Constitution of the School Governing Body

Constitution of Governing Body

Constitution of Governing Bodies

The Education School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/348) set out the arrangements for the constitution of governing bodies of maintained schools, including maintained nursery schools, in England.


The instrument of government of a school must specify the size of the membership of the governing body, which must be no fewer than 9 or more than 20 governors, which must not include any sponsor or additional foundation governors.


In calculating the number of governors required in each category in accordance with regulations 13 to 16 the number must be rounded up or down to the nearest whole number.


In calculating the number of staff governors required, the headteacher must be included whether or not he has resigned his governorship.

Community schools, maintained nursery schools and community special schools

The governing body of a community school, a maintained nursery school or a community special school must comprise the following:
(a) one third or more must be parent governors;
(b) at least two but no more than one third must be staff governors;
(c) one fifth must be LA governors; and
(d) one fifth or more must be community governors.
The governing body may in addition appoint up to two sponsor governors.

Foundation schools and foundation special schools

The governing body of a foundation school or a foundation special school must comprise the following:
(a) one third or more must be parent governors;
(b) at least two but no more than one third must be staff governors;
(c) at least one but no more than one fifth must be LA governors;
(d) one tenth or more must be community governors; and
(e) at least two but no more than one quarter must be foundation governors or, where the school does not have a foundation, partnership governors.
The governing body may in addition appoint up to two sponsor governors.

Voluntary controlled schools

The governing body of a voluntary controlled school must comprise the following:
(a) one third or more must be parent governors;
(b) at least two but no more than one third must be staff governors;
(c) at least one but no more than one fifth must be LA governors;
(d) one tenth or more must be community governors; and
(e) at least two but no more than one quarter must be foundation governors.
The governing body may in addition appoint up to two sponsor governors.

Voluntary aided schools

The governing body of a voluntary aided school must comprise the following:
(a) at least one but no more than one tenth must be LA governors;
(b) at least two but no more than one third must be staff governors;
(c) at least one must be a parent governor;
(d) such number of foundation governors as out number all the other governors listed in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) by two; and
(e) such number of foundation governors appointed in accordance with regulation 8(2) as, when they are counted with the parent governors, comprise one third or more of the total membership of the governing body.
In addition –
(a) the governing body may appoint up to two sponsor governors; and
(b) the person who is entitled to appoint foundation governors may appoint such number of additional foundation governors (up to two) as are required to preserve their majority.

Academy governing bodies

The governing body is appointed by the academy trust. The process for governor elections is set out in the articles of association and agreed between the academy trust and the Secretary of State.

Membership of the governing body should include at least two parent governors and the principal, but academies are free to choose whether to have for example a local authority governor, staff governor or co-opted governor. If there is a sponsor then they usually appoint the majority of governors and for predecessor voluntary and foundation schools converting to academy status, the foundation or trust may appoint the majority of governors.