Active

Primary

Mon May 18 2026

Wed Jun 3 2026

Tue Sep 1 2026

Acting

Mainstream with Special Classes

Senior School

Co-Educational

Catholic

25

428

Yes

Additional Information:
The Board of Management of Mary, Mother of Hope Senior NS invites applications for the position of Deputy Principal.

The successful applicant will assume the position of Acting Principal immediately upon appointment, taking on full senior leadership responsibility while the current Principal is on secondment.

Mary, Mother of Hope Senior National School is a vibrant, dynamic school located in Littlepace, Dublin 15, with 16 mainstream classes, one special class, 6 SET positions, 1 EAL position, 11 SNAs, Principal and Deputy Principal.

The school is a co-educational senior primary school with a Catholic ethos under the patronage of the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell.

Together the Principal, the Deputy Principal and two Assistant Principal 1 post-holders form the senior management team of the school, and work in tandem with the in-school leadership team to ensure the effective leadership and management of the school. The successful candidate should demonstrate a responsive, reflective and evidence-informed approach to leadership and school improvement.

Eligibility Criteria for Appointment:
1. Applicants must be fully registered with the Teaching Council (Route 1, Primary) and have a minimum of five years recognised teaching service, two of which must be in a recognised primary school within the Republic of Ireland.
2. The successful candidate must hold a certificate to teach Religion in a Catholic School. The Deputy Principal will be expected to uphold and promote the ethos, values, and traditions of the school.
3. Appointment to this position will be subject to reference checks and Occupational Health screening, current and continuing Teaching Council registration, current Garda vetting requirements, and proof of qualifications.
This is a permanent position appointed through open competition in line with Circular 0044/2019 and Information Note 0008/2022. The roles and responsibilities of this post are aligned with the four domains of leadership and management as outlined in Circular 0044/2019 and Looking at Our Schools 2022: A Quality Framework for Schools:
• Leading Teaching and Learning
• Managing the Organisation
• Leading School Development
• Developing Leadership Capacity.


Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Competencies
This position and role will include undertaking additional duties as Acting Principal as stand-in for the school Principal, who is on secondment. The successful candidate will demonstrate the following skills, knowledge, experience and competencies:

• A strong understanding of, and commitment to upholding, the Catholic Ethos and values of the school, and the ability to actively promote these values within the school community.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills, with a proven ability to build, sustain, and nurture positive and professional relationships with pupils, parents/guardians, staff, Board of Management, external agencies, and the wider school community.
• Experience and knowledge of leadership, management, and administration in primary schools, including an understanding of whole-school organisation, policy development, and operational leadership.
• A commitment to working collaboratively with the Senior Leadership team to develop, communicate, and implement a shared vision for high-quality teaching, learning, and assessment across the school, ensuring a consistent focus on school improvement and pupil outcomes.
• A commitment to promoting and supporting pupil and staff wellbeing, encouraging meaningful parental involvement, and the consistent implementation of positive behaviour strategies and inclusive practices.
• A strong commitment to promoting pupil voice, pupil agency, creativity, and active participation in learning, and to fostering a positive and inclusive school culture.
• Proven leadership skills, including experience in the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies and school-based initiatives, with particular experience of engaging in School Self-Evaluation (SSE) and school development planning processes to support continuous improvement.
• An in-depth understanding of the Primary Curriculum Framework and Primary Curriculum, supported by a broad range of teaching experience, and a demonstrated capacity to lead, support, and drive curriculum development and change across the school.
• Strong organisational, planning, and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively, manage competing demands, and contribute to the efficient day-to-day running of a busy school environment.
• Experience of working within a model of shared and distributed leadership, including effective delegation, collaborative decision-making, and a demonstrated commitment to developing leadership capacity among staff members.
• A strong commitment to ongoing professional development relevant to senior leadership, with a reflective approach to practice and a willingness to engage in continuous professional growth.
• Flexibility and adaptability in responding to the evolving needs, priorities, and challenges of the school community, with a solution-focused and proactive approach to leadership.

Applications should be made in writing to the Chairperson, Board of Management, Mary, Mother of Hope Senior National School, Littlepace, Dublin 15.

The Standard Application Form for Principalship/Deputy Principalship should be used.

The application should also include a letter of application outlining the candidate’s vision for the role.

The application should also contain a copy of Certificates, to include a copy of the certificate to teach Religion in a Catholic School, Diplomas, Degrees, Teaching Council Registration.