Education Act 1996

Categories of governor

78 Categories of governor

(1) In this Act “co-opted governor”, in relation to a county, voluntary or maintained special school, means a person appointed to be a member of the school’s governing body by being co-opted by those governors of the school who have not themselves been so appointed (and accordingly does not include a governor of the school appointed in accordance with any provision made by virtue of section 81 (appointment of parent governors by governing body as a whole)).

(2) In this Act “foundation governor”, in relation to a voluntary school, means a person appointed to be a member of the school’s governing body, otherwise than by a local education authority or a minor authority, for the purpose of securing (so far as is practicable)—

(a) that the character of the school as a voluntary school is preserved and developed, and

(b) in particular, that the school is conducted in accordance with the provisions of any trust deed relating to it.

(3) In this Act “parent governor”, in relation to a county, voluntary or maintained special school, means—

(a) a person who is elected as a member of the school’s governing body by parents of registered pupils at the school and is himself such a parent at the time when he is elected, or

(b) (in the case of a county, controlled or maintained special school) a person who is appointed as a member of the governing body in accordance with any provision made by virtue of section 81.

(4) In this Act “teacher governor”, in relation to a county, voluntary or maintained special school, means a person who is elected as a member of the school’s governing body by teachers at the school and who is himself such a teacher at the time when he is elected.

(5) In relation to any group of schools under section 89 for which the instrument of government makes by virtue of section 93 provision with respect to the election of parent or teacher governors, any reference in subsection (3) or (4) to a person being elected as there mentioned is a reference to his being so elected in accordance with any such provision made by virtue of section 93.