11. What say do I have in how the school is run?

You have the right to vote for parent governors to represent you on the school governing body. You can also stand for election as a parent governor yourself.

Schools must talk with you and other parents about changes to:

• the home-school agreement (see 'What is a 'home-school agreement?');
• the school's behaviour statement (see 'What rights does the school have to discipline my child?').

There are also rules about when parents should be consulted about major changes to schools, such as:

• mergers;
• closures; and
• changes to the school starting and finishing times.

The school's governing body must give you a written report on the school every year, and hold a meeting each year for parents to discuss it. In some situations, schools in England do not have to hold the meeting -for example:

• where the school has recently held a post-inspection meeting; or
• if too few parents respond to the invitation to attend the meeting.

You can suggest topics for discussion and action and vote on them. If other parents agree with you, the governing body must look at the issue and report back to you. For this to happen, the number of parents at the meeting must equal 20 per cent (a fifth) or more of the total number of pupils at the school.

Ofsted (England) and Estyn (Wales), the organisations set up to inspect schools, must hold a meeting with parents before they inspect the school. You have the right to:

• a free summary of the Ofsted or Estyn report;
• a copy of the full report (at cost price); and
• a copy of the governors' 'action plan' which they prepare to deal with the issues in the report.

If you have a child at a school or you are thinking of sending your child to a school, you have a right to a free copy of the school prospectus. This must include:

• the names of the head teacher and chair of the governing body;
• information about getting a place for your child at the school;
• a summary of the school's special educational needs policy; and
• school performance tables.

Schools may combine the annual report and prospectus into one document.

The school should also give you information about the curriculum and syllabuses (what your child will be taught and how) if you ask for it.

What is a 'home-school agreement'?
A home-school agreement sets out your responsibilities and those of the school (and sometimes the children) towards each other. It has no legal force. Schools must talk to parents when they draw up a home-school agreement. In most cases, you must be asked to sign the home-school agreement, but you cannot be made to do this. A school cannot refuse your child a place or exclude your child just because you do not sign the home- school agreement.