The PIPER Project

All levels of government from the United Nations to that of Local Authorities stress the importance of school based climate change and sustainability initiatives that reach out into homes and the wider community.

PIPER is a unique and simple model that implements this policy and achieves measurable results in homes and communities.
Eco-Schools has made significant progress on raising awareness and behaviour change within the school environment on these issues.
We have developed a new parent and pupil lead initiative based on  Scottish Government legislation, formally linking it  to schools. PIPER has introduced  two new concepts, Eco-Homes and Eco-Communities,
by means of setting up school Parent Council Eco Sub Groups.

We engage directly with every child and every parent in the community by providing them with a folder which all pupils from nursery, primary and secondary schools take home in their school bags! 

 
The folder contains the following:
 A DVD on Climate Change. Behaviour change promises and pledges  for pupils and parents.
 Parent and pupil  Resource Surveys, which detail skills and time available to contribute to the community involvement element of   our model.
 Prizes are awarded to the pupils and parents for taking part.

The PIPER model  creates community cohesion around the issues of climate change and sustainability. It involves teachers, pupils, and parents working in partnership with existing local 
organisations such as, Community Councils, Churches and Transition groups; service providers such as Local Authorities, Changeworks and the Energy Saving Trust and NGOs such as WWF and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland.

The Parental Involvement Act (Scotland), 2006
“The Act aims to help schools, education authorities and others to engage parents meaningfully in the education of their children in school, at home and in the wider community.”
School Boards have been replaced by Parent Councils which can form sub groups on topics of special interest or importance to parents and pupils such as the environment, communication and fundraising.

The Curriculum for Excellence
The new Curriculum for Excellence  also aims to broaden the learning experience by the inclusion of parents and community groups as partners in children's education.

"The curriculum is the totality of experiences which are planned for children and young people through their education wherever they are educated”

Two aims of the Curriculum for Excellence are to provide our children with the tools to become “ Responsible Citizens and Effective Contributors”.

The new Curriculum should thus be providing “experiences” relating to climate change and sustainability and  “outcomes” that provide our children with a sustainable future.

Schools are at the heart of every community in Scotland .Given the support and resources that it deserves from the Scottish Government and the 32 Local Authorities who have all signed Scotland’s Climate Change Declaration, committing them to supporting local groups. 

 The PIPER model can be easily replicated  in all schools throughout Scotland and even further afield .PIPER currently works with 7 schools in Edinburgh and has been funded by the

Climate Challenge Fund and the City of Edinburgh Council. Sadly, this funding is time limited and runs out in March 2011.

OK, I’m interested, I’m a parent with a child/children at school.
What do I do, then?

(I’m not a parent, what about me? Find a parent with a child at school that shares your concerns and tell them about PIPER!)

1. Check out from the school or school website when the next Parent Council meeting is scheduled.

2. Go along and suggest the setting up an Eco Sub Group of the Parent Council. Have 10 to 20 copies of the Remit (a sample is on the PIPER website) with you, hand them out and ask if there are two other parents there who would be interested in joining the new group.

If you already know  two parents who’d be up for joining the sub group, all the better. Go with them to the meeting and you won’t have to ask around the table! If you do have to ask around the table and they’re not too keen you may have to stress that these are just nominal positions and will only require them to attend an occasional meeting.

The Parent Council represents the Parent Forum which includes every parent at the school. As a member of the Parent Forum you are entitled to set up a sub group. You do not need to be a member of the Parent Council.  
With any luck they’ll accept the remit, there and then, and you will have the Eco Sub Group set up!

3. Speak to the Head Teacher and Chair of the Parent Council  about an article or at least a mention of the new Sub Group in the next School Newsletter. This must include your contact details and a request for parents to join the group.

4. Please feel free to contact PIPER if you need any help, clarification or advice on what to do next!                    

Many thanks for taking the time to consider the PIPER project.

SAMPLE REMIT                                                                                                                                         

                                      Name/ Primary/High School

            (NAME) IS A SUB GROUP OF THE PARENT COUNCIL
                                                                                                                                                                                       
                                                           REMIT

Purpose

The purpose of the group is to help raise awareness and take actions on the issues of climate change and sustainability within the school, homes and the wider community.

 
Membership

  All parents/carers, pupils and school staff will be welcome to become members of (name).
Meetings and Decision Making All decisions regarding activities undertaken by (name) and financial matters will be decided upon by a majority of parents/carers at its meetings although a consensual approach to decision making will be the preferred option.

 A minimum quorum for its meetings will be 3 parents. Preferably one of these parents will be a member of the Parent Council although membership of the Parent Forum will suffice.

(Name) will be responsible for decisions taken regarding the day to day running and implementation of activities approved by the school and the Parent Council.

Accountability

All decisions taken at (name) meetings regarding any major activities/events/actions by the group will be referred to the next Parent Council meeting for its approval.
 All decisions regarding activities within the school shall require the approval of the Head Teacher and/or Senior Management Team.
(Name) will provide verbal and/or written reports to all Parent Council meetings.

Chair (Name) will appoint a Chair/s to facilitate meetings (this may be done on a rotational basis)

Finance

(Name) will be responsible for decisions regarding income and expenditure. (Name) will share the existing bank account of the Parent Council.

 All financial transactions will be administered by the Treasurer of the Parent Council. (Name) will keep separate records of income and expenditure. (Name) will give regular reports to the Treasurer of the Parent Council regarding its finances.

Please feel free to contact us as below:

Mike Ferrigan
Project Consultant

email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel:  0131 449 3966

            

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