Becoming a school board member
A worthwhile service to the school, your child, and the community

Being a School Board member is a valuable service to the school and the community. You are helping to ensure a good education for future generations by creating a partnership between parents and teachers for the benefit of the education of our young people. The work is responsible and sometimes demanding. People from all backgrounds have found it to be a worthwhile and rewarding way of serving the community.

School Boards were introduced in 1988 as part of the Govemment's policy of encouraging parental involvement in schools. They comprise parent, teacher and 'co-opted' members with parents in the majority. 'Co-opted' members may be drawn from local business or the community. School Board Members are involved in determining the overall policies, objectives and ethos at the school. Boards have a special duty to promote good relationships between the school, its parents and the community and also form a channel for the flow of information between these groups.

What does a school board member do ?
School Boards have certain formal duties, powers and rights but it is up to each Board to decide how active they wish to be. School Board members are involved in:

- promoting good relationships between the school, parents and the local community;

- appointing senior staff, e.g.. Head Teacher, Depute and Assistant Head Teacher posts;

- approving school finances.

Boards regulate their own proceedings, they can set up committees and invite anyone they wish to give them advice. Provided they satisfy the basic requirements of The School Boards (Scotland) Act 1988, it is for Boards to decide how they wish to conduct their business and become involved in the wider aspects of school life.

School Board members need to work in partnership with the Head Teacher. Board members can help set objectives and supervise progress. It is for the Head Teacher to run the school on a day-to-day basis.

What qualifications do I need, to be a school board member ?
As a Board member you will need to maintain a keen interest in children and their parents. You do not need to have a professional knowledge of education to be a School Board member. You simply need to be willing to learn about the school and the school system as you go along. [more] .........[1] [2] [3]