The parents at every public school in Scotland have the legal right to establish a Parent Council, and every local authority is legally required to support and encourage them to do so. As we’ve seen over the last few weeks, a Parent Council can serve as a powerful forum for parents to participate actively in the educational journey of their children.
Every Voice Matters
At the risk of sounding like a scratched record, one of the fundamental rights of Parent Councils is the right to be heard on matters that impact the school and its students. This includes, but is not limited to, decisions regarding school policies, curriculum changes, and even budget allocations.
This level of influence means it is crucial that both the school and the Parent Forum have confidence that the views being put forward by the Parent Council are a true reflection of the whole parent/carer body, and not simply the opinions of a vocal minority.
This is why you’ll see so many questionnaires throughout the year, and why it’s so helpful to receive your responses. Your input helps us ensure that we’re making decisions in the best interest of our entire school community.
The Need for Transparency
Parent Councils have the right to raise money to support their schools, providing fantastic opportunities for us to come together as parents and carers, leveraging our collective efforts to enhance resources and opportunities for our children. This might be through big events, like our fantastic Summer Garden Fair, or through grant applications, like the one that brought in the money for our outdoor learning resources, or the many that have funded our Artist in Residence programme for the last 10 years.
However, caution is also required. It’s important to remember that any fundraising activities must align with relevant policies and regulations. Transparency and accountability for all decision making, especailly for financial matters, are essential to maintain the trust and integrity of the Parent Council. Parent Councils are required to externally audit their accounts each year, and a financial report must be shared with the Parent Forum at each meeting. This transparency of process and transactions protects individual members of the Parent Council from false accusations of wrongdoing.
Knowledge is Power
Parent Council members may have the right to attend certain local authority meetings, access certain information related to the school’s operations and policies, and access relevant training and development opportunities. This empowers parents with valuable insights, which can then be shared back into the Parent Forum, enabling us to make informed decisions about our children’s education and contribute meaningfully into the wider educational community in Edinburgh.
Independence and Autonomy
As much as we value collaboration, Parent Councils operate as independent bodies, entirely separate from the school’s management. This independence brings with it freedom to explore different resources and access different channels for change from those that the school may be able to use. This strengthens the ability of the Parent Council to address the unique needs and challenges of the children and families in their school community.
So, with power, comes the need for integrity. By not only doing the right things, but by being seen to do the right things, a strong, trustworthy Parent Council can have a significant influence on our entire school community.
This is the third of four posts in the Parent Voices series. Read the last one: The Power of Your Voice