1. Role

	1.1.	The name of the “association” is the Devon Association of Primary Headteachers or DAPH.
	1.2.	The association shall be an independent, non-union, non-sectarian organisation that shall concern itself with the promotion of good practice in Primary phase education.
	1.3.	The DAPH Office will be based at Ide Primary School, High Street, Ide, Exeter. EX2 9RN until further notice.

2. Aims

	2.1.	To support the headteachers and deputy head and assistant headteachers of Devon schools.
	2.2.	To provide professional development and conferences.
	2.3.	To provide representation on behalf of Devon primary schools and a means of consultation for the Local Authority (LA).
	2.4.	To enable effective communication between schools, the LA and other organisations.
	2.5.	To liaise with outside agencies and national bodies.
	2.6.	To work in collaboration with Local Learning Communities and the other phase associations (DASH, SHAD and DAG) to promote and develop the Vision for Learning for Devon’s children.

3. Membership & Structure

	3.1.	All headteachers of Devon’s maintained Primary, Infant, Nursery and Junior Schools are automatically members of the Association.
	3.2.	Deputy and/or assistant headteachers and other members of school leadership teams have access to and may participate in the activities of the Association.
	3.3.	Before the end of the summer term each year the 31 Local Learning Communities (LLCs) shall each elect a DAPH representative for the beginning of the new school year. These 31 LLC representatives will form the DAPH Council.
	3.4.	Alterations and amendments to the Constitution may be made at either the Annual General Meeting (AGM) or an extraordinary meeting provided that such proposed alterations and amendments are forwarded to the DAPH Executive Committee 21 days before the AGM or extraordinary meeting.
	3.5.	The association’s year shall be the same as the school academic year.

4. Executive Committee

	4.1.	The Executive Committee of the association will be elected by and from the DAPH membership at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
	4.2.	The Executive Committee will consist of 10 elected members.
	4.3.	Membership of the Executive Committee will be for two years.
	4.4.	The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt up to 2 additional non-voting Associate members onto the Committee from the serving headteachers, deputy and assistant headteachers of Devon Schools.

5. Officers (Election & Terms of Office)

	5.1.	The Chair and Vice-Chair will normally serve for two years respectively, with the presumption hat the Vice-Chair will serve two years as Vice-Chair and the following two years as Chair.
	5.2.	The position of Vice-Chair will be elected biennially at the first Executive Committee meeting after the AGM.
	5.3.	The outgoing Chair will remain on the Executive Committee for a minimum period of one year to promote continuity.
	5.4.	The officer elected to the position of Vice-Chair, and subsequently as Chair, will therefore normally serve a total term of office of five years.

6. Financials

	6.1.	The financial year of the association for accounting purposes will be aligned to that of Devon County Council.
	6.2.	The association shall be able to generate its own funds and be supported by contributions from the LA or other bodies.
	6.3.	The Executive Committee may authorise any funds not held with Devon County Council to be deposited in a bank of the Executive Committee’s choice.
	6.4.	Each cheque must be signed by 2 out of 3 authorised signatories in accordance with the Finance Policy which is subject to annual review.
	6.5.	A financial report shall be prepared and be available for inspection at the AGM. All accounts shall be audited annually by the LA.

7. Meetings

	7.1.	The Annual General Meeting of the association shall be held in the summer term.
	7.2.	The Executive Committee shall meet at least 6 times a year to regulate the affairs of the association.
	7.3.	Individual members of the Executive Committee are expected to attend at least 75% of DAPH Executive Committee Meetings during the course of the Association’s year.
	7.4.	The Executive Committee shall be quorate when at least 6 of the elected members are present.
	7.5.	An extraordinary meeting of the association may be called by written request to the Chair by 15% of the membership. The Chair would then give 21 days written notice to all members.

8. Representation on Local Authority Working Groups

	8.1.	At the first meeting of the Executive Committee following the AGM, the Chair, Vice Chair and 4 other Committee members and 2 reserves will be nominated to represent DAPH on the Devon Education Forum (DEF).
	8.2.	In addition, Executive members will be expected to stand on at least one other of the Standing Groups which report directly to DEF.
	8.3.	DAPH Representation on the Standing Groups which report directly to DEF and other LA working groups will also be agreed at the above meeting.

9. Disolution

	9.1.	The Executive Committee shall have the power to wind up the association and dispose of its assets provided that notice of intent has been given to all DAPH members.
	9.2.	If no written representation has been made to the Chair to retain the association within forty days of the notice of intent being posted the association may be wound up.
	9.3.	Representation to retain the association must be 15% of the membership or more.
	9.4.	All assets outstanding at the winding up of the association shall be given to the LA for use in Devon’s Primary Schools.

Adopted at DAPH Annual General Meeting on 8^th July 2009