Student and Parent Councils
Student and Parent Councils
The New Year heralds two new initiatives that are being launched within the school, namely a Student Council and Parent Council.
In keeping with current educational thinking which recommends that pupils should have a forum to express their views, in January 2011 Bangor Grammar School is going to begin the process of setting up its own School Council. The council will contain representatives from each Year group within the school in order to ensure all age groups have a voice. Those wishing to be on the council will put themselves forward, create a manifesto and campaign for votes within their Year group. The campaign process will then be followed by an election day where students can vote for their chosen candidate(s) using the Alternative Vote system. Once elected the student body will meet once every half term to discuss issues that the pupils would like Senior Management to address and issues which the Headmaster would like to seek the pupil’s views upon. The desire is that it will provide a direct link between students and the Senior Management Team and that it will allow thoughtful and intelligent discussion between the two on important areas.
Rationale
Why set up a Parent Council?
• Since May 2007 schools have been required to take account of parents’ views;
• They are encouraged to review existing arrangements;
• Parent Councils offer a new way of involving parents;
• Decision-makers can find out parents’ views more easily.
Benefits for children
• Children behave better and achieve more when their parents are involved in their education; • Their parents receive advice about how to support their learning;
• Their concerns can be resolved more quickly when their parents have a good relationship with the school.
Benefits for parents
• Parents are able to express their views and know that they can make a difference; • They develop a sense of ownership;
• They receive advice about how to support their children’s learning;
• They learn more about how the school operates.
Benefits for schools
• A better understanding of parents’ views and experiences; • A way of drawing new and different parents into active involvement;
• A way of demonstrating that the school is engaging with parents;
• Improved pupil behaviour and results, as parents have the biggest influence on the success of their children;
• A chance to work with parents to find solutions to difficulties.
What a Parent Council is…..
• a group for parents to work in partnership with the school; • a group which reports to the governing body;
• a group that is clear about its purpose and decides its own agenda;
• a group that can advise the school on parental views;
• a forum through which school can consult parents.
… and what it is not
• a body that makes decisions for the school; • a replacement for the governing body;
• a replacement for other groups such as the Parent Teacher Association;
• a forum for complaints about individual teachers, pupils or parents.