What is Reconstitution?
School Boards of Governors (BoG) are usually reconstituted every four years when members complete their term of office, and they may be reappointed or replaced. The aim of the reconstitution is to achieve a good a balance of individuals on the BoG, based on the skills and knowledge and experience that they bring to the role. A typical BoG should be representative of people from the local community.
The membership of a BoG is set out in Schedules 4 to 7 to the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986 and Schedule 5 to the Education Reform (NI) Order 1989.
The current term of office is 2018-2024. This was extended from 2022.
How long is a term of office?
School governors normally serve a term of office of four years. Where a governor ceases to hold office before the end of their four-year term of office, any person appointed to replace them shall hold office only for the remainder of that period.
Under the school’s Scheme of Management, a governor can remain in post until either being reappointed or replaced.
When is the next Reconstitution due?
The process for the reconstitution of boards of governors for the next four-year term of office (2024-2028) will be initiated by DE in November 2023.
The process will broadly be as follows:
DE and EA will raise awareness of opportunities to apply for volunteer governor positions and encourage applications for positions.
Schools will be contacted to advise of the launch of the reconstitution exercise. The reconstitution process involves co-operation between the BoG and school to progress parent and teacher governor elections and provide information to support the appointment of Department of Education (DE) and Education Authority (EA) appointed governors. The process involves DE, EA and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS).
Anyone who wishes to be considered for a DE or EA governor position must complete an application form.
Who appoints school governors?
How a governor is recruited and appointed depends on their governor category. Parent and teacher governors are elected by the school parents and teachers respectively. Foundation, transferor and trustee governors are appointed by representatives of the key stakeholders of the school*, while DE and EA appoint members of the general public with an interest in education. Although nominated/appointed by different groups, all governors have the same role and voting rights (except for co-opted members).
Schools will be responsible for holding the election of parent and teacher governors. Guidance to managing authorities on the holding of elections is expected to be issued by DE in late 2023. EA and CCMS will also issue guidance to their schools on elections.
*Other representative bodies choose, nominate, appoint or elect governors to controlled and maintained BoG, for example trustees / former owners. In addition, there are also organisations which provide support to trustees and churches who nominate to BoG namely, the Catholic Schools’ Trustee Service (CSTS) and the Transferor Representatives’ Council (TRC).
What are co-opted school governors?
The Board of Governors can consider the co-option of governors as a means to extend its competences in specific aspects of school governance. A Board of Governors may co-opt up to 3 persons from the local business community to bring additional business management skills and experience to the Board and any committees of the Board. It may also co-opt up to 3 persons to assist with the provision and management of community activities at an extended school. Co-opted members do not have a vote on the Board of Governors. Being a co-opted governor is a good training ground for someone who may be interested in taking on the responsibilities of a full voting member of the school Board.
What do I do if I have a vacancy mid-term?
When a vacancy occurs among the members, the Chairperson or the school Principal should notify the relevant appointing authority promptly and initiate arrangements to fill it as soon as practicable. The person selected to fill that post shall serve the remainder of that term of office. The proceedings of a Board of Governors are not invalidated by any vacancy among its members or by any defect in the appointment, election or nomination of any member. Nevertheless, it is important for the effective operation of business that all vacancies are filled promptly and that sufficient members attend meetings to make up the quorum specified in the scheme of management for the school.
Can a parent governor remain on the Board after their child has left the school?
Yes, a parent governor is entitled to remain as a member of the Board until the end of their term of office, even if their child leaves the school. In respect of Catholic Maintained Nursery schools, CCMS has a policy where parent representatives hold office for a period of two years to reflect the changing nature of Nursery school enrolments.
Can I hold a school governor post at more than one school?
Yes a person can hold up to three governor positions. They cannot however hold office as a member of more than three Boards of Governors of grant-aided schools, except with the specific approval of DE.
How do I apply to become a DE/EA school governor at a school?
Anyone interested in becoming a DE or EA school governor can visit the DE or EA websites. Applications are welcome at any time.
Are there any Conflicts of Interest which would prevent someone from becoming a school governor?
Anyone offered a school governor appointment by DE or EA must declare any conflicts of interest that might arise. Conflicts of interest are not automatically a barrier to an appointment. However, real, perceived and potential conflicts of interest must be considered to ensure confidence in the independence and impartiality of the Board of Governors and the position as a member. A conflict of interest could arise if an applicant is a relative of an existing governor or a member of staff of the school; has a child registered at the school; has recently worked or taught at the school or is a teacher or the Principal of another school in the same community.
At what stage of the process, can I attend my first meeting as a newly appointed DE/EA governor?
Once the applicant’s paperwork has been completed by the relevant appointing body and they have received their official appointment letter, a person can attend their first BoG meeting.
Where can I find more information on school governor training?
EA oversees the provision of training for all governors in Northern Ireland. Information on training can be found on EA’s website.
Is there a limit to the number of terms a governor can serve?
DE has a ‘two-term’ policy where appointments are normally restricted to a maximum of two terms of office for its representatives on any one Board. On the completion of a governor’s second term of office, DE seeks to appoint an alternative representative where possible.