The Education (School Government) (England) Regulations 1999

Convening of meetings of the governing body

34.—(1) The governing body of every school, other than a new school, shall hold at least one meeting in every school term.

(2) The temporary governing body of a new school shall hold a meeting as often as occasion may require.

(3) Meetings of the governing body shall be convened by the clerk to the governing body; and, without prejudice to paragraph (5), in exercising his functions under this paragraph the clerk to the governing body shall comply with any direction–

(a) given by the governing body; or

(b) given by the chairman of the governing body or, in his absence or where there is a vacancy in the office of chairman, the vice-chairman of the governing body, so far as such direction is not inconsistent with any direction given as mentioned in sub-paragraph (a).

(4) Any three members of the governing body may, by notice in writing given to the clerk to the governing body, requisition a meeting thereof; and it shall be the duty of the clerk, subject to paragraph (5), to convene such a meeting as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(5) Each member of the governing body of a school, the head teacher (if he is not a member of the governing body) and the local education authority by whom the school is maintained shall be given, at least seven clear days before the date of a meeting–

(a) notice in writing thereof, signed by the clerk to the governing body; and

(b) a copy of the agenda for the meeting: provided that where the chairman or, in his absence or where there is a vacancy in the office of chairman, the vice-chairman, so determines on the ground that there are matters demanding urgent consideration, it shall be sufficient if the written notice of a meeting, and the copy of the agenda therefor, are given within such shorter period as he directs.

(6) The power of the chairman or vice-chairman under paragraph (5) to direct that a meeting be held within a shorter period shall not apply in relation to any meeting at which the chairman’s removal from office is to be considered in accordance with regulation 30 or a co-opted governor’s removal is to be considered in accordance with regulation 19.

(7) For the purposes of paragraph (5)–

(a) notice of a meeting, and a copy of the agenda therefor, may be given to a person by leaving it at, or sending it by post to, his usual place of residence;

(b) “head teacher” means any head teacher entitled, by virtue of regulation 32, to attend the meetings of the governing body.

(8) The convening of a meeting and the proceedings conducted thereat shall not be invalidated by reason of any individual not having received written notice of the meeting or a copy of the agenda therefor.