Consultation with ‘Appointed Voices’ – Phasing out ‘Parent Governors’ might signal the end of a particular form of consultation.

Commentators had predicted for a while that the Government was intent on further reducing – if not eliminating – the role of local authorities in running schools. So it was no great surprise when the Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan announced their wholesale conversion into academies. What was unexpected, though, was dropping the requirement for Parent Governors. A storm of protest predictably followed, and there are rumours of disquiet among Conservative backbenchers. It may therefore be a bit early to mark their demise, and apparently individual schools will still be able to have Parent Governors, if they choose.

This gives us a great opportunity to reflect on those many organisations that have been structured in a particular way, in order for a particular viewpoint to be heard. The role of the Parent Governor, after all, is less to ‘represent’ some or all parents for a school but more to act as a voice around the table capable of looking at issues from a parent’s perspective. An ‘appointed’ voice. It is as if Parliament, back in 1980 worried that the views of parents could not be assured of a hearing unless they were formally included on Governing bodies. Having ‘Parent Governors’ would act as a failsafe and prove better than any requirement upon those bodies to ‘consult’ parents.