Exploring the selection of Catholic primary school Principals in the Republic of Ireland

O’Keeffe, Clíona Mary (2024) Exploring the selection of Catholic primary school Principals in the Republic of Ireland. Ed.D thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable candidates to take on the role of Primary school Principal in Ireland. For Catholic schools, which use the same selection process as all others, the problem is exacerbated by the need to appoint candidates who can lead a faith community as well as an educational community.

Given the responsibility and importance of the faith leadership and educational leadership roles, it would be expected that the Church would seek a person with very specific skills and characteristics to lead a Catholic primary school. It is however, difficult to ascertain how an appropriate Catholic school Principal is distinguished from other candidates during the selection process. Although there is a great deal of literature on Catholic schools, teaching in Catholic schools and religious education, it is more difficult to find research on Catholic school leadership in Ireland. There is scope for much more research into the area.

Using an interpretivist mixed methods approach, this study set out to ascertain if the perceptions of Patron/Assessors/Principals about the Principal selection process in Irish Catholic primary schools align with each other and with the reality of the process? A questionnaire was sent to every Catholic primary school in the Republic of Ireland, in an attempt to develop an overview of the type of person in the Principal role. Qualitative interviews were undertaken with three cohorts, Principals (n=13), Independent Assessors (n=9) and a Diocesan Secretary for Education. Very quickly it became obvious that there is an urgent need for clarity from the Catholic Church about her expectations and requirements for those taking on the role of Principal.

Independent Assessor, who are charged with selection on behalf of the Patron, were unable to articulate a clear ‘person specification’ for the type of Principal their Diocese sought to lead its schools. Similarly, Principals were also unaware of what the Patron was looking for. The message the Church thought it was communicating to Assessors and Principals was not being received.

The study also found that there is a need for greater transparency around the selection and training of Independent Assessors. It was noted, too, that their training should extend beyond the legalities of the recruitment process. The evidence from this and other research indicates that there is some basis to the Principals perception that both male candidates who are involved with the GAA and internal candidates are more likely to be appointed.

The final finding of this study is that the selection process requires improvement at every stage.

• Item Type: Thesis (Ed.D)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Subjects: L Education > L Education (General); L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1501 Primary Education
• Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences > School of Education
• Supervisor's Name: Wardle, Dr. Georgina and Davis, Professor Robert
• Date of Award: 2024
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2024-84699
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Nov 2024 16:30
• Last Modified: 14 Nov 2024 16:30
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.84699
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/84699