The responsibilities of a Principal are detailed in the Deed of Trust for Community Schools, the Articles of Management for Comprehensive Schools, in the Education Act, 1998, the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 and other relevant legislation, and by custom and practice.

The Community Schools Deed of Trust, Articles of Management, par. 10 (ii), specifies that the Principal “shall control the internal organisation, management and discipline of the School, shall exercise supervision over the teaching and non-teaching staff....”.

In Part V of the Education Act, 1998, the duties and responsibilities of a Principal are described in some detail and include an obligation to carry out those duties delegated to her/him by the Board of Management. Many of the other duties are directed towards the creation of the kind of working environment described in 4.1 above.

The responsibilities of a Principal range over every facet of the operation of the school, and Principals require a high level of leadership, management and administrative skills and abilities in the area of human relationships to enable them to carry out their remit effectively.

Above all else, there is a responsibility on a Principal to create an environment where teaching and learning can flourish and where students and school personnel are encouraged to reach their full potential. This can only be achieved through the co-operation of all the partners in the school and through the effective delegation of responsibility from the Board of Management to the Principal and from the Principal to school personnel and to the students where possible.