EEPD: Response to School Governence Regulations

The committee discussed the amendment to the School Governance regulations currently being consulted upon by the Government. This clarifies the position of parents being appointed as foundation governors, and is especially pertinent to voluntary aided church schools.

We agreed that the union would express the view amendment should "not alter fair representation on governing bodies. The stakeholder model of governance, with its roots firmly in democratic accountability, must be maintained and not be threatened by cutting back the size of governing bodies. The number of foundation governors must be retained as they form part of a named group appointed by the school’s founding body, church or other organisations named in the school’s instrument of government." and that

"No group or governing bodies, including foundation governors, should be disenfranchised. There should be no reduction in the required percentage of parent governors nor in the majority of foundation governors in voluntary aided or qualifying foundation schools, or the percentage of foundation governors in voluntary controlled schools."

You can add your view to the DfE consultation by visiting their website here.