Panel recommends immediate action at De La Salle College
An independent panel has recommended immediate action be taken to overcome the “unacceptable circumstances” that have developed at De La Salle College in West Belfast.
The school has made the headlines over the past year, with reports of industrial disputes, teacher absences, conflict and relationship breakdowns between the school’s Board of Governors, Principal and staff, protests by parents and students.
In April, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) appointed an Associate Principal to support the school leadership.
However by the end of that month, things had deteriorated to the point where the Minister for Education appointed an independent panel to investigate.
The panel was asked to look into all factors and circumstances that gave rise to the deterioration of relationships within the school, the wider impact of this on the pupils’ education and well-being, and the impact on the wider community served by the school.
In the report published on Wednesday, the panel said they found “no single cause or factor that led to the level of deterioration in working relationships”.
“As reflected in the content of the report, the panel finds that a combination of a sequence of incidents and issues, along with some systemic weaknesses, and in the processes of the responsible authorities, were all contributory factor.”
The panel said they "would not understate the seriousness of the circumstances in this school".
It was satisfied that the exceptional circumstances that face the school can be overcome "but equally, to achieve this goal successfully will require exceptional measures and the commitment of all to move forward".
It called for action from CCMS, the Board of Governors, the Education Authority (EA), Department of Education (DE), Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI), the trade unions, school leaders and staff.
A need for a stable school leadership arrangements to be in place for the coming school year was also stressed.
They made some 40 recommendations, drawing on characteristics of successful schools, which include being child-centred, having the highest quality learning and teaching, effective leadership at all levels and communicating regularly with the local community.
Some of those recommendations are categorised as “critical” and require immediate implementation.
Critical recommendations include:
Ensuring a stable school leadership is in place for the coming school year with a robust support programme in place for the Principal in post.
A HR specialist is allocated for 2016/17.
A clear vision and ethos for the school is established which is uncompromisingly ‘child-centred’ and puts the education of the students firmly at its heart.
a School Development Plan is established.
the Board of Governors, school management and the trade unions should establish immediately a school-based Joint Consultative Committee to develop positive and constructive engagement on day-to-day industrial relations issues within the school.
A full inspection be scheduled.
Consider additions to the Board of Governors to meet any gaps in skills and experience.
Consider the scope to utilise the current schemes such as the Voluntary Exit Scheme (VES), Investing in the Workforce, and/or other sources, to fund measures to support necessary staff structure changes.
The panel was positive in that there was a commitment by teachers to pupils, parents and their community and a reciprocal commitment of the community to the school.
“The panel urges all the parties to act on our recommendations to enable De La Salle College to overcome the unacceptable circumstances that developed, and to be a centre of excellence in teaching and learning for all the students and a good place to work for all staff,” the report said.
Education Minister Peter Weir has asked his officials to work with CCMS and the Education Authority to put in place suitable arrangements for overseeing implementation of the report’s recommendations, adding that work has already begun to ensure that this is done.