Amalgamation of smaller primary schools
Comments(7)
As an educator I think it right and opportune for me to make some comment about An Bord Snip Nua’s proposals for the Irish Education System.
Where better to start than their fairly radical proposals for the small Irish primary schools.
Small to me would have meant any school with less than 50 pupils on roll … basically a 2 teacher school but an Bord Snip Nua is looking at smaller schools as schools having an enrolment of 100 pupils or less.
Some statistics:
- There are 3,200 primary schools in Ireland …. (a lot for a country of less than 5 million people)
- 47% of the schools have 5 teachers or fewer on staff and are mostly located in rural areas
- 659 schools have fewer than 50 pupils, with an average of 2.4 teachers per school. (The .4 probably refers to shared Learning Support and other ancillary teachers)
- If these schools were amalgamated/merged, 300 teachers could be redeployed, €18m in per annum of salary savings could be made.
- If other amalgamations of the 50 to 100 pupil schools took place another 200 teachers would become available for redeployment, with a further €9m of salary savings being made each year
- Savings would also be made by having less caretakers, secretaries etc.
- Running costs such as maintenance, heating and insurance would be eliminated.
All in all I reckon a two teacher school (pupils less than 50) costs approximately €250k to run every year! Even if the pupil numbers drop dramatically the costs don’t change.
Every school with pupils of 60 or less get a minimum grant to run the school so the less pupils a school has the more it costs per pupil within that school to educate them. A school has to drop below 12 pupils before it becomes a 1 teacher school.
DES looks at the school enrolment numbers as at the 30th of September each year and it takes a year for any changes to come into effect.
This means that a school can have less than 12 pupils for one full academic year and still have two teachers on staff! If for example, a school has 10 pupils and two teachers teaching them for the year it is costing the state €25,000 per pupil to give them an education.
Madness.
I’ve been saying for years that there should be nothing less than a 4 teacher school:
- At the most a teacher should only have two classes
- Expertise can be shared
- More pupils within the school is better for the social development of all
- A football team can be fielded … just an example but you get my drift!
I’m glad someone sees it my way … but I never thought that they go so far as to look at school with 3 teachers in them.
2009/2010 Staffing Schedule is as follows:
1 Teacher 12 pupils
2 Teachers 49 pupils
3 Teachers 81 pupils
4 Teachers 115 pupils
They are the number a school has to have to appoint that number of teachers. If the number fall below those numbers then last teacher in is off on his/her merry way by way of the redeployment panel which guarantees them the next available full time job within 30 miles of the school they are leaving … all within the same Diocese of course.
People will probably say it will be the ruination of small communities … poppycock …. they have cars … go to the nearest hall … meet up …. go out as a group and collect the litter on the road.
There are too many small schools in the country. Cork has the highest proportion of 2 teacher school in the country. You couldn’t turn in any direction but there’d be a small school in front of you. Within a 10 mile radius you could find 5 or 6 small schools all plodding along in their own little ways.
Amalgamate/close/rationalise ….. you have my vote on this one!
Why? Been there … done that …… it makes better economic sense and most certainly it would make our education system more streamlined.
The larger schools could have their pupil/teacher ratios cut, pupil contact time would be increased, maintenance grants etc. would be reduced, ancillary staff would be reduced and fewer teachers would be needed.
Money saved.
Education system improved.
Next up …. the post offices!
Why am I even contemplating entering a debate on the value or demerit of small schools, when I’ve only recently retired from that particular ratrun? I’m a firm believer in a properly funded and sensitively resourced system of education which provides for children of all abilities and social mix no matter what size of school. Sadly, most decisions are based on an economic necessity and seemingly a lack of available funds. As you rightly state the per capita cost of educating a child in a school rises as the size of school gets smaller. To quote one respondent to a Guardian Article in 2008, “Large schools were a product of the early 1960s industrialisation of education. The rationale for their existence is an economic, not an educational one. Even the supposed educational advantages of the cyclopean school are founded in ideas of economy of scale and alleged advantages of access to a wider curriculum. ”
Too simplistic – possibly, but properly organised, clustered small schools can provide a caring, stimulating environment for children – bordering on the type of nurturing available in caring families. Sadly, this is not always possible and there seems to be a general feeling amongst those in power that the economic ills afield in the world of education can receive a quick fix by getting rid of the weaker amidst the masses.
