 | | Question: I am a parent-governor at a junior school and value myself as an important link between other parents and the school. I have recently been told to stop going in with parents who have concerns to support them whilst they talk to the headteacher or family liaison officer. I have only ever supported vulnerable parents who need support and never have I acted in a way that shows I am against the school. How do parent governors support other parents and the school?
Joan Sallis replies: This is always a difficult question because schools vary so much in what they consider reasonable, and there is no law against this sort of restriction. I regret it but accept that: (a) it is a measure of a school’s self-confidence when it welcomes discussion from any source, and not all schools are self-confident and (b) that the occasional parent governor can be a bit self-important and seem threatening to a new or unconfident head, though it seems from what you say that you behave very discreetly and don’t set out to intimidate at all, simply to help timid parents access the school.
I will just add a few points that may be helpful. Firstly ‘championing’ individual parents is not part of a parent governor’s duties so that you don’t have legal rights of access. Secondly that in spite of this, many schools would think it a good habit and not turn a hair, and many parent governors do regularly accompany timid individuals to give them confidence. Thirdly that a parent governor is not a delegate or a semi-legal family advocate, simply a member of the governing body to look after the interests of parents as a whole, to inform the school of their feelings in so far as they are strong and widespread, and to spread knowledge of school aims and policies to build up an informed public. So in the end we only have persuasion and generally supportive behaviour to help us through these choppy waters.
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