'Trojan Horse': Council plans changes to rules on school governors

The proposed changes go before the Birmingham City Council's cabinet on 22 June

New rules on the appointment of some school governors in Birmingham are being proposed by the council in the wake of the "Trojan Horse" inquiries.

No local authority-appointed governor will be able to serve on more than two governing bodies or serve at the same school for more than eight years.

The "Trojan Horse" inquiries looked into a supposed plot by a conservative group of Muslims to take over schools.

Most of the claims made in an anonymous letter were found to be groundless.

But a report by Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw into the allegations found some governors attempted to "impose and promote a narrow faith-based ideology" in secular schools.

'Keep boards fresh'

Seven of the 21 schools investigated were academies at the time, independent of local authority control. Five were put into special measures last year.

The council said the National Governors' Association believes it is not good practice for an individual to hold the office of chair of governors for more than six years at the same school.

Councillor Brigid Jones said: "This new procedure champions the best practice in the country and keeps governors and their boards fresh by including a time limit of eight years, or six for chairs of governors.

"It also helps governors give their best by allowing them to focus on just one or two schools."

The proposed changes go before the Birmingham City Council's cabinet on 22 June.