| 1. |
The committee consists of: |
| |
Officers: The Chair, the Deputy
Chair (preferably from school other than Chair), the Secretary, the
Treasurer.
Other Officers: The Head teachers
of each School as Vice Chairs.
Number of Ordinary Committee
Members: 10-20 (to include at least one Teacher representative
from each school).
Number of possible Co-opted Committee
Members: 5 |
| 2. |
Objects |
| |
The object of the Association (“the Objects”)
is to advance the education of pupils in the School in particular
by: |
| 2.1 |
Developing effective relationships between the
staff, parents and others associated with the School; |
| 2.2 |
Engaging in activities or providing facilities
or equipment that support the Schools and advance the education of
the pupils. |
| 3. |
Powers |
| |
The Association has the following powers, which
may be exercised only in promoting the Objects: |
| 3.1 |
To provide advice |
| 3.2 |
To publish or distribute information. |
| 3.3 |
To co-operate with other bodies. |
| 3.4 |
To raise funds (but not by means of taxable trading). |
| 3.5 |
To acquire or hire property of any kind. |
| 3.6 |
To make grants or loans of money and to give guarantees. |
| 3.7 |
To set aside funds for special purposes or as reserves
against future expenditure. |
| 3.8 |
To deposit or invest funds in any lawful manner
(but to invest only after obtaining advice from a financial expert
and having regard to the suitability of investments and the need for
diversification). |
| 3.9 |
To take out public liability and personal accident
insurance to cover Association meetings, activities, Offers, and Committee
Members, to insure the Association’s property against any foreseeable
risk and take out other insurance policies to protect the Association
where required. |
| 3.10 |
To insure members of the Committee against the
costs of a successful defence to a criminal prosecution brought against
them as charity trustees or against personal liability incurred in
respect of any act or omission which is or is alleged to be a breach
of trust or breach of duty (unless the member concerned knew that,
or was reckless whether, the act of omission was a breach of trust
or breach of duty). |
| 3.11 |
Subject to clause 9.2, to employ paid or unpaid
agents, staff or advisers. |
| 3.12 |
To enter into contracts to provide services to
or on behalf or other bodies. |
| 3.13 |
To pay the costs of forming the Association. |
| 3.14 |
To do anything else within the law which promotes
the Objects. |
| |
BUT the Committee shall not undertake any
activity on either school premises without the consent of the relevant
Head teacher. |
 |
|
| 4 |
Membership |
| |
Members of the Association
are any person wishing to offer appropriate support or help to the
Schools and who is accepted by the Committee as a member.
BUT the Committee may for good reason (whether
or not at the request of the Governing Body or either Head Teacher)
exclude any person from membership whose presence at or support
of the Schools are deemed a danger to the Schools or their pupils
or staff or might bring the Association into disrepute (but only
after notifying the member concerned in writing and considering
the matter in the light of any written representations which the
member puts forward within 14 clear days after receiving notice). |
| 5. |
General Meetings |
| 5.1 |
All members are entitled to attend any AGM or EGM
of the Association. |
| 5.2 |
General meetings are called by 21 clear days’
written notice to the members specifying the business to be transacted |
| 5.3 |
There is a quorum at a general meeting if the number
of members personally present is at least two times the number of
Committee Members in office at the commencement of the meeting |
| 5.4 |
The Chair or (if the Chair is unable or unwilling
to do so) some other member elected by those present presides at
a general meeting. |
| 5.5 |
Except where otherwise provided in this Constitution,
every issue at a general meeting is determined by simple majority
of the votes cast by the members present in person. |
| 5.6 |
Except for the chair of the meeting, who has a
second or casting vote, every member present in person is entitled
to one vote on every issue. |
| 5.7 |
An AGM must be held in every year (except that
the first AGM may be held at any time within 18 months after the formation
of the Association). |
| 5.8 |
At a AGM the members: |
| 5.8.1 |
Receive the accounts if the Association for the
previous financial year. |
| 5.8.2 |
Receive the report of the Committee on the Association’s
activities since the previous AGM. |
| 5.8.3 |
Elect the Committee. |
| 5.8.4 |
Appoint an independent examiner or auditor for
the Association. |
| 5.8.5 |
May confer on any individual (with his or her consent)
the honorary title of Patron, President or Vice-President of the Association. |
| 5.8.6 |
Discuss and determine any issues of policy or deal
with any other business put before them. |
| 5.9 |
An EGM may be called at any time by the Committee
and must be called within 21 days after a written request to the
Committee from at least 10 members. |
