In my answer on May 14 I dealt with associate members of committees. They are not governors and should not be referred to as such though they may attend governing body meetings. I also said that they had to be over 18, which would rule out most school pupils. The Department for Education and Skills has pointed out that they can be under 18. The restrictive clause is that only associate governors of 18 or over at the time of their appointment may be granted voting rights.
I am glad to have this correction because it does mean that a pupil under 18 may become a non-voting associate member of a committee and that is a good deal better than nothing. I am sorry to have misled readers and I hope that this correction will lead to the appointment of more students.
A compilation of Joan Sallis’s columns has been published in Questions School Governors Ask. Copies are available at pound;7.95 from The TES bookshop: call 0870 4448633 or see www.tes.co.ukbookshop. Questions for Joan Sallis should be sent to The TES, Admiral House, 66-68 East Smithfield, London E1W 1BX. Fax 020 7782 3202, or see www.tes.co.ukgovernorsask_the_ expert where answers to the submitted questions will appear
