The Parent Council helps to create an environment where all parents know that their views matter, and where they feel confident and comfortable putting them forward. Arngask Parent Council - Constitution
October 2019
This is the constitution for the Arngask Parent Council (also known as Parents and Friends of Arngask Primary School).
1. Objectives of Arngask Parent Council
• To work in partner
ship with the school to create a welcoming school which is inclusive for all parents, carers and children.
• To promote partnership between the school, its pupils, its parents and the community.
• To develop and engage in activities which support the education and welfare of the pupils.
• To identify and represent the views of parents and carers on the education provided by the school and other matters affecting the education and welfare of the pupils.
2. Membership
2.1 All parents or carers of children attending the school are members of the Parent Forum and are entitled to be voluntary members of the Group, with a minimum of 4 parent/carer members at each meeting in order to be quorate. The parents and carers should at all times be in the majority to other member groups.
2.2 Any parent or carer of a child at the school can volunteer to be a member of the group
2.3 Post holding positions will include a Chair, Treasurer and Secretary
2.4 Members of the local community are welcome to attend meetings and will be encouraged to support the work of the group.
2.5 The Head teacher is a core member and other members of the teaching and support staff are encouraged to be involved.
3. Period of tenure
3.1 The post holders will be selected for a period of one year, after which they may put themselves forward for re-selection if they wish.
5. Selection of post holders
5.1 The Chair, Secretary and Treasurer will be agreed by the members of the Parents and Friends at the Annual General Meeting.
5.2 The group will be chaired by a parent or carer of a child attending Arngask Primary School. Report/meeting arrangements
6.1 The group is accountable to all parents and carers of children at Arngask Primary School and will make a report to it at least once each year on its activities.
6.3 The Annual General Meeting will be held in September of each year. A notice of the meeting including date, time and place will be sent to all parents at least two weeks in advance. The meeting will include:
• a report on the work of the group
• selection of the new post holders
• discussion of issues that parents and carers may wish to raise
• a report on the movement of funds during the year.
6.4 The Parents and Friends will meet at least once in every school term.
6.5 Should a vote be necessary when making a decision, each parent member present at the meeting will have one vote with the Chair having the casting vote in the event of a tie.
6.6 Any two members can request an additional meeting be held, and all members of the Parents and Friends will be given at least one week’s notice of date, time and place of the meeting.
6.7 If a member acts in a way that is considered by other members to undermine the objectives of the group, their membership shall be terminated if the majority of parent members agree. Termination of membership would be confirmed in writing to the member.
7. Minutes/procedures of meetings
7.1 Copies of the minutes of all meetings will be available to all parents and carers of children at Arngask Primary School and to all teachers at the school. Funds
8.1 The Treasurer will oversee the bank account in the name of the Arngask Parent Council for all funds. Withdrawals will require the signature of the Treasurer and one other post holder.
8.2 The group will make an amount of money available to the Headteacher each year for discretionary spending in support of the education and welfare of children attending Arngask Primary School. The amount will be agreed during the final Parent and Friends meeting of each school year to be paid at the start of the following school year. The Headteacher will keep an accurate record of all expenditure from this discretionary amount and report this to the Treasurer in advance of the Annual General Meeting.
8.3 The Treasurer will keep an accurate record of all income and expenditure, and will provide a summary of this for each meeting and a full account for the Annual Meeting.
8.4 The group shall be responsible for ensuring that all monies are used in accordance with the objectives of the group.
8.5 Should the group cease to exist and/or be dissolved, any remaining funds will be passed to another not-for-profit community organization with similar aims, to be used for the benefit of the school, where this continues.
9. Changes to the Constitution
9.1 The group may change its constitution after obtaining consent from members of the group. The Head Teachers and all parents/carers will be consulted on any proposed amendment and given appropriate time to respond to the proposal.
9.2 A copy of the revised constitution will be sent to the local education authority along with a list of members, and will be posted on the school website.
