What is a parent governor representative?

A parent governor representative or PGR is a parent governor elected by other parent governors and appointed to a local authority committee dealing with education.  In Swindon this committee is called the Children and Young People’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee.  When local authorities take decisions about education they must take account of parents’ views. Parent governor representatives help to ensure that this happens.  Swindon’s two parent governor representatives have a vitally important role.

What do parent governor representatives do?

Parent governor representatives represent the views of all parents in Swindon and are able to vote on all matters to do with schools and pupils.  Parent governor representatives do not represent the interest of any particular group, school or locality, or any party political interest.  Parent governor representatives aim to find out the views of parents with assistance from Governor Support, and keep parents informed of what issues the authority is discussing, and what decisions they are planning or have made.  According to the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) the role of a parent governor is to

• act as an apolitical voice for parents in the area: representing to the local authority the main education issues which concern parents of pupils maintained by the authority;
• attend and contribute to the committees which they have been appointed;
• establish good relations with other members and officers;
• feedback the local authority’s discussions of, and decisions on, education to parents;
• abide by the local authority’s rules on committee procedure (Standing Orders); and
• act with due propriety according to standards laid down for conduct in local government.

What does the Children and Young People’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee do?

The Children & Young People’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee is responsible for reviewing any matter that impacts on children and young people in Swindon.

Its responsibilities include:

• Reviewing, scrutinising and developing policy recommendations;
• Monitoring performance and progress against corporate priorities;
• Scrutinising the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services;
• Scrutinising the Children & Young People Block of the Local Area Agreement.

Issues that may be considered by the committee may include:

• Education;
• The Youth Service;
• Education and training outside of the school environment;
• Social services for children and young people;
• Any other topic that affects children and young people such as leisure facilities or transport.

The committee comprises 11 elected members and several co-opted parent governor, education and church representatives. Committee meetings are held six times a year at the Council’s Civic Offices. Members of the public are welcome to attend. The committee may also establish Task Groups, which are small groups that carry over more in-depth reviews over several months before reporting their recommendations to the main committee.

For more information about the committee please contact the Scrutiny Unit on 01793 463412 or 463109.

What areas will the committee be focusing on this year?

This year, the committee will be focusing on the following areas:

• Provision for Gifted and Talented children;
• Provision for ‘Education Other than at School’ (EOTAS);
• Provision for children in care;
• School Standards (looking in particular at minority and deprived groups);
• Out of Borough placements;
• Monitoring of ‘NEET’ (Not in Education, Employment or Training);
• Bullying.

Who are the Parent Governor Representatives?

We are currently in the process of recruiting to our two vacant positions.  If you are a serving parent governor within Swindon and would like to be considered for the role, please contact Governor Support for further information on 463875 or email: pdavis@swindon.gov.uk.