Q&A's
Can anyone be a member of the Parent Council?
What's the difference between a Parent Forum and a Parent Council?
What happened to the School Board?
Is there still a PTA at Eastern?
Have other schools formed Parent Councils?
Am I qualified to be member of the Parent Council?
How many people will be on the Parent Council?
I've heard the Parent Council is just about schools paying lip service to parents. Is this true?
Can anyone be a member of the Parent Council?
No. The primary members of the Parent Council must be parents or carers of children at Eastern. Ideally there will be equal representation of parents across all years of the school as well as parents and carers representing areas of specialist activity. The Parent Council may also agree to co-opt members who do not have children at the school. This may be done to fill a particular need which it is felt will not be met by the exisiting council members.
What's the difference between the Parent Forum and the Parent Council?
If you have a child currently attending Eastern Primary School you are automatically a member of the Eastern Primary School Parent Forum.
The Parent Council is a small group of parents and carers who work closely with the school to represent the Parent Forum. To learn more visit - What is a Parent Council?.
What happened to the School Board?
The School Board at Eastern completed its business in August 2007. The Parental Involvement Act 2006 removed the need for a School Board as the majority of the responsibilities carried out by school boards have been over by Parent Councils.
Is there still a PTA at Eastern?
No. It was agreed by the new Parent Council and the PTA in October 2007 that the Parent Council should also take on the role of the PTA. As such all of the previous activities and projects of the PTA have been continued by the Parent Council.
Have other schools formed Parent Councils?
The parents of children at any state school in Scotland have the right to form a Parent Council. Most schools in Dundee have formed their own Parent Council. It is possoble that legislation may be introduced for the local authority to put in place a Parent Council where parents at a school have failed to do so.
Am I qualified to be member of the Parent Council?
Yes, as long as you have a child at Eastern. You do not need any particular qualification. Ideally the Parent Council is made up of individuals with a broad range of personal skills and qualities.
How many people are on the Parent Council?
The number of people on the Eastern Parent Council is between 5 - 30 members as suggested in the constitution. Ideally there will generally always be an adequate number to represent each year group including the nursery and the resource location.
I've heard the Parent Council is just about schools paying lip service to parents. Is this true?
Absolutely not. It is for parents and carers to make the most of their opportunity to get involved. Schools previously familiar with the work of their School Board and/or a PTA will appreciate how the Parent Council represent a fantastic benefit to the school and its children.