Parents' Association

The Parents’ association in a school works with the principal, staff and board of management to build effective co-operation and partnership between home and school. The Parents’ Association is an important voice for parents. Parents can work together with the school and enhance the educational development and opportunities for their children. The work of the Parents Association is based on integrity and trust between parents, teachers and the school from which all will benefit.

The role of the parent’s association is set down in the Education Act 1998 as follows: A Parents’ association shall promote the interests of the students in a school in cooperation with the board, principal, teachers and students. The Education Act also sets out two broad tasks for a Parents’ association which are:

• To advise the Principal or the Board on matters relating to the school.
• To adopt a programme of activities which will promote the involvement of parents in the operation of the school, in consultation with the principal.

The Parents’ Association can:

• suggest and organise extra-curricular activities
• invite speakers to address parents on issues which are topical or relevant
• Providing support/organisational input to major school events
• play a key role in policy formation, channelling parents views on school policy issues to the Principal/Board
• fundraise for the development of school facilities or resources – the specific purpose of the fundraising is agreed with school management.
• provide support for the teachers and school management in the running of the school.
• contributing to school newsletter

Note: The Parents Association is not a forum for complaints against an individual teacher or parent – the Complaints Procedure is the mechanism for this.

The school encourages new parents of students in the school to join the Parents Association. Being part of the Parents Association, you will meet other parents, get to know the teachers and staff and be part of the school community.

The Parents Association meets regularly throughout the school year. Parents of the school are welcome to attend any of these meetings. The school Principal attends for the first half hour of the meeting to update parents on school life. The Principal will present a report at every meeting.

Meetings are relaxed, interesting and informative and each parents input is appreciated. At meetings, ideas are discussed, information is shared, activities are planned, and decisions are made.

All the Parents Association meetings in the past year were virtual via Zoom, but we hope to return to face to face meetings as soon as it is safe to do so. All parents/guardians are welcome to attend the meetings.

Parents' Association Committe