Schools with teaching principals are encouraged to form clusters to cover their release days

The Department of Education has confirmed to the INTO that groups of five small schools with teaching principals may appoint a fixed-term teacher to cover their leadership and management days.
Schools that are already involved in clusters to allow their principals to avail of their release days can restructure those clusters to take account of the additional release days outlined in Circular 45/2020. Schools are advised to notify the Department of Education of any such new reconfigurations.
Schools that have participated in the pilot scheme in the last three years have praised the scheme, as the availability of the fixed-term teacher has provided certainty and consistency for principals and their pupils.
Teachers appointed to these fixed-term posts qualify for a contract of indefinite duration at the beginning of year three in the base school.