School Council is the governing body of the school with powers to set the key educational and policy directions of Pascoe Vale South Primary School within the Department of Education and Training (DET) guidelines.

The purpose of School Council is to assist with the planning and governance of our school. The sub-committee teams include Buildings and Grounds, Fundraising and Promotion and our newly formed Education sub-committee.

The sub-committees have enabled our school to help support, improve and create a school that is safe, engaging and aesthetically pleasing environment for all students who are enrolled at Pascoe Vale South Primary School. 

What is a School Council?

What is a School Council and what does it do?All government schools in Victoria have a school council. They are legally formed bodies that are given powers to set the key directions of a school within centrally provided guidelines. In doing this, a School Council is able to directly influence the quality of education that the school provides for its students.

Who is on the School Council?

There are three possible categories of membership:

• A mandated elected Parent category. More than one third of the total members must be from this category. Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DET) employees can be Parent members at their child’s school as long as they are not employed at the school.
• A mandated elected DET employee category. Members of this category may make up no more than one third of the total membership of school council. The principal of the school is automatically one of these members.
• An optional Community member category. Its members are appointed by a decision of the council because of their special skills, interests or experiences. DET employees are not eligible to be Community members.

The term of office for all members is two years. Half the members must retire each year, creating vacancies for the annual school council elections.

Why is parent membership so important? 

Parents on school councils provide important viewpoints and have valuable skills that can help shape the direction of the school.

Do I need special experience to be on school council? 

No. What you do need is an interest in the school and the desire to work in partnership with others to help shape the school’s future.

What do you need to do to stand for election? 

The principal will issue a notice and call for nominations following the commencement of Term 1 each year. All school council elections must be completed by the end of March.

If you decide to stand for election, you can arrange for someone to nominate you as a candidate or you can nominate yourself in the Parent category.

DET employees whose child is enrolled in a school in which they are not employed are eligible to nominate as parents for the school council where their child is enrolled

Once the nomination form is completed, return it to the principal within the time stated on the notice of election.

If there are more nominations received than there are vacancies on council, a ballot will be conducted during the two weeks after the call for nominations has closed.