Schools and learning

Disqualification and Pre-appointment checks

Although no formal qualifications are needed to serve as a school governor, there are a small number of people who are disqualified from either becoming or continuing to serve as governors. They are people who:

• are under the age of eighteen
• have been detained under the Mental Health Act 1993
• are bankrupt or disqualified under the Company Directors Disqualification Act
• have been removed from a charity trusteeship by the Charity Commissioners or High Court on the grounds of misconduct or mismanagement
• are included in the list of teachers or workers prohibited or restricted from working with children or young persons (currently named List 99)
• are disqualified from working with children
• have been disqualified from being an independent school proprietor, teacher or employee by an Independent Schools Tribunal or the Secretary of State
• have in the previous five years (or since becoming a governor) been sentenced to three months or more in prison (whether this was suspended or not) without the option of a fine
• have in the previous twenty years been sentenced to imprisonment for two and a half years or more
• have at any time been sentenced to imprisonment for five years or more
• have been fined for causing a nuisance or disturbance on school premises during the five years prior to, or since, appointment or election as a governor
• refuse to an application being made to the Criminal Records Bureau for a criminal reconrds certificate

A governor who fails to attend any meetings of the governing body for a period of six months, without the permission of the governing body, is automatically disqualified. A foundation governor, LEA governor, community governor, partnership governor or sponsor governor who is disqualified in this way cannot be re-elected or appointed to the same governing body in any category of governor for at least 12 months.

Pre-appointment checks
For the protection of children at the school all newly appointed or elected governors are required to provide evidence of their identity and to complete a Declaration that they are not disqualified from serving as a school governor. In addition a specific check is carried out to ensure that the person concerned is not prohibited from teaching or working with children or young people.

Further information is available on www.governornet.co.uk