1. School Development Planning
Managing the Process
Paul P Tyrrell – Cross and Passion College
8-May-19

2. School Development Planning: Background and Context
O.E.C.D Reviews of National Policies for Education: Ireland, (1991)
The Green Paper, (1992)
The National Education Convention, (1994)
Charting our Education Future, Education White Paper, (1995)
Education Act 1998
These documents were stating very clearly the need for sustained and systematic development in the following areas:
(i) curriculum and pedagogy
(ii) teacher professional development
(iii) in-school development through school planning
These documents highlighted also, as per Michael Fullan, that moral purpose and change agentry are at the heart of productive educational change.
Teaching carries with it moral imperatives:
Facilitating Critical Encluturation
Providing access to knowledge
Building and effective Teacher –Student connectio
Practicing good stewardship
8-May-19
Paul P Tyrrell Cross & Passion College

3. Initiating & Engaging in the process: Before SDPI
M.I.E – Exploring our Core Values
M.I.E- Culture & Ethos Document
Our SCD Experience
M.I.E: Core Values-
SCD: The central & substantive focus of this initiative were; curriculum & pedagogy, teacher education & in-school development. This was the basis of my learning experience about effective school planning and its implementation. It informed me about the complexity of school community and its development
Partnership: Suggests ownership of the changes for those engaged in them. The partners in a school planning process are the following; Trustees, BOM, Principal &Teachers, Parents and Pupils. Initially the focus will be on the Principal & Teachers primarily because the quality of a school’s education provision is rooted in the expertise and commitment of the principal and the teaching staff. This is not to suggest that the other partners are left out at the beginning.
8-May-19
Paul P Tyrrell Cross & Passion College

4. School Development Planning: Definitions
SDP: This process that enabled our school, as complex community, to meet the dual challenge of enhancing the quality of education for our students and managing change.
School Plan: This the product of the above process. It serves as a reference document that gives direction to school activities and facilitates monitoring and evaluation.
SDP: It is within the context of this process and the promotion and development of a school plan that the knowledge, experience and skills of teachers will be realised and utilised. Every time I use the word process I am reminded of a phrase of Jim Callan’s;’ We are engaged with flight of the butterfly not the path of the bullet’ The latter reflects the understanding that every school is unique and the operation of the planning process will vary considerably from school. The SDP process is flexible it is not something that needs to be followed slavishly but a framework for collaborative creativity. Each school must adapt the frame work to suit its own particular circumstances. Each school must generate its own response to the planning process.
8-May-19
Paul P Tyrrell Cross & Passion College

5. School Development Panning: Vision
Arising from the above process it is our desire to achieve the following:
(i) an enhanced education service, relevant to our pupils’ needs
(ii) the promotion of a high quality teaching & learning environment
(iii) to enhance the professional role of our teachers
(iv) to develop more effectively the management of innovation and change.
8-May-19
Paul P Tyrrell Cross & Passion College

6. Initiating & Engaging in the process: SDPI Experience
Regional Development Officer
Initial Meetings and Dialogue
The Planning Process
8-May-19
Paul P Tyrrell Cross & Passion College

7. Framework of the SDP Process
Review
Evaluate
Design
Mission
Vision
Aims
Implement
8-May-19
Paul P Tyrrell Cross & Passion College

8. The Role of the Principal
A Shared Vision
Management Style
Developing Professional & Personal Relationships
Providing Practical Supports
Shared Vision: Team/Partnersip approach . Essential in establishing aims and of objectives in school plan. Mission statement
Shared Leadership: Democratic governance processes and structures promoting leadership at different levels of across different activities. This assumes a greater role for teachers in designing, monitoring and evaluating educational programmes (LCAP) and decision making.
Professional Relationships- increased professional interaction among teaching colleagues – collaborative. Providing opportunities for professional development beyond the in-service offered by the DES.
Supports: New systems to enrich the teaching and learning in classrooms,
8-May-19
Paul P Tyrrell Cross & Passion College

9. Key Issues in the Process
Challenges
Risks
Opportunities
8-May-19
Paul P Tyrrell Cross & Passion College

10. Paul P Tyrrell Cross & Passion College
Challenges
Time
Comfort Zones
Uncertainty
8-May-19
Paul P Tyrrell Cross & Passion College

11. Paul P Tyrrell Cross & Passion College
Risks
Loss of Control
Altering Power Relationships
Unleashing Potential
8-May-19
Paul P Tyrrell Cross & Passion College

12. Paul P Tyrrell Cross & Passion College
Opportunities
Staff Involvement
Empowerment
More Collaborative Culture
8-May-19
Paul P Tyrrell Cross & Passion College