Governing bodies are corporate bodies and individual governors have no power or right to make decisions on behalf of the governing body, unless the governing body has delegated a specific function to them.
The chair, however, does have the power to take action if the matter is urgent. ‘Urgent’ is defined in the Guide to the Law for Governors as where a delay is likely to be seriously detrimental and it would not be reasonably practicable to hold a governors' meeting to resolve the issue.
Any urgent action the chair takes on behalf of the governing body must be reported at the next meeting.
Vice chair
Every governing body must have a vice chair who acts as chair if the chair is unavailable. When the vice chair acts as chair, they must have the same role and powers as the chair.
The chair should be able to look to the vice chair for support and advice.
Good practice includes
- supporting the chair in the conduct of meetings
- listening to and acting as a critical friend to the chair
- ensuring that all decisions taken by the governing body are clear understood by all and actioned
- ensuring that all committees and working parties are working effectively and to their terms of reference
- leading on succession planning and growing leaders within the governing body.
Checklist for chairs:
- How well do you delegate to other members of the governing body?
- A useful NCOGS booklet, Succession Breeds Success, can be borrowed from our Governor Resource Collection (tel 01245 436210)