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What to do when you're struggling to find a chair or vice-chair

All boards are required to have both a chair and a vice-chair. If you're struggling to fill either post, we have a step-by-step plan for how to manage the situation effectively.

Last reviewed on 30 October 2023
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 4044
Contents
  1. 1. Get a contingency plan in place
  2. 2. Remove potential barriers for existing governors
  3. 3. Look externally
  4. 4. Prepare for next time

1. Get a contingency plan in place

If the search for a new chair or vice-chair is going to take longer than expected, you'll need a plan to continue operating.

If the role of chair is vacant but you have a vice-chair in place, then the vice-chair can deputise for the chair while the search is on. Read more about this in our article about the role and responsibilities of the vice-chair. 

And if both seats are empty, you'll need some external support – not just to keep operations going, but to get an objective view on how your board is operating and why this situation may have occurred. Consider