2024.

Venue: The Mullingar Park Hotel, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

Time: 5th March: 10.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. 6th March: 9.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m.

Registering Delegates:

Boards of Management are now invited to nominate three delegates (one API, one APII and one member of the senior leadership team) by completing the attached booking form and return to kharrison@accs.ie as soon as possible. As noted above, delegates’ will be allocated a place on the Middle Leaders Training Programme on a first come, first served basis.   

John Irwin, General Secretary, ACCS