Name
1. This is the constitution for Longniddry Primary School Parent Council (to be known as ‘The Parent Council’)
Aims and Objectives
2. The aims of the Parent Council are:
- To work in partnership with the school.
- To promote partnership between the school, pupils and all parents
- To promote the school’s welcoming ethos among all parents.
- To develop and engage in activities which support the education and welfare of pupils.
- To promote and encourage the participation of parents in these activities
- To identify and represent the views of parents on the education provided by the school and other matters affecting the welfare of pupils.
- To be accountable to the Parent Forum of Longniddry Primary School and report at least once a year on it’s activities on behalf of all the parents.
- To organise a calendar of fundraising and social events for the benefit of Longniddry Primary School through the Events & Fundraising Sub Group.
- To provide representation of the Parent Forum in the selection process of a new Headteacher and/or Deputy Headteacher.
Membership
3. Parent members of the Parent Council must have a child attending the school.
4. The membership will be a minimum of 5 parents of children attending the school. The maximum size will be 10 parents of children attending the school.
5. Parent membership of the Parent Council will be selected for a minimum period of 2 years and a maximum of 4 years.
6. Any parent with a child at the school can volunteer to be a member of the Parent Council as a representative of their child’s/children’s year group, the aim being to have a parent member representing each school year from anti-pre school nursery to P7. If this ideal is not achievable then have a minimum 5 parents with some having responsibility for more than one year group.
The parent’s representation continues to move up with their child’s class in subsequent years.
7. In the event that the number of volunteers is greater than the number of places as stated in the constitution, members of the Parent Council will be selected as follows;
The members of the Parent Council will be selected randomly by placing their name inside a sealed envelope and writing their child’s year group on the envelope ( a parent with children in more than one year group may enter more than one application). If at an election there is more than one parent standing for a year group and there are already at least 8 applicants for the Parent Council then the first name drawn from a sealed envelope will take that place. In the event that no applications are received for a year group, an applicant to an over-subscribed year group, if parent is willing, may fill that position.
8. The Parent Council may co-opt up to 2 members from the local community and 1 staff member to assist with carrying out its functions. A local councillor may be invited to attend.
9. Co-opted members will serve for a minimum period of 2 years, with a maximum of 4 years.
10. If the Parent Council chooses to set up sub groups, each sub group should involve a member of the Parent 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. Membership should be reviewed annually. The Parent Council members will be responsible for liaising with the Parent Council.
Termination of Membership
11. Should a member of the Parent Council act in a way that is considered by other members of the Parent Council to undermine its objectives, their membership of the Parent Council shall be terminated if the majority of the parent members agree. Termination of membership would be confirmed in writing to the member within ten working days of the decision being taken.
12. A member may resign from their post by giving one month’s notice to the Parent council. Thereafter a replacement representative for that year group would be sought.
Office Bearers
13. The Chair and Vice-chair of the Parent Council will be agreed by the members of the Parent Council immediately following its formation. Office bearers will be re-selected by the Parent Council on an annual basis.
14. The Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer of the Parent Council will be selected by the Parent Council on an annual basis If the child ceases to be a pupil, a new Chair will be agreed at the next meeting of the Parent Council.
Meetings
15. If 15 of the members of the Parent Forum request a special general meeting to discuss issues within the Parent Council remit, the Parent Council shall arrange this. They will give 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.
16. Copies of minutes of all meetings will be available to all parents of children at Longniddry Primary School and to all teachers/members of staff at the school. Copies will be available from the Clerk/Secretary to the Parent Council and from the school office as well as being displayed on the school website and Parent Council Noticeboard .
17. Meetings of the Parent Council shall be open to the public, unless the Parent Council is discussing an issue which it considers should be dealt with on a confidential basis. In such circumstances, only members of the Parent 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.
18. A quorum of 5 will be required before a meeting can take place of which a minimum of 4 must be parent members.
19. In the event that a selected school year representative is unable to attend any meeting, including the AGM, then the representative may nominate another parent from that year to substitute and represent him/her.
20. The Parent Council will meet at least once every school term, the regularity being established by the members of the Parent Council. The members of the Parent Council will be given at least one weeks notice of the date, time and venue of the meeting.
Annual General Meeting
21. The annual meeting will be held in last term before the summer holidays 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 Parent Council (and any sub groups)
b. Selection of the new Parent Council.
c. Discussion of issues that members of the Parent Forum may wish to raise.
d. A financial report from the Treasurer as audited by independent auditor.
Voting
22. Should a vote be necessary to make a decision, each parent member and co-opted member at the meeting will have one vote, with the Chair having a casting vote in the event of a tie.
Amendments
23. The Parent Council may alter its constitution after informing the Parent Forum and obtaining requisite consent from the Parent Council.
The Parent Forum and members of the Parent Council will be sent a copy of the proposed amendment/s and given reasonable time as specified by the Parent Council to respond to the proposal. The requisite consent would be granted once the majority of those respondents as respond timeously to that invitation.
24. Copies of the amended constitution will be lodged with the Authority and Head Teacher.
Amended at Parent Council AGM, 17 June 2009