Media response
The Educator Post Establishments, including that for LSEN, were distributed at the end of September 2012. Consultation with Educator Unions and School Governing Body Associations, including FEDSAS, were concluded prior to distribution of the Post Establishments (see original FEDSAS statement here.)
The 2013 Post Establishment for LSEN schools resulted in:
- 28 Schools losing a combined total of 79 posts
- 75 Schools gaining a combined total of 123
- The sector as a whole gained 44 posts (from 2755 in 2012 to 2799 in 2013)
The department has been engaging both FEDSAS and PACSEN with a view to assisting schools who are losing posts and would find it difficult to cope. FEDSAS and PACSEN submitted the names of 12 such schools with individualised motivations per school. The motivations and queries were thoroughly investigated and the following were established:
- That the posts distribution norms were accurately applied
- That the schools legitimately lost posts
- That the schools in question did not make the appropriate plans to absorb the loss in posts during the calendar year 2012 and that the further losses in post during the 2013 calendar year will further challenge these schools
- The 12 schools in question would require a total of 24 posts