Year 2 - can school say homework is compulsory?

[Redcliff]

I mentioned to one of the other mums at school today that I heard our sons teacher had been keeping children in a break time to finish homework if it hadn't been done and she went a bit crazy - turns out that she never does homework with her kids and when she asked her son today (after I opened my big mouth) he said that he had been kept in for the last two weeks for at least one break time.

She told him they couldn't do this - is this right?

[mythbustinggov]

capsium Governors are not responsible for actively seeking out parents views - parent governors are there to represent the parents views. A good governing body will request the school sets up a consultation on something like a Home/School agreement if they feel there is a need, but they are not required to solicit parents for their views.

[mythbustinggov]

capsium but the school almost certainly needs you to become one.

[capsium]

My DC's school has had to change their practices regarding a few things subsequent to my input.

[mythbustinggov]

Sounds like you'd be a great governor. Volunteer!

[capsium]

This is without being a Governor.

For a Governing body to be truly representative of parents' views they should be regularly consulting with those parents.

[capsium]

I actually think I've more power not being a Governor, as a Governor's hands are somewhat tied, so to speak. They have to support the school. The meetings follow a strict agenda.

[mythbustinggov]

Sadly, you are wrong. The school can ignore a parent, they cannot ignore the governing body. And the governors set the agenda for the governing body meetings, it's not fixed in any way.

[mythbustinggov]

And they do not have to support the school - although Governors are unlikely to criticise the school publicly, they have to provide OFSTED with evidence that they are challenging the school and the Senior Leadership Team and there has to be evidence that policies have been debated by the Governing body.

[prh47bridge]

They have collective responsibility so, once a decision has been taken, all governors should back it publicly regardless of their personal views. However, in the meetings all governors should be free to express their views, positive or negative. If they don't agree with something happening in the school they should say so.

[capsium]

Well, they might have tried to ignore me but I was not ignored....

[prh47bridge]

Cross posted with Myth who is absolutely correct.

[frumpity33higswash]

Problem is if you get balmpot dictatorial Heads or rules