Schoolboard ELECTIONS
Get involved in your child's school
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Some general information about School Boards and School Board elections
Most schools have School Boards. They are there to involve parents in the running of their child's school and to find out parents' views about issues affecting the school.
School Boards represent a partnership among parents, staff and the local community. They provide an opportunity for parental involvement based on the desire to support the school and to participate meaningfully in its activities.
School Board elections give every parent the chance to take part in this process. Every parent, provided he or she is on the school's electoral register, is entitled to put his or her name forward for membership of the Board.
The Scottish Executive wishes to encourage parents from under-represented groups to get involved. If more parents stand than there are places, there is an election by postal ballot.
If you want to find out more, talk to existing Board members. If you want to put your name forward for your Board, tell your headteacher or your education authority. They will be able to answer your questions and tell you what to do next. Your education authority will also generally undertake all of the necessary arrangements.
Some comments about School Boards from Board members . . .
"We have a good school and I just wanted to play my part to keep it a good school, maybe even make it a better one."
"Everyone seemed to be listening and that made me feel really pleased. I thought all these professionals would just laugh, but they didn't. I felt really good afterwards."
... and a comment from a headteacher: "No doubt about it. It lends power to the 'heidie's' elbow."
Who sits on the School Board?
Parents are the largest group. Members are also elected from the school's staff and a small number of members are "co-opted" from the local community. Some Boards also co-opt a senior pupil from within the school. Although the headteacher is not a member of the Board, he or she attends meetings as an adviser. The local councillors and the Director of Education (or his or her representative) are also entitled to attend Board meetings.
What do School Boards actually do?
There is a range of activities that School Boards are required to undertake. Activities include approving the headteacher's proposals for spending on books and equipment; taking part in appointment committees for the most senior teaching staff; and, subject to any direction by the education authority, controlling the use of school premises out of school hours.
Beyond that, although there are certain limits, School Boards can decide for themselves what they want to do. Generally, Boards can discuss and report on almost any matter of interest to, or connected with, the school. In whatever they do, School Boards have an important responsibility to support those managing their schools to secure improvement in the quality of education provided there.
How to find out more
- Talk to members of your own Board or to your headteacher in the first instance.
- If after that you still have questions, your education authority will be able to help you to find out more. For example, they will send you details of how to register or vote.
- The School Boards Unit at the Scottish Executive Education Department will also be happy to answer any questions you may have or to pass on to you details of appropriate contacts, such as those within your education authority. You can contact the unit at the address given below.
The information in this leaflet is available, free of charge, in Braille, audio tape, large print, Urdu, Punjabi, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese and Gaelic from the Scottish Executive School Boards Unit on the number below.
School Boards Unit
Scottish Executive
Education Department
Schools Division
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh EH6 6QQ
Telephone: 0131 244 0025
Richard.Park@scotland.gsi.gov.uk