Croke Park Agreement

Last updated: Tue, Aug 15th, 2017 11:11:42 am

Under the "Croke Park Agreement" it was agreed that 33 non class-contact additional hours for specific purposes would be worked by teachers.

Planning Time for 2017/2018

CL M58/04 continues to apply to all teaching staff.

This means:

  • Three Parent/Teacher meetings should take place during the school year from 4.15pm – 6.45pm. Schools should close 15 minutes earlier than normal on these days.

  • Up to three staff meetings (one per term) can be arranged, half-in/half-out of school time.

It should be noted when planning the use Croke Park Hours for the coming year:

    • The ASTI directive to their members dated July 11th 2016 not to fulfil the 33 Croke Park hours as set out in CL 25/11  and amended in CL 43/14  is still in place.

    • The TUI and non-union members are governed by CL 45/16.

  • It should be noted that:

“With effect from the beginning of the 2017/18 school year, an amount of time up to but not in excess of 10 hours (of the 33 hours) will be available for planning and development work on other than a whole-school basis and as approved by management” (Paragraph 22 of CL 45/16)

and

“The terms of CL 43/2014 will continue to apply in respect of the usage of the time quantum provided for in paragraph 22 above” (Paragraph 23 of CL 45/16)

  • In accordance with CL 25/11, schools should develop a calendar for the use of the Croke Park hours before the commencement of the next school year. In relation to blocks of more than 2 hours or scheduling outside of 167 days, decisions in relation to the calendar require consensus.

  • It is noted in Paragraph 8 of CL 25/11 that:

“The usage of the additional hours (33hrs) will be outlined as appropriate in the school calendar which is made available to the school community at the commencement of each school year

  • As currently arranged, Croke Park hours are, to a large extent, organised ‘for whole school purposes’ unless otherwise specified in the calendar for use of the hours. For example:

    • Staff meetings are a ‘whole school’ activity

    • Parent-teacher meetings are a ‘whole school’ activity

    • Staff Planning Days are a ‘whole school’ activity (usually organised at the start of the year)

    • Subject meetings or specific committee meetings may not be whole school activities

Under these circumstances ACCS advises as follows:

    • It has been the experience of our schools that where events have been deemed to be ‘whole school events’, TUI teachers have stated that whole school purposes cannot be served where attendance by teachers is not on a whole school basis and these Croke Park hours have not been productive.

    • Time-table 3 Parent-Teacher meetings under M 58/04 which must be shown on the calendar and clearly identified. These should be for priority year groups.

    • Time-table the remaining Parent-Teacher meetings under Croke Park. Put a note in the school calendar that these dates/times may have to be adjusted according to the industrial relations conditions at the time.

    • To fulfil the 167 school days for 2017/2018, schools will need to return on Tuesday, August 29th, 2017. Schools could schedule planning meetings around a phased return of students to school. This means that the planning time takes place within the 167 school days. All students must return to school by the third day.

    • Make a decision about Open Night. 

      • This is a sensitive issue for schools.  There is a realisation of the importance of this event in promoting schools and maintaining enrolments.

      • The TUI wish to see the Open Night on the Calendar.

      • The ASTI advised members they can volunteer for Open Nights but must not engage if it is a scheduled Croke Park event.   

    • Organise up to 10 hours for planning and development work on other than a whole-school basis according to the terms of CL 43/14.