Visits pre-Parliamentary or Local Government elections
During any pre-election period, it is important that the Council as a whole and individual service departments act to ensure an even-handed approach towards all political parties and groups. Therefore, when a parliamentary candidate, their political representative, or a local government candidate requests a visit to a school, the candidate or their representative must submit a written request to the Area Education Manager. This request should include the proposed schedule and the names of those attending.
The Area Education Manager will discuss the request with the relevant Head of Service or Chief Officer. When deciding whether to approve the request, the Head of Education or Chief Officer may consult with the Returning Officer and the relevant Head Teacher, taking into account:
- The potential disruption to services
- The impact on staff and pupils
- Any photographs or filming must take place outside school premises and may not involve staff or pupils
- That agreeing to an initial request may lead to further requests which could not reasonably be refused
We are confident that candidates will recognise these protocols as necessary safeguards and that they are not intended to obstruct the democratic process.