1. NAME KippenPrimary School Parent Council[M1]
2. CONSTITUTION
This is the constitution for the Kippen Primary School Parent Council.
For the purpose of this constitution, the term ‘parent’ will be used to cover parents, carers and guardians.
3. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHOOLPARENT COUNCIL ARE:
The Advancement of Education, which will be achieved by the following methods[M2]:
To work in partnership with the school to create a welcoming school which is inclusive to all parents.
To promote partnership, close co-operation and communication [M3]between the school, its pupils and all its parents.
To develop and engage in activities which support and advance the education [M4]and welfare of pupils attending the school.
To identify and discuss matters of mutual interest [M5]relating to the education provided by the school and other matters affecting the education and welfare of the pupils.
4. POWERS
The Parent Council shall have the power to do anything considered by them to be in furtherance of the aims but remembering that they are there to represent the views of the Parent Forum.
[M6]5. MEMBERSHIP OF THE SCHOOLPARENT COUNCIL
The membership consists of parents/carers of children attending KippenPrimary School[M7]and any parent of a child at KippenPrimary School can volunteer to be a member of the SchoolParentCouncil or sub-group as set up by the SchoolParent Council. Members should be selected by the parent forum[M8].
The membership of the Council will be a minimum of five parents of children attending the school. The maximum overall size will be twenty.[M9]
Ideally the SchoolParent Council will include two representatives from each year group as class reps.
In the event that the number of volunteers exceeds the number of places set out in the Constitution, members will be selected by drawing names from a hat.
Members of the Parent Council shall be appointed at the AGM, with P1 representatives being appointed at the first meeting after the new term starts. They shall be elected for a one year term and be eligible for re-election. Parents shall always form the majority of the Parent Council.[M10]
School Staff Representation
The Head teacher or his/her representative has a right and a duty [M11]to attend meetings of the Parent Council. They will advise the SchoolParent Council.
School staff representation at Council or sub-committee meetings is voluntary.
Co-opted Members
The Parent Council may co-opt any other member to fill a vacancy occurring between AGMs.[M12]The co-opted members shall retire at each AGM but shall be eligible for election.[M13]
The Parent Council may co-opt up to 4to help carry out its functions. The co-opted members shall retire at the AGM but shall be eligible to be co-opted for a further term[M14].
The number of parent members on the SchoolParent Council must always be greater than the co-opted members.
Office Bearers
The office bearers will be chairperson, secretary, treasurer and such others as may be required. The office bearers will be elected by the Parent Council at the AGM.
The School Council will be chaired by a parent/s of a child attending KippenPrimary School. If the child ceases to be a pupil at the school, a new chair will be agreed at the meeting.
If necessary the SchoolParent Council may decide to employ a clerk to provide administrative support.
Each member of the Parent Council shall have one vote and resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority vote of those present. The Chairperson shall have both a deliberative and casting vote. The Chairperson’s casting vote shall be used only in the event of a tie.
The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping accurate minutes of all meetings and shall make these available upon request to any member of the Parent Forum.
A member of the Parent Council failing to attend three consecutive meetings without reason/apologies may be deemed to have retired from the Parent Council.
[M15]
6. GENERAL MEETINGS
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held in Mayeach year. The notice calling the meeting including the date, time and place shall be sent to all members of the Parent Forum at least two weeks in advance.
The business shall include:-
a)Discussion of the written reports on the work of the Council and its Sub-groups
b)Approval of the accounts and appointment of the Auditor who will review the annual accounts
c)Discussion of issues and resolutions submitted by the Parent Forum
d)Election of members to serve on the Parent Council[M16].
At all general meetings voting shall be on the basis of one vote per parent/full Parent Council member present at the meeting.
At all general meetings the quorum shall consist of not less than one third of the total Council members.
The Parent Council or [M17]any three parent ‘members’ of the SchoolParent Council can request that an additional meeting be held or have the power to call an Extraordinary General Meeting.[M18] All members of the Parent Council will be given one week’s notice of date, time and place of meeting.
Meetings of the Parent Council shall be held as required and at least once in every school term, with sub-groups meeting whenever the Council deems it necessary. At all meetings of the Parent Council a third of members, at least two of whom are office bearers, [M19]shall form quorum.
All Parent Council meetings shall be open and any member of the Parent Forum may attend although they will not have voting rights. [M20]
If a SchoolParent Council member acts in any way that is considered by other members to undermine the objectives of the SchoolParent Council, their membership of the Council will be terminated if the majority of the Parent Council members agree. Termination of membership would be confirmed in writing to the member.
7. NOTES OF MEETINGS
Copies of the minutes of meetings will be available to all parents of children at KippenPrimary School and to all staff members at the school. Copies will be available from the secretary of the SchoolParent Council or Clerk to the School Council (if there is one). Minutes will be displayed on the school notice board.
8. CONFIDENTIALITY
Meetings of the SchoolParent Council are open to the public.
9. FINANCE
The funds of the Parent Council shall be lodged in a bank, building society or other account in the name of the Parent Council. Cheques shall be drawn or withdrawals made against the signatures of at least two named Parent Council members.
The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping accurate records of the financial transactions of the Parent Council. The books shall be brought to balance six weeks before the AGM[M21] and the accounts shall be reviewed by an individual appointed at the previous AGM by the Parent Forum.
The Parent Council shall be responsible for ensuring that all property/money received by/for the Parent Forum/Council shall be applied for the aims of the Parent Council.
When suggested expenditure from any fundraising of over £1,000 is proposed, the Parent Forum will be notified in advance of the SchoolParent Council Meeting at which the expenditure will be discussed.
10. ACCOUNTABILITY
Kippen Primary School Parent Council is accountable to the Parent Forum for KippenSchool and will make a written report on its activities on behalf of all parents prior to the AGM.
If a minimum of thirty members of the Parent Forum request a special general meeting to discuss issues falling within the SchoolParent Council’s remit, the SchoolParent Council will arrange this. The SchoolParent Council will give all Members of the Forum at least one weeks’ notice of the meeting and at the same time, circulate notice of matter, or matters to be discussed at the meeting.
[M22]11. CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION
Changes or additions must be made at an AGM or an EGM called for the purpose. The proposed change shall be specified in the notice calling the meeting and be approved by not less than two thirds of those present. Members of the Parent Forum will be sent a copy of any proposed amendments and given time to respond to the proposal.
[M23]12. DISSOLUTION
In the event that the Parent Council ceases to exist any remaining funds should be distributed for the benefit of the children at the school and/or local authority as necessary, providing the funds continue to be used for the advancement of education.[M24]Money raised directly from Parent Council fundraising will remain with the Parent Forum for use in the school.
[M1]Replacing ‘ KippenSchool Council’
[M2]ADDED
[M3]ADDED
[M4]ADDED
[M5]Replacing ‘represent the views of parents’
[M6]ADDED
[M7]ADDED
[M8]ADDED
[M9]ADDED
[M10]ADDED
[M11]Replacing ‘ will’
[M12]Replaces ‘ it deems necessary’
[M13]Replaces ‘ will serve a period of one year’
[M14]ADDED
[M15]ADDED
[M16]Replacing ‘ appointment of the new school council’
[M17]ADDED
[M18]ADDED
[M19]ADDED
[M20]ADDED
[M21]ADDED
[M22]ADDED
[M23]Replacing ‘The School Council may change its constitution after obtaining consent from members of the Parent Forum. Members of the Parent Forum will be sent a copy of any proposed amendments and given time to respond to the proposal.’
[M24]ADDED