Education Reform Act 1988

56 Governors' tenure of office

(1) The instrument of government for every grant-maintained school shall provide for each governor of an elected category to hold office for a term of four years.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, the instrument of government for every such school which is required to have foundation governors—

(a) may provide for any foundation governorship to be held ex officio by the holder of an office named in the instrument; and

(b) shall name the person or persons (if any) who are entitled to appoint any foundation governor.

(3) An additional foundation governor appointed by virtue of provision made in the instrument of government in accordance with section 53(6)(b) of this Act may not be appointed to hold office ex officio.

(4) Subject to subsection (5) below, the instrument of government for every grant-maintained school shall provide for each first governor or (as the case may be) for each foundation governor other than one who is a governor ex officio to hold office for such term (not being less than five nor more than seven years) as may be specified in the instrument of government.

(5) The term of office of any additional first or foundation governor appointed by virtue of provision made in the instrument of government in accordance with section 53(6)(b) of this Act shall be such term (not being more than five years) as may be specified in the terms of that governor’s appointment.

(6) The preceding provisions of this section shall not be taken to prevent a governor from being elected or appointed for a further term, or from being disqualified, by virtue of subsection (8) below or any provision made by virtue of subsection (9) below, for continuing to hold office.

(7) Any governor of a grant-maintained school may at any time resign his office.

(8) A person who is a member of the teaching or other staff at a grant-maintained school which is required to have first governors shall be disqualified for holding office as such a governor on the governing body of that school.

(9) The instrument of government for a grant-maintained school may make provision as to the circumstances in which persons are to be disqualified for holding office as governors of the school.

(10) Any foundation governor of a grant-maintained school may be removed from office by the person or persons who appointed him.