Minutes of the AGM of Strathblane Primary School Parent Forum
Tuesday 27th November 2007
Present:
Staff: Jennifer Cunningham, Anne Spencer, Morven Bulloch
Parent Council: Debbie Bolton, Charlie Haggerty, Fergus Mitchell, Cathie Moir, Gun Orgun, Bernd Schwahn, Andy Thompson
Parents: Wendy Barrett, Yvonne Brogan, Elaine Holmes, Robin Hoyle, Kim Jones, Mandy Malcolmson, Jane McCallum, Val McCorquodale, Jonathan Owens, Sheila Paterson, Anne Scott, Bronagh Ewart (clerk to the parent council).
1.Welcome
Jennifer Cunningham welcomed everyone to the meeting and gave some background to the new Parent Forum. The government is keen to involve parents as partners within schools, helping in a variety of ways, ranging from getting children to school on time right through to taking on office bearing roles. At Strathblane Primary School relationships are already good with many parents regularly helping with school trips, sporting activities and fundraising events etc.. The school would wish to value, encourage and develop this. The challenge for the new Parent Council is to build on the excellent start made by the PTA and School Board and take the school into the new era of Parent Forum and Council.
2.Introduction of Parent Council Members
Andy Thompson welcomed everyone on behalf of the new Parent Council and each member then briefly introduced themselves. All seven members have children at Strathblane Primary School.
Andy Thompson Chair of the Parent Council. A background in university education as a researcher and teacher with a special interest in citizen involvement.
Fergus Mitchell Communications Officer of the Parent Council. A writer for television and magazines whose role is to act as a funnel between the Parent Council and Parent Forum.
Debbie Bolton Previously a member of the School Board. A background in nursing and very excited about the potential of the new Parent Council.
Bernd Schwahn A paediatrician and member of the school nutrition action group, keen to get all parents more involved.
Cathie Moir Former co-chair of the PTA.
Charlie Haggerty Background in law, working for the local authority. Especially interested in MUGA.
Gun Orgun Treasurer of the Parent Council. Formerly an academic, now working with asylum seekers. Motivated to join the Parent Council after the recent HMI Inspection and the resulting changes within the school and also as a means of getting to know staff better.
The Parent Council represents parents in partnership with staff and pupils.
Therefore the following three members of staff are also on the Council:
Jennifer Cunningham (Headteacher) represents the school.
Anne Spencer (Depute Head) acts as a link between the Pupil Council and the Parent
Council.
Morven Bulloch (P7 Teacher) represents the teachers.
Bronagh Ewart will also attend Parent Council meetings as clerk.
3.Outline of purpose of the Parent Council and Parent Forum
Andy Thompson outlined the purpose of the new legislation. It is intended to be broader than the previous system of School Board and PTA. The emphasis is on partnership in order to improve the educational experience of all pupils. Parents can offer various skills and the constitution is designed so that people can be involved at whatever level they wish. The Parent Forum i.e. all parents, has ultimate authority and the Parent Council will always be accountable to the Parent Forum. The members of the Parent Council want to be open and invite participation from all parents. To this end parent council meetings will be open to anyone.
These are the key objectives:
To strive for the fullest involvement of all parents and children in the school
To represent parents’ interests in the school
To develop and engage in activities which support the education and welfare of the pupils
To improve the facilities of the school and surrounding area
To promote the school as part of the wider community
To fund raise effectively
To enhance communication between parents, pupils and staff.
We are now in the second stage of the development process determining parents’ skills, interests and where they would like to be involved.
4.Summary of ideas for the Action Plan for the year
Fergus Mitchell, Communications Officer, stated that there had been a muted response when parents had been asked for ideas for an Action Plan. He is especially keen to boost numbers attending meetings and is happy to receive emails from parents to improve communication .The email address is strathparentcouncil@googlemail.com . Fergus suggested the following four topics for discussion: Communication; Bullying and Child Safety; Religion and Diversity; Fundraising. It was decided to incorporate these topics into the six discussion areas under item 5.
At this point Robin Hoyle asked for clarification as to how the Parent Council would work in partnership with school management. Andy Thompson replied that the Parent Council will work in partnership with teachers and pupils, raising and debating issues and developing policies everyone is happy with. It will not shy away from debates but will also not seek to be divisive. Jennifer Cunningham added that as this is a new initiative no one quite knows how it will function but it will certainly tap into a wider body than previously. There are also certain things which the school are legally obliged to do/teach. Charlie Haggerty added that it is very much left to each individual Parent Council how it puts things into practice.
5.Activity with Forum members developing priorities for Action Plan
Morven Bulloch outlined the following six main topics for discussion and feedback:
Fundraising
Parental Involvement and Interests
Involvement in Activities with Pupils
Improving School Facilities
Promoting the School in the Community
Enhancing Communication between Parents, Pupils and Staff
Those present divided into six groups and spent some time discussing each issue in turn and adding comments and suggestions for each topic. Each person was then invited to add their name to one or more topics with which they wished to be involved.
6.Summing up of Priorities
Andy Thompson stated that these results would be collated, prioritised and returned to parents.
7. Inviting any Additional Comments from Forum Members
Val McCorquodale asked whether the existing PTA would continue. Andy Thompson replied that it would become a sub-committee of the Parent Council and would no longer be called a PTA. In effect it will remain the same and will probably still require its own treasurer. Cathie Moir offered to be the link person representing the new fundraising committee on the Parent Council.
8.Close
Andy Thompson closed the meeting thanking teachers and parents for coming.
Date of Next Meeting:
Parent Council Meeting Monday 21st January 2008 at 7.45pm in the school.