Middleton Park Parent Council
Middleton Park Parent Council
1. This is the constitution of Middleton Park Nursery/Primary School Parent Council.
2. The objectives of the Parent Council are:
- To work in partnership with the school to create a welcoming school for all.
- To promote partnership between the school, it's pupils, all 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 on the education provided by the school and other matters affecting the education and welfare of the pupils.
3. The membership will be a minimum of three parents of children attending the school. The maximum size is 25.
4. Any parent of a child at the school can volunteer to be a member of the Parent Council. In the event that the number of volunteers exceeds the number of places set out in the constitution, members will be selected at the Annual General Meeting. Anyone not selected to be a member of the Parent Council may be offered the opportunity to be part of any sub-groups set up by the Council.
5. If parents who are not members of the Council attend a meeting their right to speak is at the discretion of the Chair.
6. The Parent Council may co-opt up to 6 members of the community to assist with carrying out its functions.
The number of parent 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 and consider requirements for co-opted membership.7. The Chair, Secretary and Treasurer of the Council will be agreed by the Parent Council members immediately following its formation.
Officer Bearers will be re-selected by the Parent Council 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 Middleton Park Nursery/Primary School. If the child ceases to be a pupil, a new Chair will be agreed at the next meeting.8. The Head Teacher has a right to attend meetings of the Parent Council, or to be represented.
9. A quorum of 7 members is required in order for a meeting to take place.
10. The Parent Council is accountable to the Parent Forum for Middleton Park Nursery/Primary School 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 discuss issues falling 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.11. The Annual General Meeting will be held in August 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 will include:
A report on 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. Approval of the accounts by an independent account examiner. Should vacancies exist for Parent Council members after the AGM the positions can be filled at subsequent Parent Council meetings if volunteers come forward.12. The Parent Council will meet at least once in every school term. Should a vote be necessary to make a decision, each parent member at the meeting will have one vote, with the Chair having a casting vote in the event of a tie. Any two members of 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 considered by other members to undermine the objectives of the Parent Council, their membership of the Parent Council shall be terminated if the majority of parent members agree. Termination of membership would be confirmed in writing to the member.13. Copies of the Minutes of all meetings will be available to all parents of children at Middleton Park Nursery/Primary School and to all Teachers at the school. Copies will be available from the Secretary of the Parent Council, the school office, the school notice board and website. Minutes will contain date of next meeting.
14. Meetings of the Parent Council shall be open to the public, unless the Parent Council is discussing an issue which it considers should 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.
15. The Treasurer will open bank or building society accounts in the name of the Parent Council for general Parent Council funds and a Parent Council Fund Raising account. Withdrawals will require the signature of the Treasurer and one other Parent Council member.
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 examined annually by someone other than the Treasurer. The examination should take place after the end of the financial year.
It is within the remit of the Parent Council to receive gifts and apply for and obtain gifts.
The Parent Council shall be responsible for ensuring that all monies are used in accordance with the objectives of the Parent Council. After fundraising events at least 2 people are to be present when counting monies raised by the Parent Council.
16. The Parent 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 amendment and given reasonable time to respond to the proposal.
17. Should the Parent Council cease to exist, any remaining funds will be passed to the next fund raising body to be used for the benefit of Middleton Park Nursery/Primary School, where this continues.