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FOHMS Constitution

  1. The name of the Association shall be “The Friends of Henry Maynard School”.
  2. The object of the Association is to advance the education of the pupils in the school. In furtherance of this object, the Association may:
    a) develop more extended relationships between the staff and parents and others associated with the school
    b) engage in activities which support the school and advance the education of the pupils attending them
    c) provide and assist in the provision of facilities for education at the school (not normally provided by the LEA) by
    1. i) establishing a link between home and school whereby there can be an exchange of information
    2. ii) making available to the school when required, the assistance of parents and friends by whatever skills particular talents, professional expertise or experience they may have to offer in a variety of fields
    3. iii) arranging a variety of social activities, catering for all sections of the community, which will enable the staff, parents, governors, friends and others concerned with the school to meet informally
    4. iv) raising finances for projects approved by the Committee
    5. v) assisting the organisation of meetings on issues of current interest
  3. The Association shall be non-party political and non-sectarian.
  4. The Association shall take out Public Liability and Personal Accident Insurance to cover its meetings, activities, officers and Committee. (Membership of the National Confederation of Parent-Teacher Associations automatically provides this).
  5. Membership shall consist of all parents and/or guardians of pupils, past and present attending or who have attended the school and all members of the school’s staff.
  6. The management of the Association shall be vested in a Committee consisting of the following Officers: Chair, Vice-Chair or Co-Chair, Secretary or Co-Secretary and Treasurer, together with 8 other members from the school, with a minimum of 2 members of the school’s staff and 3 parents/guardians from the school.
  7. The Officers and Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and shall serve until the commencement of the next AGM.
  8. One third of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.
  9. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt additional members. The committee may fill casual vacancies by co-option until the next AGM.
  10. The Committee may appoint sub-committees as it and the Head teachers deem necessary and shall prescribe their function provided that all acts and proceedings at any such sub-committee shall be reported to the Committee as soon as possible, and provided further that no such sub-committee shall expend funds of the Association otherwise than in accordance with a budget agreed by the Committee. Sub-committees may be composed of any member(s) of the Association.
  11. Committee meetings shall be held at least once each term.
  12. The AGM shall be held in the first term of the school year. Twenty one days clear notice must be given of the meeting.
  13. At least 14 days notice of proposed amendments must be given. Members will be notified that proposed amendments have been received; said proposed amendments shall be displayed in a prominent place.
  14. Nomination shall be proposed and seconded by members and should have the consent of the nominee. Nominations may be made at any time prior to, or at the AGM.
  15. Conduct at all meetings:
    a) Voting will normally be a show of hands
    b) A ballot may be requested. Such a request must be moved, seconded and agreed by the meeting. A teller cannot vote.
    c) The Chair shall have the casting vote.
  16. One independent examiner, who is not a member of the Committee, shall be elected annually at the AGM to audit the accounts and books of the Association.
  17. Special General Meetings (SGM) may be called at the written request of a minimum of 20 members to the Secretary or Chair of the Committee.
  18. 21 days' notice shall be given of any SGM to all members of the Association.
  19. The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping account of all income and expenditure, and shall present a financial report to all Committee meetings, and shall present the accounts duly independently examined for approval by the members at the AGM.
  20. Accounts shall be operated in the name of the Association, and withdrawals shall be made on the signature of any two of the Officers of the Association.
  21. The financial year shall commence on 1st September. (The financial year will be for 12 months).
  22. Any matter not provided for in the Constitution and concerning the organisation and activities of the Association shall be dealt with by the Committee whose decision shall be final.
  23. No alteration to this constitution may be made, except at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting called for this purpose. No amendments or alterations shall be made without the prior written permission of the Charity Commission to Clauses 2, 23 and 24, and no alterations shall be made which could cause the Association to cease to be a charity in Law. Alterations to the Constitution shall receive the assent of two thirds of the members present and voting at an AGM or SGM.
  24. The Association may be dissolved by a resolution presented at an SGM called for this purpose. The resolution must have the assent of two thirds of those present and voting. Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets remaining after satisfying any outstanding debts and liabilities. These assets shall not be distributed among the members of the Association, but will be given to the
    school for the benefit of the children of the school, or, in the event of the school closure, to the school to which the majority of children of the closing school will go, in any manner which is exclusively charitable in Law. If effect cannot be given to this provision, then the assets can be given to some other charitable purpose.
  25. The Head Teacher (or Deputy Head Teachers in his/her absence) shall have the ultimate decision on all educational matters.

Last updated 02.10.2012