East Lothian Council
Department of Education & Children’s Services
CONSTITUTION
Name
1. This is the Constitution of Law Primary School Parent Council. The Parent Council is hereinafter referred to, and will be commonly known, as the “School Council”.
Aims and Objectives
2. The aims of the School Council are:
· To work in partnership with the school and promote partnership between the school, pupils, parents and the community.
· To provide a formal channel of communication between parents, the School, East Lothian Council and the wider community on matters related to the school.
· To promote a welcoming ethos in the school for all parents.
· To develop and engage in activities which support the education and welfare of pupils, for example through discussion with the Pupil Council.
· To promote and encourage the participation of parents in school matters, through consultation e.g on issues such as healthy eating, travel plans, school policies etc.
· To identify and represent the views of parents on the education provided by the school and other matters affecting the welfare of pupils.
· To participate in the appointment procedures for Head Teacher and Depute Head Teacher appointments.
Membership
3. A parent with a child at the school can volunteer to be a member of the School Council.
4. Two thirds of the membership should be parents of children attending the school, with a minimum of five parents. The maximum size of the Council should be 15. Therefore the number of parent members must always be greater than the number of non-parent members.
5. Parent membership of the School Council will be agreed for a period of a minimum of 2 and maximum of 4 years (to allow for some continuity in the Council) after which they may put themselves forward for re-selection if they wish, after a gap of one year.
6. In the event that the number of volunteers is greater than the number of places as stated in the constitution, the membership of the School Council will be formed at a special meeting of the Parent Forum, where possible ensuring a balance is achieved to cover all stages of the school.
7. The School Council may co-opt members to assist with carrying out its functions. Co-opted members of teaching and support staff must volunteer to become co-opted members.
8. Non-parent members will include 2 representatives from teaching and support staff at the school, plus local councillors, and members of the community. School staff will make their own arrangements for representation.
9. Non–parent members will serve for a period of 2-4 years, after which time the School Council will review and consider requirements for this membership.
10. Community members may be invited to attend meetings of the Council.
11. If the School Council chooses to set up sub groups, each sub group should include a member of the School Council. Other members of the Parent Forum and the school community may be co-opted onto sub groups. Sub groups will last as long as required to carry out their tasks. Any decision of any sub group should be approved/ratified by the School Council.
12. All parents are welcome to attend any of the school Council meetings.
13. The Headteacher has a right and a duty to attend meetings of the School Council or to be represented.
Termination of Membership
14. Should a member of School Council act in a way that is considered by other
members of the School Council, to undermine its objectives, their membership
of the School Council shall be terminated if the majority of the members
agree. Termination of membership would be confirmed in writing to the
member within ten working days of the decision being taken.
Office Bearers
15. The Chair and other office bearers, e.g.Vice-chair, of the School Council will be agreed by the members of the School Council immediately following its formation. Office bearers will be re-selected by the School Council on an annual basis.
16. The Chair of the School Council will be a parent of a child attending Law Primary School. If the child ceases to be a pupil, a new Chair will be agreed at the next meeting of the School Council.
17. The School Council is accountable to the Parent Forum of Law Primary School and will make a report to it at least once each year on its activities on behalf of all the parents.
18. The School Council will appoint a person to be Clerk/Secretary/secretary and who may, unless s/he is a member of the School Council be paid for his/her services.
Meetings
19. If 30 members of the Parent Forum request a special general meeting to discuss issues within the School Council remit, the School Council shall arrange this. They will give written notice of the meeting to members of the Parent Forum at least two weeks in advance of the meeting and, at the same time, circulate notice of the matter or matters to be discussed at the meeting.
20. Copies of minutes of all meetings will be available to all parents of children at Law Primary School and to all members of staff at the school. Copies will be available from the Clerk/Secretary/secretary to the School Council and from the school office, and displayed on notice board and website.
21. Meetings of the School Council shall be open to the public, unless the School Council is discussing an issue that it considers should be dealt with on a confidential basis. In such circumstances, only members of School Council, the Headteacher or their representative, and anyone specifically invited to the meeting such as the Director of Education and Children’s Services, or his representative, can attend.
Quorum
22. The quorum of School Council shall be not less than 3 of its members except on those occasions when there is going to be a vote, in which case the minimum number will be 5.
Annual Meeting
23. The annual meeting will be held in September of each year. Notice of the meeting including date, time and place, will be sent to all members of the Parent Forum at least two weeks in advance. The meeting will consider:
a. A report on the work of the School Council and its sub groups.
b. Selection of the School Council.
c. Discussion of issues that members of the Parent Forum may wish to raise.
d. Approval of accounts and appointment of auditor.
24. The School Council will meet at least once in every school term.
Voting
25. Should a vote be necessary to make a decision, each parent member at the meeting will have one vote, with the Chair having a casting vote in the event of a tie.
26. Any two members of the School Council can request that an additional meeting be held, and all members of the School Council will be given at least one week’s written notice of the date, time and place of the meeting.
Finance
27. The Treasurer will open a bank or building society account in the name of School Council for all School Council funds. Withdrawals will require the signature of the Treasurer and at least one other member.
28. The Treasurer will keep an accurate record of all income and expenditure, and will provide a summary of this for each School Council meeting and a full account for the Annual Meeting.
29. The School Council shall be responsible for ensuring that all monies are used in accordance with the objectives of the School Council.
Amendments
30. The School Council may alter its Constitution after obtaining consent from members of the Parent Forum. Members of the Parent Forum will be sent a copy of the proposed amendment and given reasonable time to respond to the proposal.
31. Copies of the amended Constitution will be lodged with the Authority and
Head teacher.
Dissolution
32. Should the School Council cease to exist, any remaining property will be passed to the Education Authority to be used for the benefit of the school. If the school is amalgamating, the funds will be passed to the school or schools which pupils will attend.