School Advisory Council

School Advisory Councils (SAC) are advisory bodies which form an important expression of the educational partnership that exists between parents, schools, parishes and the wider community to support all students. This is reflected in the ex officio membership of both the principal and the parish priest on the Council. What they do is governed by the Terms of Reference.

The SAC provides a forum for discussion and discernment, where the parent voice and perspective are available to influence the decisions made by the principal and parish priest for the good of school and parish where the wellbeing and outcomes for students is paramount.

The role of the School Advisory Council is to:

  • ensure that, at the local level, Catholic schools will remain ‘actively embedded in the life of the faith communities of the local Church, which in turn is tangibly manifest in the life of each school’
  • encourage the partnership and participation of school, parish and the wider community in the life of the school and parish
  • allow school principals, parish priests and parents to work closely in the common mission they share.
  • provide a forum for discussion and discernment, where the parent voice and perspective are available to inform and support the decisions made by the Principal and Parish Priest for the good of School and Parish where the wellbeing and outcomes for students is paramount
  • contribute to the selection process for the school principal via membership of the selection panel as per MACS and CECV policy and guidelines
  • endorse particular documents (WTIM): Master Plans, Annual Budgets, Annual Reports, Strategic Plans