Please click on link Droichead Covid-19 (Updated June) Guidelines for NQTs 2019/2020

Please click on link Droichead Covid-19 (Updated June) Guidelines for PSTs 2019/2020

The Teaching Council has informed NIPT that, following its meeting on 8th June 2020, Council has published updated Droichead Interim Measures for NQTs and PSTs engaging in the Droichead process during the 2019/2020 school year. These are available on the Council’s website here 

The Council has decided that any NQT who has completed Strand A, the in-school elements of Droichead in the school year 2019/2020, within the minimum period of time, and who may have one or more elements of Strand B outstanding, may submit a completed Form D once the PST co-signs the form in the usual way. On receipt of a completed form, the NQTs registration will be updated and the condition removed.

For the avoidance of doubt, this means that any:

• Time spent engaging in Droichead after 12th March can be included in the verification of the Droichead process.
• Quality remote teaching and learning including online observations and professional conversations can also be included.

NQTs who have not completed strand A within the minimum period of time by the end of the school year can still bank their time and any activities completed, towards Droichead in the next school year (2020/2021) on an exceptional basis only, due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

To expedite processing the Teaching Council is accepting Form Ds by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please note, electronic signatures are not accepted on forms received by email. Form Ds which have been submitted by NQTs are queued for processing in rotation. 

As you are aware, NIPT has set up a dedicated email account (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) which PST members are welcome to use in case their query is not addressed in the updated guidelines. NQTs are advised to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if their queries are not addressed in their attached document, ensuring to include their registration number on all correspondence.

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● Cluster meetings take place for NQTs engaging in the Droichead process and are facilitated by NIPT.

● NQTs must attend one cluster meeting (2-hour duration) per term for the duration of their Droichead process and one additional professional learning activity.

● NQTs must have applied for Droichead via the ‘My Registration’ portal on www.teachingcouncil.ie and received a confirmation email prior to attending cluster
meetings.

● NQTs must attend Cluster Meeting 1 before attending Cluster Meeting 2 and/or Cluster Meeting 3. Cluster Meeting 1 provides NQTs with information relating to all aspects of the Droichead process. Subsequent cluster meetings provide NQTs with opportunities to engage in further professional development and to share their learning from the process with one
another.

● The national schedule for cluster meetings is available on www.teacherinduction.ie. This outlines the timeframe during which cluster meetings take place over the course of the school year. Specific dates, venues and times of cluster meetings are advertised on our website. NQTs must register with this education centre to attend the relevant cluster meeting(s).

● All NQTs in attendance at cluster meetings must sign the register which is returned to the education centre administrator by the associate at the end of the cluster meeting.

● NQTs are reminded to bring Form D (available at www.teachingcouncil.ie) to each cluster meeting they attend as it will need to be stamped at the meeting to confirm their attendance. Maintaining this record is the responsibility of each NQT.

● Cluster meetings are sector specific. Primary and Post-Primary NQTs must attend the cluster meeting(s) that is/are relevant to their sector only. NQTs teaching in Special Schools must attend the cluster meeting relevant to their sector.

NQTs should also engage in one other additional professional learning activity as part of their Droichead process. The NIPT Induction Workshop Programme consists of a series of workshops specifically designed for NQTs with a practical classroom focus. NQTs undertaking the Droichead process can attend a workshop as their additional professional learning activity. These workshops are available in our education centre. NQTs must register with their local education centre to attend. The national workshop schedule is available on

www.teacherinduction.ie.

● Queries in relation to registration should be directed to The Teaching Council at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NQT Droichead