Parents' Association of the European School Karlsruhe e.V.

Parent Class Representatives (ClassReps)

The Role of the Parent Class Representative (ClassRep) within the Primary School

Contents:

  • Main Responsibilities
  • Position within the PA Structure
  • Handling Issues
  • ClassReps within the Wider European School System

Each class elects ClassReps, generally two, at the first parents’ evening of the school year. Their mandate lasts one year, though they may step down at any time or be replaced if a majority of the class requests it. Their contact details are collected by the school secretaries and passed confidentially to the Parent Association (PA) Executive Board.

ClassReps are the elected voice of their class. They are not independent actors, but representatives of the parents as a group. They function as extensions of the PA, linking families with the Parents’ Association Committee (PAC), Section Representatives (SectionReps), and, through these, the school leadership and the wider European School system.

Main Responsibilities

Representation

  • Speak on behalf of all class parents; topics such as outings, tokens of appreciation, or issues should be discussed with the class and decided by majority.
  • If consensus is not achieved, individual concerns may still be passed forward but not in the name of the whole class.

Communication

  • Forward information from the PAC, school, and teachers to parents.
  • Collect and maintain a class contact list (with consent), as neither the school nor PA may provide this.
  • Build community through class parent get-togethers and ensure all cultures and children are represented equally.

AGM Participation

  • Attend the PA Annual General Meeting (AGM) or appoint a class parent as proxy in writing.
  • At the AGM, the PAC is elected for two years; only paid PA members (€40/year) may vote or stand for election.

Collecting Feedback

  • Before each Educational Council (twice per year), gather parents’ views on everyday issues and educational projects.
  • Provide these to PAC, who present them at the Council via SectionReps, Board members, or other delegates.


Meetings

  • Participate in two annual ClassRep meetings, scheduled before Educational Councils to streamline input, or appoint a proxy in writing.

Class Fund

  • Manage the class fund, usually overseen by one rep:
    • Collect contributions proportionally.
    • Reimburse teachers for approved expenses (with receipts).
    • Discuss extraordinary costs with both teacher and parents.
    • Fund class events, outings, leaving festivities (e.g. P5), and agreed tokens of appreciation.

Volunteering & Events

  • Encourage parents to support school events and contribute as volunteers.
  • Help organise section or class activities (e.g. Halloween, Nikolaus, Fasching, Chandeleur, Easter).
  • Coordinate with class teachers on budget and yearly activities.

Handling Issues

    • Parents should first raise concerns with the teacher. ClassReps may attend for support.
  • If unresolved, the matter can be escalated to the Deputy Director, then to the Director. ClassReps may attend for support. 
  • At any stage, SectionReps, PAC, or the PA Board can be consulted. They provide confidential advice and may attend meetings alongside families.
  • Many practical answers are also available online:

     

Position within the PA Structure

  • ClassReps provide the direct channel from each class to the PAC. SectionReps (two per language section, including SWALS) are appointed from PAC members or parents at the Constitutional Meeting. They depend on ClassReps’ groundwork to represent their sections effectively at Educational Councils.
  • SectionReps (two per language section, including SWALS) are appointed from PAC members or parents at the Constitutional Meeting. They depend on ClassReps’ groundwork to represent their sections effectively at Educational Councils. Through ClassReps, every family’s perspective feeds into school-wide decision-making.

ClassReps within the Wider European School System

European Schools are governed centrally by the Board of Governors, with teachers assigned by national inspectors and buildings provided by the host country (Germany). Local schools cannot resolve certain issues (syllabuses, marking, European Hours).

For such matters, the local PA — informed by concerns first gathered by ClassReps — contributes to Interparents, the federation of all 13 European Schools’ Parent Associations. Each school sends 2–4 PAC members to Interparents, which participates in working groups and official bodies at European level.

In summary: The ClassRep is the foundation of parental representation. By gathering feedback, managing class matters, and ensuring parents’ voices are heard, ClassReps connect the classroom to the PA, the PAC, the Educational Council, and even to the European Schools system itself.