Constitution
The objectives of the Parent Council are:
- To work in partnership with the school/early years to create a welcoming school which is inclusive for all parent/carers.
- To promote partnerships between the school/early years centre, its pupils and all its parent/carers.
- To develop and engage in activities which support the education and welfare of the pupils and
- To identify and represent the views of parents/carers on the education provided by the school/early years centre and other matters affecting the education and welfare of the pupils.
The membership will be a minimum of three parents of children attending the school/early years centre.
The Parent Council will be selected for a period of two years. Any parents/carers of a child at the school/early years centre can volunteer to be a member of the Parent Council.
The Parent Council may co-opt people to assist it with carrying out its functions, including teaching and support staff. The number of parent/carer members on the Parent Council must always be greater than co-opted members.
Co-opted members will be invited to serve for a period of one year, after which time the Parent Council will review the consider requirements for co-opted membership.
The Chair, Secretary and Treasurer of the Council will be agreed by the Parent Council members immediately following its formation. A Parent Council member can only hold one position on the council.
Office bearers will be selected by the Parent Council on an annual basis (at the annual meeting of the Parent Forum). Every parent/carer of a child at Fintry Primary and Early Years is automatically a member of the Parent Forum.
The Parent Council will be chaired by a parent/carer of a child attending Fintry Primary School and Early Years. If the child ceases to be a pupil, a new Chair will be agreed at the next meeting. If an office bearer resigns during their term of office, the Parent Council is accountable to the Parent Forum for Fintry Primary and Early Years and will make a report to it at least once each year on its activities on behalf of all the parents.
If 25% of members of the Parent Forum request a special general meeting to dicuss issues failling within the Council's remit, The Parent Council shall arrange this. The Parent Council shall give all members of the Forum at least 2 weeks' notice of the meeting, and at the same time, circulate notice of the matter, or matters, to be discussed at the meeting.
The Annual Meeting will be held in October of each year. A notice of the meeting including date, time and place will be sent to all members of the Parent Forum at least 2 weeks in advance. The meeting with include:
- A report om the work of the Parent Council and its committee(s).
- Selection of the new Parent Council.
- Discussion of issues that members of the Parent Forum may wish to raise and
- Approval of the accounts and appointments of the auditor.
The Parent Council will meet at least once in every school term. Should a vote be necessary to make a decision, each member at the meeting will have one vote, with the Chair having the casting vote in the event of a tie.
Any two members if the Parent Council can request that an additional meeting be held, and all members of the Parent Council will be given at least one week's notice of date, time and place of the meeting.
If a Parent Council member acts in a way that is consideraed by other members to undermine the objectives of the Parent Council, their membership of the Parent Council shall be terminated if the majortiy of parent/carer members agree. Termination of membership woild be confirmed in writing to the member.
Copies of the minutes of all meetings will be available to all parents/carers of children at Fintry Primary and Early Years and to all teachers at the school. Copies will be available from the Secretary of the Parent Council/Clerk to the Parent Council and from the school office.
Meetings of the Parent Council shall be open to the Parent Forum, unless the Parent Council is discussing an issue which it considers to be dealt with on a confidential basis. In such circumstances only members of the Parent Council and the Head Teacher, or his or her representative can attend.
The Treasurer will open a bank or building society account in the name of the Parent Council for all Parent Council funds. Withdrawls will require the signature of the Treasurer and another signatory.
The Treasurer will keep an accurate record of all income and expenditure, and will provide a summary of this for each Parent Council meeting and a full account for the Annual Meeting. The Parent Council accounts will be audited by the auditor appointed at the previous Annual Meeting.
The Parent Council shall be responsible for ensuring that all monies are used in accordance with the objectives of the Parent Council.
The Parent Council may change it constitution after obtaining consent from members of the Parent Forum. Members of the Parent Forum will be sent a copy of any proposed amendment and given reasonable time to respond to the proposal.
Should the Parent Council cease to exist, any remaining funds will be used for the benefit of Fintry Primary and Early Years.
