Explanatory note

These Regulations make provision with respect to the determination of the persons who are to be the initial sponsor governors on the governing body of a school which acquires grant–maintained status in pursuance of proposals which include the name of a proposed sponsor.

The Regulations require the initial sponsor governors to be selected by the proposed sponsor or sponsors of the school, if possible, before the date of publication of the proposals (regulation 3). The Regulations require the existing governing body to give the Secretary of State notice in writing of any person selected as an initial sponsor governor after that date. The existing governing body are also required to publish notice of any such selection. The Regulations make provision as to the contents of such a notice and the manner of its publication (regulation 4).

The Regulations also contain provision for the replacement of an initial sponsor governor if, before the determination of the proposals for acquisition of grant– maintained status, he dies, becomes prospectively disqualified for holding office or he notifies the existing governing body that he is no longer willing to serve on the proposed governing body (regulation 5). In those circumstances, it is the duty of the existing governing body to secure that the person who made the original appointment selects a person to replace him.