|
|
| 6. |
The Committee |
| 6.1 |
The Committee as charity trustees have control
of the Association and its property and funds. |
| 6.2.1 |
The Committee when complete shall comprise the
officers and the other persons set out in clause 1.4 all of whom must
be members of the Association. |
| 6.2.2 |
The number of co-opted Committee Members (who need
not necessarily be members of the Association) shall not exceed 50%
of the number of ordinary committee members. |
| 6.3 |
The Committee shall be elected at the AGM and shall
hold office until the next AGM but the co-opted Committee members
may be co-opted by the Committee at any time and shall hold office
until the next AGM. |
| 6.4 |
Nominations for election to the Committee may be
made by one member and seconded by another. Such nominations should
be made in writing to the Chair at any time until the election process
has been completed. |
| 6.5 |
A Committee member automatically ceases to be a
member of the Committee if he or she: |
| 6.5.1 |
Is disqualified under the Charities Act 1993 from
acting as a trustee. |
| 6.5.2 |
Is incapable, whether mentally or physically, of
managing his or her own affairs. |
| 6.5.3 |
Is absent from three consecutive meetings of the
Committee. |
| 6.5.4 |
Ceases to be a member of the Association. |
| 6.5.5 |
Resigns by written notice to the Committee (but
only if at least two Committee members will remain in office). |
| 6.5.6 |
Is removed by a resolution passed by all the other
members of the Committee after inviting the views of the Committee
member concerned and considering the matter in the light of any such
views. |
| 6.6 |
A retiring Committee member is entitled to an indemnity
from the continuing Committee members at the expense of the Association
in respect of any liabilities properly incurred while he or she held
office. |
| 6.7 |
A technical defect in the appointment of a Committee
member of which the Committee are unaware at the time does not invalidate
decisions taken at a meeting. |
| 7 |
Committee Meetings |
| 7.1 |
The Committee must hold at least one meeting per
term. |
| 7.2 |
A quorum at a Committee meeting is 50% of the total
current membership of the Committee members. |
| 7.3 |
The Chair or (if the Chair is unable to unwilling
to do so) some other member of the Committee chosen by the members
present presides at each Committee meeting. |
| 7.4 |
Every issue may be determined by a simple
majority of the votes cast at a Committee meeting but a resolution
which is in writing and signed by all members of the Committee is
as valid as a resolution passed at a meeting and for this purpose
the resolution may be contained in more than one document and will
be treated as passed on the date of the last signature. |
| 7.5 |
Except for the chair of the meeting, who has a
second or casting vote, every Committee member has one vote on each
issue. |
|
|
| 8 |
Powers of Committee |
| |
The Committee have the following powers in the
administration of the Association: |
| 8.1 |
To delegate any of their functions to sub-committees
consisting of two or more persons appointed by them (but at least
one member of every sub-committee must be a Committee member and all
proceedings of sub-committees must be reported promptly to the Committee). |
| 8.2 |
To make Rules consistent with this Constitution
about the Committee and sub-committees, to govern proceedings at general
meetings and generally about the running of the Association (including
the operation of bank accounts and the commitment of funds). |
| 9 |
Property & Funds |
| 9.1 |
The property and funds of the Association must
be used only for promoting the Objects. |
| 9.2 |
No Committee member may receive any payment
of money or other material benefit (whether direct or indirect)
from the Association except: |
| 9.2.1 |
Under clauses 3.10 (indemnity insurance) and 9.2.3
(fees). |
| 9.2.2 |
Reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
(including hotel and travel costs) actually incurred in the administration
of the Association. |
| 9.2.3 |
In the case of an individual member, charitable
benefits in his or her capacity as a beneficiary subject to compliance
with clause 9.3. |
| 9.3 |
Whenever a Committee member has a personal interest
in a matter to be discussed at a Committee meeting, the Committee
member must: |
| 9.3.1 |
Declare an interest before discussion begins on
the matter. |
| 9.3.2 |
Withdraw from that part of the meeting unless expressly
invited to remain in order to provide information. |
| 9.3.3 |
Not be counted in the quorum for that part of the
meeting. |
| 9.3.4 |
Withdraw during the vote and have no vote on the
matter. |
| 10 |
Records & Accounts |
| 10.1 |
The Committee must comply with the requirements
of the Charities Act 1993 as to the keeping of financial records,
the audit or independent examination of accounts and the preparation
and transmission to the Commission of: |
| 10.1.1 |
Annual reports. |
| 10.1.2 |
Annual returns. |
| 10.1.3 |
Annual statements of account. |
| 10.2 |
The Committee must keep proper records of:
All proceedings at general meetings.
