Brannock High School​

Parent Council Constitution

(Version 20231213)

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(1) This is the constitution of Brannock High School Parent Council.

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(2) The objectives of the Parent Council are:

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(a) To promote co-operation and communication between parents and school staff; represent the views of parents/carers, and discuss matters of mutual interest relating to the education and welfare of pupils.

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(b) To promote equality, fairness and partnership between the school, pupils and parents.

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(c) To promote activities which support the education and welfare of all pupils.

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(d) To work in partnership with the school to create a welcoming and inclusive school.

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(3) The Parent Council shall have the power to do anything considered by them to be in furtherance of the aims and objectives but remembering that they are there to represent the views of the Parent Forum.

 

(4) The Parent Council is accountable to the Parent Forum for Brannock High School:

 

(a) The Parent Council will make and report at least once a year on its activities to all parents.

 

(b) The Secretary/PC clerk shall be responsible for keeping accurate minutes of all meetings and shall make these available upon request to any member of the Parent Forum.

 

(c) The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping accurate records of the financial transactions of the Parent Council. The books shall be brought to balance four weeks prior to the AGM and made available for scrutiny by any member of the Parent Forum at the following AGM.

 

(5) The membership of the Parent Council will be a minimum of four parents of children attending the school, and a maximum of sixteen members as selected by the Parent Forum.  This may be, if uncontested by the Parent Forum, those in attendance at the AGM or other official, advertised, meeting of the PC.  Where numbers are limited by the constitution, preference should be given to PC candidates who represent a year group that is otherwise unrepresented.  The PC may also vote to increase the limit as set in paragraph (5).  If numbers exceed places, formal election will be used.

 

(6) Parents/carers shall always form the majority of the Parent Council. 

 

(7) Initially, the Parent Council will be selected for a period of one year and thereafter eligible for re-election.

 

(8) The Annual General Meeting will be held on the second meeting, during the first term, of each school year to provide an update on year’s activities/finances.  A 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 include:

(a) A report on the work of the Parent Council

(b) Selection of the new Parent Council

(c) Selection of the Office Bearers - (a vote may defer this to the following meeting)

(d) Discussion of issues that the Parent Forum may wish to raise

(e) Approval of the accounts and appointment of the auditor

 

(9) Office bearers will be agreed by Parent Council members no later than at the 2nd meeting (to give opportunity for new parents/carers to attend immediately after its formation), and will be re-selected on an annual basis.  The chairperson must be a member of the Parent Forum.  Prospective office bearers should issue a personal statement to be included in the forward agenda for the AGM.

 

(10) The Parents Council may co-opt members, including two members of staff, a senior pupil and a member of the community.  Co-opted members will be invited to serve for a period initially of one year, after which time the Parent Council will review and consider requirements for co-opted membership.

 

(11) The Head Teacher, or representative, has a right and duty to attend the meetings of the Parent Council in an advisory capacity and does not have voting rights unless these are given by the Parent Council/Forum.

 

(12) The Parent Council will meet at least once every school term.

 

(13) Meetings of the Parent Council shall be held as published, or required.  At all meetings of the Parent Council five members shall form a voting quorum.  This quorum is only valid if all the Parent Council members have been informed of the meeting, and sent notice of the items of business, in advance, as per paragraph (13)

 

(13) The Parent Council shall give all members of the parent forum at least 5 full days notice of any meeting and at the same time circulate notice of the matter or matters to be discussed at the meeting.  Where this does not happen actions and voting may be suspended until such time as the there have been 5 full days between notification of matters to be discussed and any related vote.

 

(14) Agenda items should be submitted to the Parent Council not less than 10 full days before a meeting to allow time for them to be assessed and approved by office bearers, and to be circulated as per paragraph (13).  Items not approved as Agenda points may, still, be raised during “Any Other Business”, as can any other items, to ensure that views, opinions and concerns are able to be voiced.

 

(15) Each parent member at the meeting will have one vote and resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority vote of those present.  The Chair-person having an additional casting vote only to be used in the event of a tie.  If a point is raised at a meeting that requires a vote,  point (13) above stands.

 

(16) All Parent Council meetings shall be open and any member of the Parent Forum or public may attend, contribute and have a voice although they will not automatically have voting rights.

 

(17) 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.

 

(18) If a Parent Council member acts in a way that is considered by other members to undermine the objectives of the Parent Council, her or his membership of the Parent Council shall be terminated if the majority if Parent Council members agree.  Termination of membership shall be confirmed in writing to the member.

 

(19) If two percent (2%) of members of the Parents Forum request a special general meeting to discuss issues falling within the Parent Councils remit, the Parent Council shall arrange this.

 

(20) Copies of the minutes of all meetings will be available to all parents/carers of pupils at Brannock High School and all members of staff.  Minutes will also be made available to NLC.

 

(21) A Bank or building society account will be opened in the name of the Parent Council for all Parent Council funds.  An accurate record of all income and expenditure will be kept, and a summary provided for each Parent Council meeting, and a full account for the Annual Meeting.

 

(22) Changes or additions to the constitution 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.

 

(23) Should the Parent council cease to exist, any remaining funds will be passed to the education authority to be used for the benefit of Brannock HS.

 

- end of constitution.