School Governors (Hansard, 2 February 1993)

§ 24. Mr. Loyden
To ask the Secretary of State for Education what advice and assistance is being made available to school governors in order that they can effectively carry out their responsibilities.

§ Mr. Forth
All LEAs arrange for training and support for school governors. Authorities either provide this themselves, or may commission it from other organisations. Central Government grant towards LEAs' expenditure is available through the GEST (grants for education support and training) programme. Nationally, expenditure of £10 million is being supported in the current year. This increases to just over £15 million in 1993–94. In addition, department for Education has funded several governor support projects run by diocesan bodies and governor organisations.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he will publish the results of his Department's survey of the membership of school governing bodies conducted in autumn 1992.

§ Mr. Forth
The results of the survey will be published as soon as possible after they have been received.

§ Mr. Nigel Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Education what provisions have been made governing the conduct of first governors of grant-maintained schools elected parent governors; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Forth
The instrument of government of a grant-maintained school makes provision for serving governors who become bankrupt, are convicted of certain crimes or who do not attend governors meetings to be disqualified from holding office. Clause 56 of the Education Bill will, if enacted, provide additional power for the Secretary of State to replace any or all of the first governors in circumstances where there is a serious failure of duties, the school has had a bad inspection report and is unable or unwilling to put matters right or where the behaviour of governors has damaged, or appears likely to damage the education of pupils.

§ Mr. Nigel Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Education what requirements are laid on parent governors in reporting back to parent electors; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Forth
There are no specific requirements on parent governors to report back to parent electors. The governing 149W body as a whole must produce a report and hold a meeting for parents in every school year to inform parents of the governing body's actions over the previous year and to give them an opportunity to discuss these actions.

§ Mr. Nigel Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to monitor changes in articles and instruments of grant-maintained schools' governing bodies; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Forth
Changes to the instrument or articles of government of any grant-maintained school can be made only if an amendment order is issued by the Secretary of State.

§ Mr. Nigel Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Education what requirements are imposed concerning changes to the membership articles and instruments and the removal of parent governors of grant-maintained school governing bodies; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Forth
Amendments to the instrument of government of a grant-maintained school to reflect changes in the composition of the membership of the governing body can be made only if an amendment order is issued by the Secretary of State.
The instrument of government makes provision for serving governors (including parent governors) who become bankrupt, are convicted of certain crimes or who do not attend governors' meetings to be disqualified from holding office. Clause 56 of the Education Bill will, if enacted, also provide power for the Secretary of State to replace any or all of the first governors in certain circumstances. These circumstances are: a serious failure of duties, a had inspection report coupled with the inability or unwillingness of the school to put matters right, or where there is behaviour by governors such as has damaged, or appears likely to damage, the education of pupils.