Parent governor representatives (PGRs) are parent governors elected by other parent governors to represent the views of all parents, in an apolitical way, on local authority (LA) overview and scrutiny committees and sub-committees dealing with education.
PGRs have speaking rights on any issue under discussion by the committee but may only vote on issues relating to education. Each LA must appoint at least two and not more than five PGRs to each committee or sub-committee dealing with education issues. PGRs serve a term of office of not less than two but no more than four years.
The role of the PGR is, primarily, to hold their authority to account by consulting with and feeding back to parents on discussions and decisions relating to education.
Changes introduced by the Localism Act 2011 allow LAs to move away from overview and scrutiny committee arrangements to have education committees and sub committees. PGRs can be appointed to education committees and sub committees as co-opted members and can be given full voting rights. LAs that dispense with overview and scrutiny committees are encouraged to appoint PGRs to education committees and sub committees to ensure that the parental voice that is provided by the PGRs is still represented.
We are seeking an early legislative opportunity to require such committees to appoint PGRs.
Legislation
PGRs were established in the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, amending section 499 of the Education Act 1996, and are subject to their own regulations, The Parent Governor Representatives (England) Regulations 2001.
Best practice
The publications, Parent Governor Representatives on scrutiny committees: an induction pack (aimed at new parent governors) and Parent Governor Representatives on scrutiny committees: guidance for mentors are available from the Centre for Public Scrutiny.
