Scottish Government

News Release
SCHOOL BOARDS IN SCOTTISH SCHOOLS: MAY 2002

21 November 2002

A Scottish Executive National Statistics Publication

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Information about the status of school boards in Scotland is published today by the Scottish Executive Education Department.

This information is obtained from the biennial survey of school boards conducted in May 2002. This News Release updates the figures published in October 2000 in the News Release School Boards in Scottish Schools: May 2000.

The main findings are:-

• At May 2002, 84 per cent of eligible education authority schools had a school board.
• Of the eligible schools, school boards were formed in 83 per cent of primary, 96 per cent of secondary and 56 per cent of special education authority schools.
• Among the eligible schools, the percentage of schools with a school board has risen over the past ten years from 77 per cent in May 1992 to 84 per cent in May 2002. Primary increased from 77 per cent to 83 per cent, secondary from 95 per cent to 96 per cent, and special from 42 per cent to 56 per cent.
• Of the eligible primary schools 53 per cent had a school board formed after a regular election, 28 per cent had a school board formed after the 3-month co-option period and 2 percent had a school board formed after parental request. Seventeen per cent had no school board at May 2002.
• Of the eligible secondary schools 55 per cent had a school board formed after a regular election, 37 per cent had a school board formed after the 3-month co-option period and 4 percent had a school board formed after parental request. Four per cent had no school board at May 2002.
• Of the eligible special schools 44 per cent had a school board formed after a regular election and 12 per cent had a school board formed after the 3-month co-option period. Forty-four per cent had no school board at May 2002.
• All eligible primary schools in East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, Orkney Islands and Renfrewshire had a school board at May 2002. The lowest proportions of primary schools with school boards were in Dundee City, Aberdeen City, Angus and Clackmannanshire.
• Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Dundee City, Glasgow City, Highland, Midlothian and North Lanarkshire are the only authorities where some eligible secondary schools did not have a school board.

TABLES

Table 1 - Education Authority Schools in Scotland 1992-2002. Number of eligible schools and percentages with a school board, by sector.
Table 2 - Education Authority Primary Schools. Number of eligible schools and percentage with a school board as at 31 May 2002, by authority.
Table 3 - Education Authority Secondary Schools. Number of eligible schools and percentage with a school board as at 31 May 2002, by authority.
Table 4 - Education Authority Special Schools. Number of eligible schools and percentage with a school board as at 31 May 2002.

NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS

1. The School Boards (Scotland) Act 1988 provided for school boards to be set up in education authority schools in Scotland. Boards consist of elected parent and staff members and other members co-opted by the elected members. Board members hold office for four years, with half the parent places coming up for election every two years. The initial round of elections to school boards was held in 1989-90, with parental elections biennially thereafter. This News Release reports the results of the biennial survey on the status of school boards as at 31 May 2002.
2. The 1988 Act provided for elections for school boards to be held in all schools except for the very few schools whose roll is so small that there are insufficient parents to form a school board. Schools in which elections are required to be held are referred to as 'eligible schools'.
3. School boards, the size and composition of which is laid down in the School Board (Scotland) Regulations 1989 (as amended), can only be formed when sufficient parent members are elected through contested or uncontested regular elections. In cases where insufficient parents are elected to form a school board, a board can be established through the co-option of up to two parents. Where a Board does not exist at 31 May 2002, this is either because the school is a non-qualifying school, or because no board was formed as a result of a regular election or under other provisions.
4. This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

Enquiries

1. Public enquiries (non-media) about the information contained in this News Release should be addressed to Neil White, Scottish Executive Education Department, Area 1A, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ. Telephone 0131 244 0300 or e-mail ea.stats@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
2. Media enquiries about the information in this News Release should be addressed to:
   News Release
   21 November 2002