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:

• support the school in its work with pupils
• represent the views of all parents
• encourage links between the school, parents, pupils, pre-school groups and the wider community
• report back to all the parents in the school (called the Parent Forum)
• play a role in the appointment of  the Headteacher and Senior Management Team
• support the school and pupils during school inspections.

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:

• be involved in drawing up the school development plan and consider how parents might support its implementation
• consider ways parents can be involved in children's learning to improve achievement
• build positive relationships between parents and school staff
• support the school in consulting with the wider parent forum on school policy decisions and other matters
• use its own formal and informal channels for communicating about school events and how parents can become involved
• fund-raise to provide additional equipment and resources for the school
• facilitate school events and work with the head teacher and staff to devise events which are enjoyable, encourage parental participation and that suit the needs of parents and fit into their schedules.

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.

Parent Council Facebook Page

Note

Parents will find the national website www.ltscotland.org.uk/parentzone full of information about many aspects of their child’s education