Procedures for Dealing With a Complaint Against a Governor

The following approach is recommended to governing bodies for complaints against a School Governor.

It should be noted that a school governor must be disqualified if one of the disqualification criteria
applies.

Recommended approach

1. Informal stage

The Chairman of Governors to discuss the difficulty or dispute with the governor concerned
and, if possible, resolve the issue with whatever guidance, warning or rebuke is necessary.
If the issue has not been resolved informally, or is thought to be sufficiently serious that the
informal stage is inappropriate….

2. Formal stage

a) The Chairman of Governors should seek information in writing from the governor about
the difficulty or dispute and the reasons for it. The governor should be given an
opportunity to respond in writing to any allegation. The issue may be able to be closed at
this point, with guidance, a warning or rebuke, either orally or in writing depending on the
seriousness of the issue.

b) If the Chairman of Governors is not satisfied with the response, then an investigation
should be held. The Chairman of Governors should appoint an Investigating Officer.
This should be someone impartial and not involved in the difficulty or dispute in any way;
it could be a member of staff or another governor, but need not be anyone associated
with the school.

c) The Investigating Officer to investigate the issue, taking evidence from ALL interested
parties. As interviews are likely to be a part of this process another person should
accompany the Investigating Officer. The investigation should be documented in full,
including notes of interviews that should be checked back for accuracy with the
interviewee. If a child is involved, the child should not be interviewed without a
parent/carer also being present.

d) The Investigating Officer should report back in writing to the Chairman of Governors.

e) The Chairman of Governors to decide on the appropriate course of action. This could be:

(i) guidance, warning or rebuke, either orally or in writing depending on the
seriousness of the issue.

(ii) Recommend to the governing body suspension for a period of up to six
months. Suspension can only be made if one or more of four grounds apply

Any motion to suspend must be specified as an agenda item of a governing body meeting for which at least seven days notice has been given. Before the governing body votes to suspend the governor, the governor proposing the suspension must give their reasons for the suspension. The governor who is proposed for suspension must be given the opportunity to make a statement in response before s/he withdraws from the meeting and a vote is taken. The DfE state that a vote to suspend should only be taken as a last resort.

Taken from Advice on Bracknell Forrest School Governor pages

http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/complaints-against-a-governor-procedures.pdf