Parent Involvement in Education

How Do You Rate This
Information/Service?

Parents and carers are the greatest influence on their children and are recognised as being central to the life of their child, the work of the educational establishment and educational services.

Parent Forum

The Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 has changed the arrangements for parental representation in all schools. Prior to the Act coming into existence, parents could be involved in their child's school through membership of Schools Boards. Now every Parent/Carer is automatically a member of the Parent Forum at their child's school. As such, they have a say in who will represent them on the schools' Parent Council.

Parent Council

The Parent Council is a group of parents selected by members of the Parent Forum to represent all the parents of children at their school. Parent Councils are flexible and can decide on the type of group they want to represent their views.

The type of things a Parent Council could get involved in include:-

Supporting the work of the school
Gathering and representing parents' views to the Head Teacher, Education Authority and HMIe
Attending social/fund-raising events
Parent information events
open days/ evening workshops
library/book events
sharing experience or expertise with the school

As of August 2007 Parent Councils are recognised in law. As a statutory body, the Parent Council has the right to information and advice on matters which affect children's education. The school and the local authority must listen to what the Parent Council says and give it a proper response.

Who can be involved on a Parent Council?

Every school's Parent Council will be different , but members of the Parent Council must be parents of children who attend the school and the chairperson must have a child in the school However, the Parent Council can decide to co-opt other members including school staff and community representatives who have knowledge and skills to help them.

Although Parent Council members will bring their own skills and knowledge they must also consider how they can ensure that the Parent Council represents all views, through consultation from the Parent Forum.

How to contact your Parent Council (49KB MS Word doc)

« Back to Dundee Parent Councils page