Transitional arrangements

Transitional arrangements

Some preparatory work on the part of both education authorities and parents will be appropriate before Parent Councils can come into being. In particular, education authorities and parents may wish to work together to consider whether to establish Parent Councils and what form these may take. The Act’s provisions, therefore, take effect in three main stages, in September 2006, January 2007, and August 2007. Full details of commencement dates for each section of the Act and an overview of the work required during the transition year are contained in Guidance Circular: Commencement of the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006, sent to Directors of Education in August 2006. Available from http://www.scotland.gov.uk/publications

Note: Section 8(12) of the Act does not come into effect until August 2007. This section provides that members of a Parent Council do not incur personal liability for anything done, or purportedly done, in the exercise of the Parent Council’s functions, if it was done in good faith. The benefit of this provision will not apply to members of any ‘interim’ or ‘shadow’ body set up before the new Parent Councils come into being after August 2007. Accordingly if such an ‘interim’ or ‘shadow’ body wish to engage in any activity which might give rise to public liabilities, they should consider carefully the need to obtain appropriate public liability insurance.