Leadership: Board & Pupils

How the School is Governed

The School falls under the jurisdiction of the Western Cape Education Department. As in all similar state schools, the responsibility for running the School falls upon the Headmaster and staff, but to fund, guide and help them, a Board of Governors of fifteen members has been elected every third year. The number of members may be adjusted for the new High School. At present, eight of the Board must have children at the School and be elected by the parents. Other members are elected by staff and pupils.  Mr Edwards and Mr Douglas are ex officio members.

 

The chief duties of the Board of Governors are to:

1.             determine the language and admission policies;

2.             be the official mouthpiece of the parents;

3.             exercise general supervision over the grounds, buildings, furniture and equipment of the School;

4.             appoint (or recommend to the WCED the appointment of) educational, administrative and other staff;

5.             determine the school uniform and dress regulations;

6.             make recommendations regarding school hours and extra-mural activities;

7.             prepare and have an annual budget for the School approved and to levy,  enforce and administer the school fees;

8.             adopt a code of conduct (in which the School rules are included) for learners.

 

The Board of Governors is responsible to both the parents and the Western Cape Education Department, and all official business with the Department must be transacted through the Board.

 

Once elected in terms of the SA Schools Act, the Board of Governors has full power to act within the scope of its duties.

 

SUB-COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

 

The Board uses a system of sub-committees to cover the diverse activities

of the School.  Reports and recommendations reach the Board via the

sub-committees such as: Finance; Buildings and Grounds; Uniform; Discipline.

Some of these sub-committees include parents and members of the community who have been co-opted by the Board.

 

BOARD OF GOVERNORS' VISION (January 2006)

 

Our vision of our School is of a community school which

• provides a safe, stable and affordable facility, staffed and equipped to offer an education programme which is caring, tolerant, progressive, stimulating and relevant;
• prepares learners for their next phase of life;
• produces balanced young people who are confident, productive, responsible, self-disciplined and caring, environmentally conscious and happy;
• is understood and respected;
• is efficiently managed on sound economic principles.

 

PUPIL LEADERSHIP

 

At Fish Hoek High School the statutory representative body of the learners is known as the Forum.  The Forum, consisting of representatives of each grade, assists with the management of the School and works to build the culture of learning. 

 

The School also has a Student Representative Coucil (SRC), elected each year from the Grade 11s by the pupils and staff.  Technically, the SRC has been a sub-committee of the Forum.  The SRC replaced the traditional prefect body, just as the Head and Deputy Head Students replaced the Head Boys and Head Girls.  The Head Students are appointed without gender bias. Click here to see this year's SRC.

 

The SRC serves the pupil body in many ways, acting as a conduit for communication between the pupils and staff and assists in the management of the School.  While the SRC has a major responsibility in upholding the Code of Conduct, it is primarily a service body for the pupils and community.

 

There is a commitment to provide as many leadership and development opportunities across all grades as possible. In addition to the SRC and Forum, Grade Leadership Teams are elected by both pupils and staff.  They are designed to lead through service, to uphold the Code of Conduct and to give pupils opportunities for personal growth. They will also provide valuable and effective lessons in participatory democracy.