A Parent Council has been fully established in St. Bernard’s Primary.

The Parent Council is selected for a maximum of 3 years.

Any parent/carer of a child at the school can volunteer to be a member of the Council.

In the event that the number of volunteers exceeds the maximum number set out in the constitution, members will be selected by an election.

Anyone not selected to be a member of the Parent Council may be offered the opportunity to be part of the PTA sub group.

The Parent Council may co-opt up to 3 members to assist in its functions.

These should be –

a) the parish priest or his representative,

b) a member of the teaching staff and

c) a local business person or Councillor.

Office bearers are selected by the Parent Council on an annual basis.

Rights and Duties

(a)        supporting the work of the school;

(b)       representing the views of parents;

(c)        consulting with parents and reporting back to the Parent Forum on matters of interest;

(d)       promoting contact between the school, parents, pupils, providers of nursery education and
the wider community;

(e)        fundraising;

(f)         taking part in the selection of senior promoted staff;

(g)       receiving reports from the head teacher and education authority; and

(h)       receiving an annual budget for administration, training and other expenses.

(i)         improving home school partnership and facilitating parental involvement.

Members of Parent Councils, on a voluntary basis, may also have an advisory role in decisions on placing requests by parents in respect of those situations where the number of placing requests for a particular school or for a particular stage in a particular school, exceeds the number of places available.