Droichead: The induction process as a teacher
Droichead is the induction process for:
- Newly qualified teachers (NQTs)
- Teachers who have not previously completed the required period of professional practice
It runs within each academic year and you are required to complete it within that timeframe.
A key part of the process is to engage with your experienced colleagues and reflect on the professional conversations that take place in your professional learning and practice.
Settings that are recognised for Droichead
As a post-primary teacher, you normally complete Droichead when employed in a recognised post-primary school.
As a general rule:
- You must be in paid employment in a permanent, temporary or substitute capacity
- Your employment must give you the opportunity to meet the minimum duration requirement
Special circumstances
You can also complete Droichead if you are employed in one of the following roles:
- As a teacher in a special school where some the pupils attending are post- primary age, and you are teaching them a post-primary curricular subject(s)
- As a teacher in a Centre for Education where a post-primary curricular subject(s) is being taught.
How long is Droichead?
You must complete a minimum block of 200 hours’ teaching employment in an eligible setting from the date on which you applied for Droichead.
This is a minimum period of practice.
We recommended that you use any extra time to remain on Droichead until the end of your contract or the academic year to take full advantage of the support, guidance and advice provided.
Before you apply
Before you apply for Droichead you must:
- Confirm that you are in an eligible setting and meet the minimum duration for the process.
- Confirm that your school is willing to facilitate you through the process by providing a Professional Support Team (PST) to work collaboratively to support and mentor you during your induction process.
- Read and understand Section 2 of the Post-qualification Professional Practice Procedures and Criteria document.
so that you are fully informed of the Droichead process and what is required of you to complete it.
How to apply for and complete Droichead
There are three main parts to Droichead:
- Apply online
- Engage in Droichead
- Complete the online Droichead Form D
1) Apply via your My Registration account
Select “My Registration” then “My Conditions” and the “View Details” option on your Droichead condition.
After you apply
When you apply for Droichead, you will receive an email acknowledging that we received your application. When you have been accepted onto Droichead, you will receive a confirmation email.
The confirmation email will provide links to important information and documentation. It gives approval and includes your start date.
A copy of the confirmation email is required:
- By your PST to begin Droichead
- To attend the Cluster Meetings
2) Engage in Droichead process:
Strand A: School-Based Induction
- Supported by Professional Support Team (PST)
AND
Strand B: Additional Professional Learning Activities
- Attend 1 NQT Cluster Meeting per term
- At least 1 other Professional Learning Activity chosen in consultation with PST
Professional Support Team (PST)
Your Professional Support Team (PST), must have a minimum of two teachers who have completed at least two days of PST training before they can start the process with you.
You can only conclude Droichead when all the members of your PST have completed all required days of their PST training.
3) Complete Droichead Form D through My Registration.
Select “My Registration”, then “My Conditions” and the “View Details” option on your Droichead condition.
Select option to complete your Droichead Form D.
As you are completing your Form D application, you’ll see some sections of the form are filled with information that you provided when you submitted your Droichead application. To view a video about completing a Form D application, click here.