“Small schools are still being closed or forced to federate. The argument that small schools find it hard to provide extended services is the latest stick to beat them with.”
“In 1999, after inspecting every primary school in England, Ofsted reported on the comparative performance of small schools, which it defined as those with fewer than 100 pupils. It found that small primary schools achieved markedly better test results, but after adjusting for socio-economic factors, the differences were marginal.
However, there was much else that was positive for small schools. Ofsted argued “the quality of teaching in small schools is generally better than in larger schools”. Inspectors concluded that their “positive ethos” and “important place in the community” meant there was “a good case” for small schools. In short, they tick all the Every Child Matters boxes.”
Like yourself, I’ve also been on the managerial end of a lack of funding in a small school and having to work with administrators whose lack of empathy was often almost criminal. It can have the effect of curbing your sense of self worth and make you seriously question the value of what you hope to achieve on a daily basis.
However, the case for children’s welfare at small schools is very strong.
The aforementioned Guardian article (http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/mortarboard/2008/jan/22/recognisingthegoodofsmall) ends with …
“As Ofsted reported, small schools have a positive ethos that fosters “a family atmosphere”, “good standards of behaviour” and “close links with parents and the community”. That sounds like a recipe for solving many current problems, not only in rural areas but also, perhaps especially, in urban areas too.”
Ok – my soap box is in the cupboard on this one. Cardi
Cardi ~
I knew I’d get a reaction …..
Having dealt with small mindedness in a small school situation I am now of the opinion that small schools are only pissing against the wind in trying to survive in our modern day world.
Samll schools are a product of a bye gone era … an era of walking to school, an era of cycling to school, an era of bringing the sod of turf for the fire to school …. it’s with O’Leary in the grave.
DES efficiencies, DES policy regulations don’t suit the smaller school yet they have to be implemented …. as a Principal of a smaller school it’s akin to being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
…. “ah sure … we’re a small school … DES rules don’t apply here.”
I’m all for an Bord Snip Nua’s amalgamation proposal once it’s done properly to the betterment of all in our education sector. Cash savings should then be an added bonus!
rant over …. for the moment …..
Ok, last comment – as I don’t intend rising to any bait (I’m retired, man) – I could quote as much positive research and practice re small schools until it made me blue in the face – and, it could be counter argued with other evidence.
We’ve both been f@%*ed over by the system in our turn and I really appreciate where you’re coming from …
Paddy – is the former email contact I used for you still live or do I now need to avoid it? You could email me with an answer if you prefer.
Dim Problem – fadhb ar bith
Hey cardi … all emails still work.
But I’ve emailed you with my gmail account that I’m living with more often.
Google has me bought!
Re. small schools … I can see a lot of good in them but fecking paperwork and ineffective boards of managements made my life a misery.
Lifestyles have changed, people are more mobile, the small rural school is becoming a thing of the past.
I love history, I love extolling the merits of those who have gone before us but I’m not tunnelled by the past. I see great things in the here and now. Technology has made life better.
We have ample in our lives – access to great food, great people, great cultures, … all in an instance.
I believe that children could fare as well if not better in bigger schools … but only if it’s done properly.
O … what could be done in all aspects of our society … if people took time to organise it properly.
An Bord Snip Nua’s only job is to ‘snip’ …. the budget … not to improve the areas where the snips are proposed.
I don’t have high hopes that the ‘snips’ will improve anything.
I foresee the opposite …. and still … money will be wasted.
Deep down I don’t really care about the bigger picture anymore … I’m going to ‘snip’ my own life with my lifestyle downgrade … if ever my two up/two down trad farmhouse becomes mine!
Simple life, mountain walks, sea air, own veg, internet business, a little dabbling in education ….. roll on the blissful semi-retirement.
Sorry Paddy. Can’t comment too much on this because I’m pretty ignorant of the situation over there but our Government is actually spending on small schools. I have a friend who’s an engineer and he’s refurbishing a school at the moment that has 32 pupils in three different years. They have two teachers and a teacher’s aid! Mind you, there’s no other school within 50kms to amalgamate with so maybe living in a big country makes necessity the mother of invention.
We live in a mobile world. Parents will travel miles to take their darlings to hobbies, sports games and all manner of entertainment; so why not school? Having said that, We were very fortunate to have excellent oversubscribed schools at all levels within walking distance where Elly’s sponge like quest for knowledge was well fed.