Part II New framework for maintained schools

Chapter III Government of maintained schools

Reports and parents’ meetings

43 Annual parents’ meetings.

(1)

Once in every school year the governing body of a maintained school shall hold a meeting (an “annual parents’ meeting”) which is open to—

(a)

all parents of registered pupils at the school;

(b)

the head teacher; and

(c)

such other persons as the governing body may invite.

(2)

The purpose of the meeting shall be to provide an opportunity for discussion of—

(a)

the governors’ report;

(b)

the discharge by the governing body, the head teacher and the local education authority of their functions in relation to the school;

(c)

the aims and values of the school;

(d)

how the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils is to be promoted at the school;

(e)

how pupils are to be prepared for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life and citizenship;

(f)

the standards of educational achievement of pupils; and

(g)

how the governing body are to promote the good behaviour, discipline and well-being of pupils.

(3)

A governing body may, however, refrain from holding an annual parents’ meeting in a particular school year if—

(a)

the school is a community or foundation special school which is established in a hospital and the governing body are of the opinion that it would be impracticable to hold such a meeting in that year; or

(b)

the school is a maintained school other than one within paragraph (a), the governing body are of the opinion that it would be impracticable to hold such a meeting in that year, and at least 50 per cent. of the registered pupils at the school are boarders at the time when they form that opinion.

(4)

Regulations may make provision—

(a)

for the proceedings at an annual parents’ meeting to be under the control of the governing body;

(b)

as to the procedure to be followed at any such meeting, including provision restricting the right to vote on any question put to the meeting to parents of registered pupils at the school;

(c)

imposing requirements on the governing body, the head teacher and the local education authority in relation to resolutions which have been passed at any such meeting, including requirements framed by reference to any opinion formed by the governing body;

(d)

for enabling the governing body or (as the case may be) the local education authority to determine, for any purposes of the regulations, whether any person is to be treated as the parent of a registered pupil at the school.