§ 29. Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has had with school governor organisations about their autonomy.
§ Mr. ForthNone. Subject to meeting any statutory requirements laid upon them, school governing bodies have discretion to make their own decisions.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what surveys have been made by his Department as to the number of hours per month spent by school governors on school matters for which they now have responsibility; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthA survey commissioned by the Department in 1992 included data on time spent by governors of LEA-maintained schools. The median time individual governors spent on their school governing responsibilities was between 10 and 20 hours per term. The median time spent by chairmen was between 30 and 40 hours per term. The Government very much welcome the commitment shown by governing bodies in carrying out their important responsibilities.