Conflicts of interest

What are conflict of interests and how should you manage them in your role as a school governor?

What is a conflict of interest?

This refers to any situation in which a school governor’s (or a person connected to the school governor’s) personal interests or loyalties could, or could be seen to, prevent the school governor from making a decision only in the best interests of the school or academy trust. 

When is it a conflict of interest?

It’s a conflict of interest:

  • Where there is only the POSSIBILITY a conflict could occur
  • Where there may only be a PERCEPTION a conflict could occur
  • Where the potential or perceived conflict involves a person CONNECTED to the school governor (i.e. a spouse or close family member)

How should you manage conflicts of interests?

To manage conflicts of interests you should:

  • Firstly, declare any continuing conflicts of interest you have on the register of interests. This is usually passed around at the start of each meeting.
  • Secondly, where there is an item on the agenda in which you have a conflict of interest, you should declare this at the start of the meeting and withdraw for that part.