Can you be a PARENT GOVERNOR IF YOU WORK IN THE SCHOOL OR IS IT.....

[drosophila]

a conflict of interest????

don't know but I am a trustee of the local preschool and can't work there.

I imagine ti could be a conflict of interests as effectively you would be employing yourself.

Sorry I have not been much help- but at least bumped it for others!!

The governing body should have a teacher governor and a support staff governor so you could apply for one of those if there is a vacancy (obviously which ever one applies to you).

DP , who has just resigned as VC says he doesn't think you can apply as a PG.

It's fine - I applied for a job in school, and was appointed, whilst already a parent gov. I think the head checked with the LEA - but def ok.

Ok I looked it up and apparently if you work 500hrs a year you are not eligible to apply. Here is my dilemma:

I stood was beaten by two people who work in the school as teaching assistants. My supporters told me that they had been canvassing and as they knew so many parents I had a snowballs chance in hell. They were right.

I was telling a friend at work who instantly said there is a conflict of interest. I mentioned this to a friend who is a Parent Gov and she pondered it but didn't know. Now I know for sure (Thanks to GovenorNet) what should I do?

My plan is to say nothing now as it will look like sour grapes but in about 6mths time tell my friend the parent Gov and show her a print of the regs. That way there will have to be another election. It worries me that the school doesn't seem to know the regs on what is essentially a Governance issue.

What would you do?

BATGIRL in case you are interested.....

Parent governors 4. - (1) In these Regulations "parent governor" means - (a) a person who is elected in accordance with paragraphs 4 to 8 of Schedule 1 as a governor by parents of registered pupils at the school and is himself such a parent at the time when he is elected, or

(b) a person appointed as a parent governor in accordance with paragraphs 9 to 11 of Schedule 1.

(2) A person is disqualified from election or appointment as a parent governor of a school if he is -

(a) an elected member of the local education authority; or

(b) paid to work at the school for more than 500 hours in any twelve month period commencing on 1st August and finishing on 31st July.

(3) A person is not disqualified from continuing to hold office as a parent governor when he ceases to be a parent of a registered pupil at the school or to fulfil any of the requirements set out in paragraphs 10 and 11 of Schedule 1 (as the case may be) unless he is otherwise disqualified under these Regulations.

Anyone any thoughts?

Do you know how long they work for? Lots of TA's only work 10 hours a week for 39 weeks = 390 hours, so within the regulations

My friend is a parent governor and also works as a supply teacher for them.

I got the impression that they work more than 10hrs a week but I could be wrong. If they are over the 500hrs what would you do?

It sounds as if you may have right on your side, drosophila, but you have to consider the longer-term fall-out from contesting the result. You will be upsetting some popular classroom assistants who could cause trouble for you or your children later on. I wouldn't do it. However, if standing again I would point out the rule to the school in advance of the election.

i would ask the LEA for advice. They can investigate it for you. the LEA is basically the local authority, eg county council, london borough etc

Hall I think you are right but if the school are not aware of regs then they should be. That's why I thought I would leave it a while before drawing their attention to it. It is possible that they don't work 500 hrs so it may well be academic. I wouldn't want to contest it and then be appointed it would be very uncomfortable and in fact I wouldn't stand again I think.

Yes, that sounds sensible, drosophila .