School placement is an integral element of initial teacher education and is a vital part of learning to be a teacher. Over the course of the two-year PME, you will undertake placement in at least two different schools. It is our policy that PME students change schools between Year 1 and Year 2.
It is your responsibility, once offered a provisional place on the PME course, to arrange your school placement. The Department has built strong relationships with many schools and we will support you in the process of finding a placement.
You must secure placement in schools within 160KM travel distance from Maynooth University. In PME1 you will spend two days per week (Thursdays and Fridays) in school from late August until late May. You will have a three-week block placement in January where you will spend five days per week in the school. The university-based activities, lectures, tutorials and meetings take place from Monday to Wednesday each week and follow the university calendar. Further details concerning school placement are available in our School Placement Booklet. Applicants should also consult the Guidelines for Student Teachers with Disabilities where applicable.
Securing a school placement can be a challenging process, so we advise you to start as soon as possible and use any professional or personal contacts you may have. Many schools make decisions relating to school placement during the summer, but some school placements are not finalised until the start of the new school year. Please note that schools generally close fully from late June to early or mid-August. We recommend you aim to secure your school placement before the end of June.
It is recommended that you strategically target a small number of schools for your school placement. Applications should be personalised (e.g., use the name of the principal) and show evidence that you have some familiarity with the school context (start by visiting the school website). When contacting a school by telephone, email, letter or in person, you should:
- Indicate that you are an intending student on the PME programme at Maynooth University
- Request a meeting/ interview with the principal or deputy principal to discuss your application
If the principal/ deputy principal invites you to attend the school for interview or requests a meeting, this should be considered as a formal interview for placement. Consequently, you should:
- Dress professionally.
- Be familiar with the school context and the recent achievements/ initiatives of the school.
- Try to identify ways you could contribute to the life of the school.
Bring the following documentation:
A completed Letter of Application to the principal
A CV with Cover Page
Be familiar with the location of the school and arrive ahead of time. Upon arrival, call to the school reception, introduce yourself and explain that you are expected by the principal or deputy principal.
If you have been accepted by a school then please complete the Online School Placement Form PME Y1. Once you have submitted this form to the department, you may not subsequently change schools. If you decide at a later date not to accept the place on the PME, you must inform in writing the principal (or nominee) of the school who offered the placement (as well as informing the MU School Placement Office via email on [email protected]).
All students who undertake school placement must undergo a vetting process with Maynooth University. Please be aware that you cannot begin school placement until you have completed the vetting process.
The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 provide a legislative basis for the mandatory vetting of persons who wish to undertake certain work or activities relating to children or vulnerable persons or to provide certain services to children or vulnerable persons.
You will be contacted by email when your vetting process begins. This will require you to fill out a Vetting Invitation Form (NVB1) which we will email you. All information regarding the additional documents will be on your Vetting Invitation Form. An Garda Síochána has developed a 100 Point Check in relation to identity documents for guidance purposes and this will be explained in the email we send to you. One piece of identification must include a photo. Verification of these documents will be completed via Microsoft Teams.
Further information regarding Vetting is available here
