7.10     Provision of Information to Students, Parents and Teachers

The Education Act, 1998 requires a Board of Management to establish and maintain procedures for the purposes of informing Parents, Students and Teachers students of the activities of the school and of its policies, rules and procedures. These procedures should facilitate the involvement of all members of the school community in the operation of the school.

Such information is commonly provided through:

·         Promotional material

·         Documentation provided on enrolment

·         Parents and students handbooks

·         Teachers handbooks

·         Student journals

The Student Council

The Education Act, Section 27, also requires a Board of Management to encourage the establishment by students of a Student Council, to facilitate students who wish to establish such a Council and to give all reasonable assistance to the Council when it is established.

A Student Council should promote the interests of the school and the involvement of students in the affairs of the school, in co-operation with the Board of Management, teachers and parents.

The DES has published guidelines for the establishment and conduct of Student Council. This publication may be accessed on the DES website at Students Council: A Voice for Students.  The rules for the establishment of a Student Council should be drawn up by the Board of Management in accordance with these guidelines. Having been established, the Council, following consultation with the Board of Management, may make rules governing its affairs, including the conduct of meetings.