The responses indicate that School Boards are satisfied with the present membership and method of election but wish to see the by-election stage removed thereby going straight from election to co-option of parent members.

There was no support for additional categories of School Board membership such as Social Workers, Health staff, or Education Authority representation to be introduced.

Just over half of those responding were satisfied with current arrangements for training, but would prefer locally delivered courses at no cost to the School Board. There is a healthy interest in the training courses offered by SSBA.

Whilst current arrangements for funding School Boards met with overall acceptance, there was a serious lack of consultation with School Boards on funding by the Education Authorities. The suggestions that there should be a national formula and a legal minimum for the funding of School Boards received significant support.

The majority of responses indicated that the present separate organisations of PTAs/PAs and School Boards should continue.

There was significant support for School Boards electing representatives to serve on Education Committees. There was also considerable support for School Boards in the area selecting that representative.

There was substantial support for both Education Authorities and the Scottish Office to set up consultative mechanisms with groups of parents.

There was a small majority in favour of the creation of home-school agreements although there was very little support of these agreements being legally binding.

There was support for targets of attainment being set for every individual pupil covering all aspects of the 5 - 14 curriculum in primary schools and for every subject in secondary schools.

There was overwhelming support for the requirements that schools and Education Authorities should set out procedures for dealing with complaints and enquiries.

Parent contacts and parent advocates were proposals which were not supported.

Most responses appeared to be satisfied with the current two written reports on pupils' progress each year.

There was overwhelming support for the proposal that, when a school inspection report is published, the Inspector in charge of the inspection should report personally to the School Board.

The SOEID publication "How Good Is Our School?" does not appear to have been considered by many School Boards, but a significant majority of these School Boards wished to be involved in any use the school made of this publication.

SSBA submitted the full results of the questionnaire to the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department. 16 May 1998 .........................................[1] [2]