§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to strengthen the representative base of school governing bodies by opening up all places on every body to election by parents; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthWe have no plans to alter the carefully constructed balance of membership of school governing bodies established by the Education (No. 2) Act 1986.
§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will review the procedure for appointment of school governors by minor authorities to prevent such authorities from removing well-established school governors and replacing them with political appointees; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthWe have no plans to review the procedure for the appointment of school governors by minor authorities.
The Education (No. 2) Act 1986 allows those appointing governors to remove them at any time. The courts have, however, taken the view that in doing so they must act reasonably. There is therefore a remedy in law for a governor who considers that he has been unreasonably removed.