Changes to representation
What does the Act mean for parental representation?
From August 2007 the legislation covering school boards will be repealed and new system of Parent Forums and Parent Councils will be introduced in schools.
What is a Parent Forum and Parent Council?
Each parent who has a child attending a local authority school will automatically be a member of the Parent Forum of the school. Each education authority should ensure that parents know exactly what that means.
As members of the Parent Forum, parents can expect to receive information outlining what they might expect in terms of partnership and involvement in their child's school education, as well as how they can be involved in decisions about the Parent Council.
Parent Councils are the representative body which will replace school boards from August 2007. Education authorities will be required to outline plans for establishing a Parent Council at each school in their area, but the final decision on how their Parent Council will be run is to be made by the members of the Parent Forum.
How will the Parent Council be set up?
Education authorities will let the Parent Forum (ie all parents) know in writing about their intention to establish a Parent Council at their school. The education authority will provide examples of constitutions and different ways of organising a Council and it will be for the Parent Forum to decide what they want. The emphasis is on having an arrangement which suits parents and is right for the school.
Neighbouring schools can set up a Combined Parent Council if they wish; in some small schools all the parents may be in involved in the Council.
The Parents as Partners in Children's Learning Toolkit has further information on setting up a Parent Council, including checklists and activities for parents to work through to come to a decision on their constitution.
Who can be on the Parent Council?
Generally, members of the Parent Council must be parents of children who attend the school and the Chairperson must have a child in the school. However, the Council can set up a constitution that allows them to co-opt members of the wider school community, such as teachers or local councillors, or, in the case of denominational schools, religious leaders.
The headteacher has a duty and a right to attend the Parent Council meetings or to be represented unless they and the Parent Council have agreed otherwise. The Parent Forum will decide how members are to be appointed.
What is the role of the Parent Council?
Much of what a Parent Council does will be decided by parents, but the Act does lay down some requirements. These are:
To support those managing the school as they seek to raise standards of education and develop pupils to their fullest potential. This can relate both to the taught curriculum and to the provision of social, cultural and recreational activities.
To seek the views of the Parent Forum and to represent its views to the headteacher and to the local authority, especially about the arrangements to support parents getting involved in their child's education and in the school in general. This means that the items to be discussed at the meetings will be decided by parents so that they can deal with the issues they see as important.
To encourage contact between the school, parents, pupils, providers of pre-school education and others in the community.
To provide pupils with information about the Parent Council, who its members are and how they can communicate with it.
To report regularly to the Parent Forum on its activities.
What is the role of the headteacher in relation to the Parent Council?
As well as having a duty and a right to attend the Parent Council meetings (unless both parties have agreed otherwise), the headteacher is required to:
give advice to the Parent Council on any matter which falls into his or her area of responsibility
report to the Parent Council on the performance of the school and give a statement of his or her objectives and ambitions for the school. A summary is to be given to each parent.
See the Guidance on the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act for more information on the role of Parent Councils.
'Making the difference' is produced by:
