Election Procedures of Chair and Vice Chair (39 KB)- Nursery Parent Governor - Model Election Letter (159 KB)
- Parent Governor - Election Procedures (92 KB)
- Parent Governor - Model Election Letter (82 KB)
- Sample voting slip (29 KB)
- Staff Governor - Election Procedures (39 KB)
- Staff Governor - Model Election Letter (after reconstitution) (185 KB)
In a governing body the Local Authority governors and the community governors are appointed, while the headteacher is ex-officio. Only the parent governors and the staff governors are elected.
Parent Governors: The election procedure
It is essential that ‘qualified' (see below) parents receive only one voting paper each. In some circumstances it is possible for a child to have more than two ‘parents' but a family with three children in the school does not qualify the parents for a total of six votes. To avoid this, the school office will need to compile a register of pupils by families.
It should be noted that Section 576 of the 1996 Education Act defines a parent as including:
- All natural parents, whether they are married or not.
- Any person who, although not a natural parent, has parental responsibility for a child or young person.
- Any person who, although not a natural parent, has care of a child or young person in the sense that the child lives with them and they look after that child.
It is quite possible for several people to have parental responsibility at the same time. If another person has been given, or acquired, parental responsibility this does not extinguish anyone else's parental responsibility. If in any doubt the school office should contact the legal department on 0117 922 4354.
From the list of families, envelopes:
- To each family must be prepared and a “voting package” sent, i.e. the ballot papers and the profiles.
- Should be marked Governor Election and bear the returning officer's address at the school.
- Will hold the completed numbered voting papers for the secret ballot.
Where voting papers are lost or spoilt:
- The returning officer may, subject to an investigation of the circumstances involved, issue a duplicate paper.
The returning officer:
- Determines the dates between which votes may be cast.
- The period shall not be less than five days; Monday to Friday is convenient, with voting ending at, say 1.00 pm to allow the votes to be counted later that day.
- It is recommended that candidates are invited to the count.
The completed voting slips:
- Are required to be sealed in the special Governors Election envelope, returned in person, by post or by pupil post, and placed in a ballot box provided by the returning officer.
The ballot box:
- Which must be supervised at all times, is best held in the school office.
- If there is a great volume of returned voting envelopes, the box may need to be emptied regularly into a sack under the eye of the returning officer.
As soon as possible after the end of the voting period,
- Within three working days.
- The returning officer in the presence of a witness shall count the votes.
- It is permissible for the candidates to watch but not take part in the count.
- If when the count has been completed the first unsuccessful candidates' total is very near, the returning officer may require a recount.
- In the event of a tie, the votes must be recounted.
- If there is still no winner, then the successful candidate shall be the one with the youngest child in the school.
The returning officer:
- Informs the candidates of the results (as soon as is practicable)
- Publishes the election result notice – (this indicates the number of papers issued and the number of votes cast for each candidate).
- Displays the election result notice in a prominent position in the school, with copies of the notice forwarded to the clerk, to the governors and to the Governor Development Service.
- Retains the ballot papers for six months from the date of the count.
If, after the process, parent governor vacancies still exist the governing body can appoint parents to these vacancies if they satisfy the following criteria in this order:
I. A parent of a registered pupil at the school, or if that is not possible,
II. A parent of a former pupil of the school, or if that is not possible,
III. A parent of a pupil of or under compulsory school age.
If the parent governor positions remain vacant for more than 6 months, the procedures for parent governor elections as previously described should be repeated.
For community special schools the appointment criteria are:
- A parent of a registered pupil at the school, or if that is not possible,
- A parent of a former pupil at the school, or if that is not possible,
- A parent of a child of or under compulsory school age with special educational needs for which the school is approved, or if that is not possible,
- A parent with experience of educating a child with special educational needs.
Please refer to the model letters and procedures at the end of this section to assist you with the election process.
STAFF GOVERNOR: The election procedure (after reconstitution)
The first staff governor place is reserved for the headteacher whether they choose to be a governor or not.
The second place is reserved for a member of the teaching staff. Nominations should be sought from all staff employed under a contract of employment or contract for services. The standard letter from the LEA seeking nominations should be sent to all eligible staff by the returning officer. The returning officer will usually be the headteacher unless they wish to vote. In these circumstances the clerk or chair of governors would be suitable returning officers.
On the closing date, the returning officer should:
- Check the validity of those nominated and their willingness to stand.
If there is one nomination for the second staff place:
- That person will be unopposed.
If there are two or more nominations for the second staff vacancy:
- The returning officer should prepare numbered ballot papers with the candidates listed in alphabetical order.
- A numbered voting paper, ballot paper and Governor's election envelope should be given to each member of staff personally and a signature obtained to check the number issued.
- Part-time staff and anyone who is absent, sick or on secondment if eligible should receive their voting papers by post, so that they can take part.
- Voting should take place over a full week to allow part-time staff the opportunity to place their ballot paper in the box provided.
- Postal voting is permissible.
As soon as possible after the voting period:
- Within three working days.
- The returning officer in the presence of a witness shall count the votes.
- The candidates are permitted to attend the count.
The returning officer:
- Informs the candidates of the result.
- Publishes results on a staff notice board.
If there are no nominations from the teaching staff for the second place:
- The returning officers should then seek nominations from support staff and an election takes place as above.
- If the position of staff governors remains unfilled for 6 months, the process should be repeated.
The third place is reserved for a member of the support staff and the returning officer should seek nominations from all staff. Then proceed as above. Should no nominations be received, then nominations for the third place can be sought from teaching staff.
NB Support staff can nominate teacher governors and vice-versa and all staff vote in elections.
Please refer to the model letters and procedures at the end of this section to assist you with the election process.
Parent, staff and teacher Governors' term of office
There is one big difference between staff governors and parent governors: staff governors, when they leave the school, cease to be governors, whilst parent governors do not have to resign because their child leaves the school and can, if they wish, serve out the remaining period of their term of office.