Academies: Governing Bodies

(asked on 12th October 2015) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are currently taking to encourage parents to be involved in the governance of academies.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Nash
This question was answered on 26th October 2015

The Governors’ Handbook makes clear that meaningful and effective engagement between the board of an academy and parents is vital. Governing boards should ensure that appropriate structures and arrangements are in place for parental engagement and focus the membership of the board on individuals with the necessary skills for this important strategic role.


The Department for Education’s model articles of association for academy trusts require there to be two parents on the board, or in the case of a multi-academy trust, either on the board or on each local governing body. In general, however, the government believes that academy trusts are best placed to decide for themselves on the governance arrangements that will be most effective for them and their schools. Skilled and experienced parents can provide a pool of potential volunteers for trusts to draw on. Parents are also often closely involved in setting up and running free schools.

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