8.4.1 Current governance structures in schools

8.4.1 Current governance structures in schools

Under the Education Act 1998, the patron of a school must, where practicable, appoint a board of management which manages the school at local level. To ensure that a recognised school is managed in a spirit of partnership, the board must be representative of teacher, parent, community and patron interests. The foremost goal of a board of management is to ensure that the school is managed in a manner that provides all learners with the best possible education.

The board manages the school on behalf of the patron and is accountable to the patron and the Minister. The principal is responsible for the day-to-day management of the school, including the guidance and direction of the teachers and other staff of the school. In primary, special and post-primary schools, each board of management operates as a separate legal entity and must manage its own school in accordance with the duties and functions of a board of management as set out in the Education Act 1998, and in accordance with the provisions of the Governance Manual for Primary Schools 2019-2023 and articles of management as appropriate.

In community national schools (CNS), the ETB has overall responsibility for governance. Every CNS has a board of management with responsibility for overall strategic planning and policy development for the school. As with other schools, the board includes representation from parents, teachers, the community, the patron and the principal.