Parent Councils are now established in almost all Aberdeenshire primary and secondary schools. The Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 recognises the vital role that parents play in supporting their children’s learning.
The basic principle under-pinning the Act, is the desire to have children become more ‘confident learners’ through closer working between each family and the school.
The Parent Forum comprises all the parents/carers of pupils in Banff Academy. The Parent Council, which reports annually to the Parent Forum, is made up of a group of parents and others who have volunteered to offer support and advice to the school.
The Parent Council meets once or twice per term with the Rector to discuss aspects of the work and life of the school.
The role of the Parent Council is to:
Supporting the school
As parents we have a key supportive role to play in assisting the Headteacher and school staff in their aims to raise standards of education and to secure improvements in the quality of education provided by the school. The education provided must take account of the whole needs of the child in respect of developing a child's personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential. School education is about more than the curriculum and includes the school's provision for social, cultural and recreational activities and for physical education and training.
The Parent Council support the work of the school in a variety of ways. We can:
Representing the views of parents
The Parent Council represents the views of parents on a wide variety of educational matters. We can make representations to a school's Headteacher, and the education authority, about the arrangements the school has to involve parents in their own child's education and that provided by the school generally.
Promoting contact
The Parent Council plays a key role in supporting the work of the school within the wider community. A main function is to promote contact between all those with an interest in the work of the school. This includes parents of pupils at the school, parents of prospective pupils, the pupils themselves, providers of nursery education and community representatives.
The Parent Council will focus on the interests of children and young people who may, themselves, have views on what is being discussed. We are open to ways of engaging with children and young people at the school. The Head girl and boy are invited to the monthly meetings to represent the views from the school's Pupil Council, or other representative pupil bodies.
The Parent Council comprises:-
Parent Forum Members:
Chair – Michelle Walker
Vice-Chairperson – Claire Ellis
Treasurer – Odette Strain
Shona Taylor
Helen James
Nik James
Euan Martin
Malcolm Howard
Louise Smith
Jane Beaton
Elaine McDermott
Jacqueline Priest
Lynette Boyd
Co-Opted Members
Treasurer – Odette Strain
Teacher Members
Wendy Steven
Other Parents Who Attend
Cameron Ewen
Lorraine Edwards
Sara Oakes
Head Teacher
Mr Alan Horberry
Local Aberdeenshire councillors are also invited to attend the Council Meetings.
Our local councillors are :-
Mr John B Cox
Mr Mark Findlater
Mr Hamish Partridge
Mr Mike Roy
Parents can raise issues with the Parent Council by e-mail to [email protected] or by leaving a letter with the School Office.
Note
Parents will find the national website www.ltscotland.org.uk/parentzone full of information about many aspects of their child’s education