New management's plans to turn around school criticised by Dept

The principal of Gormanston College has reacted to criticism of the college in a report by Department of Education inspectors, saying that a huge amount of work had been done since they carried out their inspection, including 15 initiatives undertaken which he says will help the school become "an outstanding one". The inspection was carried out at the fee-paying east Meath boarding school in April last year. Since then, the school appointed a new principal - Dermot Lavin - and deputy principal, Padraic O'Dowd, and both have been managing the school since the new term last September. In its criticism, the Department of Education report said there was no evidence of a shared vision for the school. There was also criticism of weakness in school development planning, child protection procedures, communication with parents and the erosion of the school year. The inspectors said the college trustees had not faced the fact that Gormanston was no longer exclusively a boarding school and that a lay principal, whose function is now specified in legislation, is in place. They also noted that the leadership function of the principal at the school was underdeveloped. It stated that the rector, who is a member of the Franciscan community and a former principal, played a prominent management role and called for clarity between the two roles. The college has 400 pupils with an overall staff of 80, of which 32 are in a teaching role. The inspectors reported evidence of tensions among staff and a high turnover of teachers. It said: "While all staff members presented as very committed...morale is clearly very low in the case of a significant number of staff members." Other criticisms included a number of new staff members had not received any input on the child protection guidelines for post-primary schools; there was an urgent need to update the health and safety statement in line with legislation; the curent anti-bullying policy was in need of attention while policies on substance abuse and relationships/sexuality needed to be updated, and, to date, a culture of self-evaluation had not been established in the school. College principal Mr Lavin said this week that the inspectors' report had made recommendations to the college and these were all being addressed. He said that he and Mr O'Dowd had taken over the management of the college last September. Their focus was on teaching and learning, achievable standards and high expectations and building on the reputation and profile of the college. He said they were "very clear about the direction we want the college to take and the board of management, as well as the college trustees, have been very supportive," he said. He added that much had been achieved in a short space of time. "We know the priorities. Work is ongoing." In a letter to parents last Friday, the principal said that, as evidenced by the whole school inspection, the standard of teaching and learning was high, the vision for the college and the mission statement were being revised and consultation had begun and a new college prospectus had been launched. He said communication was better, a formal process to redefine the role of the principal and rector had begun and posts of responsibility held by teaching staff had been revised with a sharper focus. There is also a revised code of behaviour and a new health and safety policy, the college admissions policy, the anti-bullying policy and formalised child protection procedures had been updated. The principal said that significant ICT funding had been secured with the installation of a classroom computer for every teacher with internet access and wall-mounted projectors to support and enhance the quality of teaching and learning (to be ready for September this year). He added that well-qualified staff had been appointed to help support work with students who have specific learning needs and the September 2010 timetable would address criticisms of loss of tuition time. He said the relationship between the parents' association and the college was "positive and transparent" and facilities for girls had been improved. Mr Lavin told parents: "Staff at Gormanston are committed to the future of the college. Our students are excellent. We are a great school and we are working towards becoming an outstanding one."