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 ,

(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 section 33 ,

(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 and in particular section 15 (2) (d), establish and maintain an admissions policy which provides for maximum accessibility to the school.