Dear Parent/Guardian
SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY - ELECTION OF PARENT GOVERNOR
You will be aware that, there has been a trend nationally to encourage parents and, indeed, all members of the public to become involved in the governance of schools. Every school, including this one, has a governing body, made up of parents of children in the school, people who have an interest in local affairs education and the community, the staff of the school and the head teacher.
Allowing for my specific duties as Head Teacher, school governors have a considerable range of responsibilities relating to the conduct of the school. Governors are encouraged to take part in the work of committees of the governing body, allowing them to develop personal interests and expertise. The Local Authority has a responsibility for providing support and training for governors and there is a full programme of activities, with particular support for newly appointed governors. Please contact me in the first instance, if you would like further information.
The term of office for all governors is four years and a parent is not required to resign as a governor if his or her child leaves the school within that period. This school has currently one vacancy for a parent governor and all parents, if they currently have a child registered at the school are eligible for nomination as a parent governor. Ordinary meetings of the governing body take place at least once a term, and there are also meetings of committees as necessary. It is hoped however that members will lend support to the school on other occasions and become acquainted with educational issues as they affect us in school.
The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) have strongly recommended in their guidance, that all new governor appointments are made subject to a check against the list of teachers and others banned or with restrictions imposed on them from working with children and young people.
In order that we comply with this recommendation all new governor appointments will be made subject to completion of the DfES List 99 Request Check Form. In addition evidence of identity will be required.
I have been asked to point out that a parent governor is not a delegate and therefore is not obliged to vote in accordance with the views of the parent body. All members of the governing body vote according to their own consciences and points of view.
Following Bexley's procedure, I am writing to you now to invite you to nominate a parent, who may be your partner, yourself or any other parent who you have ensured is willing to stand for election. It would be helpful if a brief statement, of no more than 100 words, could be included stating the nominee's interest in the school. This will be used in the event of a vote being necessary.
I would be grateful if you could let me have any nomination by noon Friday 15th February 2008.
I will write to you again, inviting you to vote by secret ballot, if the number of nominations for parent governors exceeds the number of vacancies. Otherwise, any nominee will automatically become an elected parent governor of the school's governing body. In any case I will write to you to inform you of the outcome of these arrangements. Please sign and return the attached slip so that I may be sure all eligible parents are aware of the arrangements for the election of parent governors.
If insufficient nominations are received the governing body has a duty to appoint appropriate parent governors to fill any vacancy.
Yours sincerely Mrs L Hutchinson
Head Teacher |