All proceedings at Committee meetings.
All reports of sub-committees. |
| 10.3 |
Annual reports and statements of account relating
to the Association must be made available for inspection by any member
of the Association. |
| 11 |
Accounts |
| 11.1 |
Notices under this Constitution may be sent by
hand, or by post or by suitable electronic means or in any newsletter
distributed by the Association. Notification by hand may include distribution
to parents guardians and carers via their children with or without
other communications from the School. |
| 11.2 |
The address at which a member is entitled to receive
notices (if sent by post) is the last known address of the member. |
| 11.3 |
A technical defect in the giving of notice of which
the members or the Committee members are unaware at the time does
not invalidate decisions taken at a meeting. |
|
|
| 12 |
Amendments |
| |
This Constitution may be amended at a general meeting
by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, but |
| 12.1 |
The members must be given 21 clear days’
notice of the proposed amendments. |
| 12.2 |
No amendment is valid if it would make a fundamental
change to the Objects or to this clause or destroy the charitable
status of the Association. |
| 13 |
Dissolution |
| 13.1 |
The Association may be dissolved by a resolution
presented at an EGM 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. |
| 13.2 |
The net assets shall not be distributed among the
members of the Association but will be given to the Schools for the
benefit of the pupils of the Schools, or in the event of the Schools
closing, to such other neighbouring school or schools the Committee
shall decide. |
| 13.3 |
If effect cannot be given to this provision then
the assets can be given to some other charitable purpose. |
| 14 |
Interpretation |
| 14.1 |
In this Constitution: |
| |
- “AGM” means an annual general meeting of the members
of the Association.
- “The Association” means the charity comprised in
this constitution.
- “The Chair” means the chair of the Association
elected at the AGM.
- “Charity Trustees” has the meaning prescribed by
section 97(1) of the Charities Act 1993.
- “Clear day” means 24 hours from midnight following
the triggering event.
- “The Commission” means the Charity Commissioners
for England and Wales.
- “The Committee” is the governing body of the Association.
- “Co-opted Committee member” means a member of the
Committee appointed by the members of the Committee in accordance
with clause 6.
- “EGM” means a general meeting of the members of
the Association, which is not an AGM.
- “Fundamental change” means such a change as would
not have been within the reasonable contemplation of a person
making a donation to the Association.
- “General meetings” means any AGM or EGM.
- “Governing Body” means the governing body of the
Schools.
- “Head teachers,” means the Head teachers of the
Schools.
- Independent examiner” has the meaning prescribed by section
43(3)(a) of the Charities Act 1993.
- “Material benefit” means a benefit, which may not
be financial but has a monetary value.
- “Member” and “membership” refer to
members of the Association.
- “Months” means calendar months.
- “The Objects” means the charitable objects of the
Association set out in clause 2.
- “Taxable trading,” means carrying on a trade or
business on a continuing basis for the principal purpose of raising
funds and not for the purpose of actually carrying out the Objects.
- “Written” or “in writing” refers to
a legible document on paper including a fax message.
- “Year” means a calendar year.
|
| 14.2 |
References to an Act of Parliament are references
to the Act as amended or re-enacted from time to time and to any subordinate
legislation made under it. |
