A report by the UK Parliament’s Education Select Committee on the role of governing bodies is yet another nail in the coffin of community-based governing bodies. Professionals don’t always know best. Governors should be critical friends representing the local community, not slick, paid boards. We should value the members of the local community who take on this role and not expect them to be able to inspect their schools. At a time when governors are being asked to do more, there is less training and support available because of the demise of local authorities. At this rate we will have many more vacancies on the governing bodies of our most challenging schools. It is so important for community cohesion that local people can feel relaxed enough to be part of such schools without having to be “professionals”.

Clive Ireson, Director (strategy), Association of Christian Teachers.