The Constitution of
Our Lady’s High School Parent Council

1. This is the Constitution for the Parent Council of Our Lady’s High School, Motherwell.

2. The objectives of the Parent Council are:

To work in partnership with the school to create a welcoming school which is inclusive for all parents

To promote partnership among the School, its pupils, its parents and the Church.

To develop and engage in activities which support the education and welfare of the pupils

To identify and represent the views of parents on the education provided by the school and other matters affecting the education and welfare of the pupils

3. Some examples of functions of the Parent Council are:

To be involved in drawing up the school development plan and considering how parents might support its implementation

To consider ways in which parents can be involved in their children’s learning to improve achievement

To build positive relations between parents and school staff

To support the school in consulting with the wider Parent Forum on school policy decisions and other matters

To use its formal and informal channels for communicating about school events and how parents can become involved

To fundraise to provide additional equipment and resources for the school

To facilitate school events and work with the headteacher and staff to devise events which are enjoyable

To encourage parental participation that suits the needs of parents and fits into their schedules

4. PARENT MEMBERSHIP (See note 1)

The parent membership should be a minimum of six parents with a maximum of twelve parents of children attending the school.

5. OTHER ATTENDEES

The headteacher has both a right and a duty to attend in an advisory capacity, or to be represented at meetings of the Parent Council. The presumption is that the headteacher will normally attend. An open invitation is extended to the Parent Members of the Our Lady’s High School Parent Teachers Association (OLHS PTA) to attend Parent Council meetings.

6. PARENT COUNCIL SELECTION

Any parent of a child at the school can volunteer to be a member of the Parent Council. Ideally, parent members will represent the age and range of the school population. In the event that the number of volunteers exceeds the number of places set out in the Constitution, members will be selected by an election. Anyone not selected to be a member may be offered the opportunity to be part of any sub-group set up by the Parent Council.

The Parent Council will be selected for a maximum period of four years. At the end of this period, members may put themselves forward for re-selection if they wish. All parents of children at the school can take part in the selection by post. Parents will have a maximum of eight weeks to select their representatives.

 

7. CO-OPTED MEMBERS OF THE PARENT COUNCIL

The Parent Council may co-opt members to assist it with carrying out its functions. These members can be made up of the following:

One Denominational member as nominated by the Roman Catholic Church (The Parent Council must invite the Roman Catholic Church through the Diocese of Motherwell to nominate a representative to be part of its membership. This is a mandatory requirement under the Parental Involvement Act 2006)

Two staff members

One business community member

One community member

The number of parent members on the Parent Council must always be greater than the number of co-opted members. Co-opted members will be invited to serve for a period of two years after which time the Parent Council will review and consider requirements for co-opted membership.

8. OFFICE BEARERS

The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer of the Council will be agreed by the Parent Council members on an annual basis (at the annual meeting of the Parent Forum).

The Parent Council will be chaired by a parent of a child attending Our Lady’s High School. The Vice-Chairperson will also be the parent of a child attending the school. If the child of the Chairperson ceases to be a pupil, the Vice-Chairperson will assume Office until a new Chairperson is agreed at the next meeting.

9. PARENT COUNCIL REPORTS AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

The Parent Council is accountable to the Parent Forum of Our Lady’s High School and as such will present it with a report detailing its activities at least once each year.

In the event of a request signed by 50 members of the Parent Forum to hold a special general meeting to discuss issues falling within the Council’s remit, the Parent Council shall arrange this. The Parent Council shall give all members of the Parent Forum at least two weeks notice of the meeting and, at the same time, circulate notice of the matter(s) to be discussed at the meeting.

 

10. THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting will be held in May of each year. Notice of the meeting including date, time and place will be sent to all members of the Parents Forum at least two weeks in advance. The meeting will include:

A report on the work of the Parent Council and any sub-committees

Selection of the new Parent Council

Discussion of issues that members of the Parent Forum may wish to raise

Approval of the accounts and appointment of an auditor

Setting out a draft timetable of meetings for the next twelve months

A review of the Constitution

Motions to make changes to the Constitution can only be submitted by a member (or members) of the Parent Forum.

Motions to change the Constitution must be submitted to the Parent Council no less than eight weeks prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting.

The Parent Council shall notify members of the Parent Forum of all motions submitted to change the Constitution no less than two weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting.

 

11. MEETINGS AND TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

The Parent Council will meet at least twice in every school term.

Meetings require the attendance of a minimum of three parent members to be quorate.

Should a vote be necessary to make a decision, each member at the meeting will have one vote. In the event of a tie, the Chairperson will have a casting vote.

If a Parent Council member acts in a way that is considered by other members to undermine the objectives of the Parent Council, their membership of the Parent Council will be terminated if the majority of members agree. Termination of membership will be confirmed in writing to the member.

 

12. MINUTES OF MEETINGS

The Council will appoint a clerk to minute meetings and distribute copies to members. Minutes of meetings will be available to parents and staff members of Our Lady’s High School. They will be available from the Parent Council Secretary, the school office and will also be posted on the school website.

13. OPENNESS AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF MEETINGS

Meetings of the Parent Council shall be open to the public who may be invited to contribute. If the Parent Council is discussing an issue which it considers should be dealt with on a confidential basis then only council members shall be in attendance.

The Parent Council will invite members of other groups of parents to attend its meetings and, with their agreement, will reciprocate.

14. TREASURER’S DUTIES AND MONEY MATTERS

The Treasurer will open a bank or building society account in the name of the Parent Council for all Parent Council funds. Withdrawals will require the signature of the Treasurer and one of two named members of the Parent Council.

The Treasurer will keep an accurate record of all income and expenditure and will provide a summary of this for each Pupil Council meeting and a full account for the Annual General Meeting. The Parent Council accounts will be audited by an auditor appointed at the previous Annual General Meeting.

The Parent Council shall be responsible for ensuring that all monies are used in accordance with the objectives of the Parent Council.

15. PARENT COUNCIL CESSATION

Where the Parent Council ceases to exist, any property or money it holds passes to the Education Authority which, so long as the school continues, shall use it for the benefit of the school.