DRAFT
The Role of the Parent / Carer Associate Member of Governance
For simplicity the term ‘Parent Associate Member’ will be used.
This document should be read in conjunction with the Terms of Reference for Maple Hayes School Governance
Parent Associate Members are invited to become important members of the Governance Board for a term of one year. Each year other parents will get the chance to serve as Parent Associate Members to help and support the governance of Maple Hayes Hall School.
Any parent, or carer, of a registered pupil at the school is eligible to stand for nomination as a Parent Associate Member. Parent Associate Members are expected to continue to hold office until the end of their one year term of office. Maple Hayes Hall School will make every reasonable effort to fill Parent Associate Member vacancies each year.
The Proprietors have adopted the DfE Guidance for the appointment (rather than election) of Parental Associate Members as at least 50% of the registered pupils lie well outside the Lichfield area and it may not be practicable for a parent to attend meetings.
The Governance Board will appoint as a Parent Associate Member a parent who has, in their opinion, the skills to contribute to effective governance and the success of the school. Every effort is made upfront to avoid potential difficulties later by informing prospective candidates of the nature of the role and securing their agreement to a clear set of expectations for behaviour and conduct.
The Governance Board should enable parents to have a say in matters affecting their children’s education. The Proprietors have determined Parents should meet the relevant statutory eligibility criteria for school governors as set out in DfE regulations and Guidance for Governance for mainstream schools or Academies. It will not be possible for you to be the Parent Associate Member if you are an elected member of a Local Authority, an employee of a Local Authority or you are paid to work at the school for more than 500 hours in any twelve consecutive months.
Parent Associate Members are likely to have:
an interest in all the children’s futures
a desire to make a difference
a willingness to accept responsibility
an ability to work in a team, ask questions, listen and learn and help to make good decisions
As a Parent Associate Member you will hold the unique position of having a parental viewpoint. Through the children the Parent associate Member will have firsthand experience of the curriculum and how the school is perceived from the parent and pupil point of view. They will be able to bring this perspective to the strategic management of the school.
As a Parent Associate Member you do not have to express a particular viewpoint because you have been pressed to do so by parents. Objectivity, however, is essential. You are not there to promote the interests of your own children but all children. Parent Associate Members are selected carefully and it is important to establish a rapport with the parental body, whilst continuing to maintain a strategic approach to school governance.
As an effective Parent Associate Member you follow the Code of Conduct for Governance members but more particularly with regard to your roll, you:
help maintain the Objectives and Mission of the school
help to decide the priorities for improving the school
make yourself available to parents by attending school events, listen to other parents’ opinions and take account of them as you contribute to governors’ decisions
work in partnership with the headteacher, senior leadership team and cooperatively with other governors to raise standards and improve outcomes for all children
prepare for meetings by reading papers beforehand
take responsibility for your own learning and development as a member including attending training
attend full Governance Board and relevant meetings promptly, regularly, and for the full time
read briefings and information provided for governors; present a balanced view of issues representing different sections of the school community
promote the interests of the school in the wider community
be loyal to the decisions made by the Governance Board
respect the confidentiality of Governance Board business
never promise to ‘solve a problem’ on your own
never press your own child’s case at the expense of others
declare an interest and withdraw from any meeting where you, a partner or close relative or associate stands to gain, or where you are so close to a matter discussed it is difficult to be impartial
have regard to the broader responsibilities as a member of a public institution in regard to promoting accountability for the actions and performance of the Governance Board
Communication and confidentiality
You have a significant part to play in raising the awareness of the role of governors amongst parents and in enhancing home-school communication in general. There are several ways you could do this which might include, for example:
• contributing to a governors’ page on the school website
attending events such as Prizegiving Day, parent consultation evenings in the role of an Associate Member of Governance. Talking to parents and getting first hand views of the school and gauging opinions.
playing a part in drafting surveys to seek parents’ views and analysing the feedback
help to ensure that the Governance Board keeps a clear focus on ensuring that the school provides an effective, safe and stimulating environment for all children.
Your contribution to Governance should be based of what you consider to be in the best interests of the school as a whole.
The work of the Governance Board is recorded in the minutes which are circulated to all members of the Board. These minutes are confidential but a summary report of the meeting will also be published. As a Parent Associate Member you may, with the agreement of the Governance Board, communicate a decision in advance of the publication of the summary report. Other matters should be remain unreported until the summary report is published.
But please note - you would be breaching the confidence of the Governance Board if you reported how individuals contributed, comments made by individuals or individual discussions. When reporting on decisions taken by the Governance Board you should use ‘we’ and not ‘they’ as you have contributed to that decision - even if your personal contribution was not in support of the final decision.
Concerns or Complaints
Your role as a Parent Associate Member is help the Proprietors in accordance with the Terms of Reference. Parent Associate Members are not there to provide an alternative route to addressing individual parental complaints or concerns, although if you do become aware of more widespread disquiet about the school’s policy and practice then you should alert the headteacher and chair.
Sometimes a Parent Associate Member may be approached with a concern or a complaint. You should, if approached, advise them to follow the school policies and procedure and not get involved. It is not your role to hear the complaint details. They should be advised try to resolve their concerns by speaking to the appropriate staff member. If the parent remains dissatisfied with the outcome, suggest that they make an appointment to speak to the headteacher. You should guide parents regarding appropriate lines of action, making them aware of the school’s complaints policy and procedures. Even if a parent raises issues of general concern with you, you should suggest that they make these known to the headteacher.
Being a Parent Associate Member does not disqualify you from your usual rights as a parent, including the right to make a complaint.
Term of office
You are appointed as a Parent Associate Member for a term of one year.
You may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chair Dr D J Brown