The Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 has changed the arrangements for parental representation in all schools. Since August 2007, all parents and carers are automatically members of the Parent Forum for their school and have the right to establish a Parent Council to represent them.

The membership of the Parent Forum is made up of all parents and carers who have a child at an education authority school. Membership of the Parent Forum allows parents and carers to have a say in the local arrangements to enable their collective view to be represented on matters such as the quality and standards of education at the school and other matters of interest to parents and carers. One of the ways parents/carers in the Parent Forum will be able to express their views will be through the Parent Council.

The Parent Council is a group of parents and carers selected by members of the Parent Forum to represent all the parents and carers of children and young people at the school. Parent Councils are very flexible groups and the Parent Forum can decide on the type of group it wants to represent their views. A Parent Council could get involved in:

• Supporting the work of the school
• Gathering and representing parents views to the Headteacher, education authority and HMIe
• Promoting contact between the school, parents and carers, children and young people of the local community
• Fundraising
• Involvement in the appointment of senior school staff

Generally, members of the Parent Council must be parents and carers of children and young people 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 from teachers and the community who will have knowledge and skills to help them.

In Merrylee Primary School, we have established a Parent Council with a Parents Association as its fundraising body. We meet at least 4 times per year throughout the school session. There are currently 17 active members, 1 teaching staff representative and our Headteacher as an adviser to the group.