HC Deb 11 March 1997 vol 292 c163W
Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment by what means the competence of school governing bodies is monitored. [19703]

Mr. Robin Squire

Under the Ofsted inspection framework registered inspectors comment on the overall management of schools, including aspects of school governance. Significant national trends are reported in HM chief inspector's annual report. At local level governors are directly accountable to parents and the local community, both through their published annual report, and the meeting they have to hold annually with parents.

There are 350,000 school governors in England and Wales working as unpaid volunteers. The Government welcome the considerable contribution they are making to the education system.