Documents and resources for governors - Election of Chairs and
Vice Chairs
The governing body must elect a Chair and a Vice Chair. There
are no Regulations prescribing the election process as it is
believed that governing bodies are best placed to decide how to
organise this, but those standing for election should withdraw from
the meeting when a vote is taken. Governors who are paid to work at
the school, for instance the headteacher and staff governors, and
pupils at the school, cannot be elected as Chair or Vice- Chair.
The Chair and Vice Chair can resign at any time by giving notice in
writing to the Clerk.
The election of the Chair and Vice-Chair takes place in accordance
with the term agreed (see below) and usually takes place in the
autumn term. The advice from the Governor Support Service is as
follows:
The Clerk takes the Chair for this part of the meeting (the Clerk
does not have a vote).
The names of anyone wishing to stand should be included on the
agenda. If there are no nominations received prior to the meeting
nominations can be accepted at the meeting. If there is more than
one nomination for the post a secret ballot must take place and
those nominated must withdraw from the meeting.
The procedure is repeated for the election of the Vice Chair.
Term of office of the Chair and Vice Chair
The governing body decides on the Chair and Vice Chair’s term
of office before the election. The minimum term of office is one
year and the maximum period is four years. If a governor is elected
Chair or Vice Chair and their term of office as a governor is
shorter than the term of office determined for the office of the
Vice Chair or Chair, then the Vice Chair or Chair’s term of office
ends when the governor’s term of office ends.
When the office of Chair or Vice Chair becomes vacant, the
governing body must elect a new Chair or Vice -Chair at the next
meeting. If the Chair is absent from a meeting, or if the office of
Chair is vacant, the Vice Chair will act as Chair for all
purposes.
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