Education Act 1998
Functions of a school.
9.—A recognised school shall provide education to students which is appropriate to their abilities and needs and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, it shall use its available resources to—
(a) ensure that the educational needs of all students, including those with a disability or other special educational needs, are identified and provided for,
(b) ensure that the education provided by it meets the requirements of education policy as determined from time to time by the Minister including requirements as to the provision of a curriculum as prescribed by the Minister in accordance with section 30,
F19[(ba) cooperate with the National Council for Special Education in the performance by the Council of its functions under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 relating to the provision of education to children with special educational needs, including, in particular, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this Act and any direction served by the Minister on the patron or the board as the case may be, under section 37A, by the provision and operation of a special class or classes when requested to do so by the Council, and any direction served by the Council under section 67(4B),]
(c) ensure that students have access to appropriate guidance to assist them in their educational and career choices,
(d) promote the moral, spiritual, social and personal development of students and provide health education for them, in consultation with their parents, having regard to the characteristic spirit of the school,
(e) promote equality of opportunity for both male and female students and staff of the school,
(f) promote the development of the Irish language and traditions, Irish literature, the arts and other cultural matters,
(g) ensure that parents of a students, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, have access in the prescribed manner to records kept by that school relating to the progress of that student in his or her education,
(h) in the case of schools located in a Gaeltacht area, contribute to the maintenance of Irish as the primary community language,
(i) conduct its activities in compliance with any regulations made from time to time by the Minister under F20[under this Act],
(j) ensure that the needs of personnel involved in management functions and staff development needs generally in the school are identified and provided for,
(k) establish and maintain systems whereby the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations can be assessed, including the quality and effectiveness of teaching in the school and the attainment levels and academic standards of students,
(l) establish or maintain contacts with other schools and at other appropriate levels throughout the community served by the school, and
(m) subject to this Act F21[…], establish and maintain an admissions policy which provides for maximum accessibility to the school F22[, including for students with a disability or other special educational needs].
Annotations
Amendments:
F19
Inserted (25.07.2022) by Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Act 2022 (22/2022), s. 4(a), S.I. No. 382 of 2022.
F20
Substituted (1.02.2020) by Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 (14/2018), s. 3(a), S.I. No. 6 of 2020.
F21
Deleted (1.02.2020) by Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 (14/2018), s. 3(b), S.I. No. 6 of 2020.
F22
Inserted (25.07.2022) by Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Act 2022 (22/2022), s. 4(b), S.I. No. 382 of 2022.
Editorial Notes:
E6
Power of Ombudsman for Children to investigate school in connection with performance of functions under section prescribed (25.04.2004) by Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 (22/2002), s. 9(1)(a), S.I. No. 925 of 2004.