The Education (School Government) (England) Regulations 1999

Chairman and vice-chairman of the governing body

29.—(1) The governing body of a school (other than the temporary governing body of a new school) shall each school year, at their first meeting in that year, elect a chairman and a vice-chairman from among their number (subject however to paragraph (2)).

(2) A governor who is employed to work, or is a registered pupil, at the school in question shall not be eligible for election as chairman or vice-chairman.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), the chairman or vice-chairman shall hold office as such until his successor has been elected in accordance with paragraph (1).

(4) The chairman or vice-chairman may at any time resign his office by giving notice in writing to the clerk to the governing body.

(5) The chairman or vice-chairman shall cease to hold office if–

(a) he ceases to be a member of the governing body;

(b) he is employed to work at the school in question;

(c) in the case of the chairman, he is removed from office in accordance with regulation 30; or

(d) in the case of the vice-chairman, he is elected in accordance with paragraph (6) to fill a vacancy in the office of chairman.

(6) Where by reason of any of the matters referred to in paragraphs (4) or (5) a vacancy arises in the office of chairman or vice-chairman, the governing body shall at their next meeting elect one of their number to fill that vacancy (subject however to paragraph (2)).

(7) Subject to paragraphs (8) and (9), where the chairman is absent from any meeting or there is at the time a vacancy in the office of the chairman, the vice-chairman shall act as the chairman for the purposes of the meeting.

(8) Where in the circumstances referred to in paragraph (7) the vice-chairman is absent from the meeting or there is at the time a vacancy in the office of vice-chairman, the governing body shall elect one of their number to act as a chairman for the purposes of that meeting, provided that the governor elected shall not be a person who is employed to work at the school, or a registered pupil thereat.

(9) The clerk to the governing body shall act as chairman during that part of any meeting at which the chairman is elected, but for these purposes regulation 38(2) (chairman’s casting vote) shall not apply.

(10) Any election of the chairman or vice-chairman which is contested shall be held by secret ballot.

(11) (a) The following provisions of this paragraph shall apply on and after 1st April 2000.

(b) Before any meeting at which the chairman is to be elected, the clerk to the governing body shall invite members of the governing body of the school to inform him whether they are willing to stand for election as chairman.

(c) The agenda for the meeting at which the chairman is to be elected shall list the names of persons who have informed the clerk that they are willing to stand for election.

(d) If no person is listed on the agenda referred to in sub-paragraph (c) as willing to stand for election as chairman, members of the governing body may state at the meeting at which the chairman is to be elected whether or not they are willing to stand for election.

(e) Sub-paragraphs (b) to (d) apply in relation to the election of the vice-chairman as they apply in relation to the election of the chairman.