Welcome to the PDST Forbairt site.

Forbairt is a year long supportive programme for a school leadership team, comprising of the principal, deputy principal and one other school leader*. It is constructed on an action learning model and is designed to support school leaders to develop their own leadership capacity, the leadership capacity of others and explore leadership in their own school context.

In line with current Public health advice, between September and December 2020, the programme will consist of

an introductory session (online after school) for school leadership teams (an online, after school, facilitated event for all three members of staff and open to the full ISM team by arrangement),

one leadership capacity training session (online after school) for a nominated Assistant Principal/Teacher Leader and

one Action Learning Community Meeting (online after school) for all three leaders (P, DP and nominated AP/TL).

It is hoped that further face to face engagements may take place between January 2021 and June 2021 subject to Public Health guidance.

In addition to this, school teams are clustered together with other schools based on school context i.e. small schools, rural schools, DEIS schools, special schools etc., supported by a PDST facilitator. The ALC meeting provides a safe environment to ask questions, seek answers, gain support and develop thinking. In this way, schools are exposed to perspectives and insights into how other schools achieve different solutions towards enhancing leadership, teaching and learning.

A Leadership Development project (LDP) is a key component of the Forbairt programme and provides a framework for school leaders to plan for and enhance teaching and learning in their school. Throughout the programme, scaffolded support is provided by a PDST facilitator in relation to the LDP which is unique to each school’s current and emerging Leadership Development priorities. This incrementally forms the content of the LDP for a showcase event in Forbairt 8.

The Forbairt programme provides a unique professional development opportunity for the Principal, Deputy Principal and a Teacher Leader to work together as a senior leadership team.