Yes, in most cases. In maintained schools you do not automatically stop being a governor because your child leaves the school, even if you have joined the board in the specific “parent governor” role.
In academy trusts it is possible that terms of reference for a local governing body (LGB) say that a parent local governor must step down if their child leaves that academy. I think the norm though is to allow parent local governors to serve out their term of office.
If your child has left any school or academy you will not be able to volunteer for another term as an elected parent governor when your current term of office ends. Elected parent governors must have children at the school at the time of their election.
However, if no current parents come forward then schools can appoint parent governors instead of holding elections. Appointed parent governors are voted onto the board by the existing governors.
The requirements for appointed parents are less strict. For example, in a maintained school any parent with children of compulsory school age or below is eligible for appointment.
Can I become a parent governor before my child starts at the school?
In maintained schools every school must offer parent governor roles to their current parents via an election, so they may already be filled. However, if there are not enough volunteers the roles can be offered to parents of former pupils or any parent whose child is of compulsory school age or below.
It is also worth asking if the school has other governor vacancies which are open to members of the public, eg: co-opted governor roles. Vacancies should be shown the school website.
In academies rules can vary, but the model articles of association (June 2021) say that current parents must be offered parent trustee or local governor roles first (via an election). If there are not enough volunteers from current parents you may qualify – see the section below on parent trustees in academies.
Other governor roles at the academy may also be open to you, eg: co-opted trustee or co-opted local governor.
Parent Governors In Maintained Schools
In maintained schools a law from 2012 says that elected parent governors must have a child at the school at the time of their election.
“In these regulations “parent governor” means a person who—
(i) is elected in accordance with paragraphs 4 to 8 of Schedule 1 as a governor by parents of registered pupils at the school, and
(ii) is such a parent at the time of election.”
Constitution (England) Regulations 2012
The same law makes it clear that any parent governor can continue to be a governor if their child leaves the school – they are not disqualified.
“A person (“P”) is not disqualified from continuing to hold office as a parent governor because P 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).”
Constitution (England) Regulations 2012
The second half of the above paragraph refers to requirements that boards must consider in relation to appointed parent governors. Most parent governors will be elected by other parents (or elected unopposed if there is only one volunteer) but if no volunteers come forward boards can also appoint parent governors.
To be appointed as a maintained school parent governor you must be either (in order of preference):
- a parent of a registered pupil
- a parent of a former pupil, or
- a parent of any child under or of compulsory school age.
(Rules are slightly more complicated for community or foundation special schools – see who can be a parent governor for full details.)
These requirements are set out in Schedule 1 of the Constitution Regulations. The law quoted above explains that appointed parent governors can continue to serve as governors if they stop fulfilling any of the requirements listed in Schedule 1 – for example, if their child leaves the school or reaches an age where they have left all schooling completely.
This means that there are no circumstances where a parent governor must leave their role just because their child has left the school or become old enough to leave education entirely.
However, if their term of office ends and they want to volunteer for another term they will need to meet the eligibility requirements on the date that they are elected or appointed. Elected parent governors will need a child at the school; appointed parent governors will need a child at the school, one who used to go to the school or a child of compulsory school age or below.
If you do not qualify as a parent governor you could become a different type of governor instead. For example, co-opted governor roles are open to anyone who meets the basic qualification standards that apply to all governors.
Parent Trustees In Academies
In academies the model articles (June 2021) say that parent trustees only need to have a child at the academy at the time of their election to the governing body, not for their full term of office, so they are not disqualified when their child leaves the academy.
Parent trustees in academies are either elected by parents or, if there are no volunteers, can be appointed by the board. Model articles make it clear that for both elected and appointed parent trustees it is their status at the time of the election or appointment that matters.
Wording for multi-academy trusts, which may have local governing bodies, is below. Elected parent trustees must have a child at one of the trust’s academies. If a multi-academy trust is appointing a parent trustee or parent local governor it can appoint:
a) a parent of a child at any of the academies
b) a child within the age range of one of the academies, or
c) in the case of a local governing body, a child within the age range overseen by that LGB.
“The elected or appointed parent trustees must be a parent of a registered pupil at one or more of the academies at the time when they are elected or appointed.
“The elected (or, if the number of parents standing for election is less than the number of vacancies, appointed) parent local governors of the local governing body must be a parent of a registered pupil at one or more of the academies overseen by the local governing body at the time when they are elected or appointed.
“In appointing a parent trustee or parent local governor the trustees shall appoint a person who is the parent of a registered pupil at an academy; or where the trustees are exercising their power to appoint a parent trustee or parent local governor and it is not reasonably practical to appoint a parent then the trustees may appoint a person who is the parent of a child within the age range of at least one of the academies or, in the case of an appointment to a local governing body, the age range of at least one of the academies overseen by that local governing body.”
Model Articles of Association (June 2021)
Wording for single academies is below. Elected parent trustees must have a child at that academy. When appointing a parent trustee in a single academy the board can either appoint a parent of a registered pupil at that academy or, if that’s not “reasonably practical”, the parent of a child of compulsory school age.
“A parent trustee must be a parent of a registered pupil at the academy at the time when they are elected.
“The number of parent trustees required shall be made up by parent trustees appointed by the board of trustees if the number of parents standing for election is less than the number of vacancies.
“In appointing a parent trustee the board of trustees shall appoint a person who is the parent of a registered pupil at the academy; or where it is not reasonably practical to do so, a person who is the parent of a child of compulsory school age.”
Model Articles of Association (June 2021)