Written question asked by Anne Main (Conservative) on Tuesday, 30 June 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 2 July 2009. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 July 2009 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Schools: Governing Bodies

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the statement of 30 June 2009, Official Report, columns 165-80, on 21st century schools, how many members he expects a slimmer school governing body to comprise; and what criteria he plans to apply to reduce the size of school governing bodies.

Answer: Governing bodies of maintained schools in England are constituted under a stakeholder model which prescribes the percentage representation of each group on the governing body. They can vary in total size from nine to 20 members. It is not our intention to prescribe a smaller size. Each governing body will continue to be free to choose a membership of between nine and 20 which best suits their individual circumstances. We will, however, relax the percentages in the stakeholder model, while retaining safeguards to ensure that each stakeholder group is represented and that there is no reduction in the percentage of parent governors, to give further freedom to governing bodies to choose the optimal membership to meet their needs.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 496 c1432-3W; 284070
Session: 2008-09
Related items: 21st Century Schools
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons
Subjects: Governing bodies Schools
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk