LABOUR'S London Assembly candidate for Croydon and Sutton has been disqualified as a primary school governor, the Advertiser can reveal.

Louisa Woodley, who is also a councillor for Thornton Heath, had been a local authority appointed governor at Ryelands Primary, in South Norwood.

But the election hopeful, who used to be Labour's spokeswoman for children, young people and learners, has been disqualified for failing to attend meetings of the school's governing body.

Update: Louisa Woodley reinstated as governor at Ryelands Primary School after chairman told he'd made a mistake

Chair of governors Norman Gooding wrote to Cllr Woodley, who will run against Tory incumbent Steve O'Connell in May's London Assembly elections, at the end of last year to say that he was "obliged" to disqualify her because she had missed several meetings over a six month period.

Speaking to the Advertiser today (Tuesday) Cllr Woodley said Mr Gooding had made a "mistake" and declared her intention to continue as a governor at the school.

She said: "I missed a full governing body meeting on September 21 due to a speaking engagement. I think my apology must have been received late.

"The meeting scheduled for November 30 coincided with industrial action and was abandoned.

"So I was surprised that the letter from the chair of governors stated that I had not been in attendance at a full governing body meeting for six months. The period from September to December is inclusive of four months.

"I have been trying to get through to the chair, without success, because he has clearly made a mistake."

Schedule six, paragraph five of the School Governance (Constitution) Regulations 2007 states that a governor can be disqualified if he or she, without the consent of the governing body, fails to attend meetings on a continuous period of six months. Cllr Woodley will not be able to stand for re-election as a governor for at least twelve months.

Cllr Woodley says the letter from Mr Gooding explains that she would be welcome to continue as a governor if she provides a satisfactory explanation for her absence.

However, she is upset the school failed to provide her with notice of the lastest meeting, on January 17, denying her the chance to defend herself.

The required qualities of a local authority governor, as detailed on Croydon Council's website, include an interest in education, a willingness to serve the local community and "the ability to arrange commitments to fit in with membership of a governing body".

A council spokesman added: "Local authority school governors take on responsibility for setting targets, managing budgets and balancing the school curriculum.

"Governors therefore have to ensure they can manage their time to fit in with the diary of the governing body."

Cllr Woodley gave up her position on Labour's shadow cabinet to concentrate on fighting the Croydon and Sutton seat.

In her campaign literature she has said that representing Croydon and Sutton on the Assembly would be her only job if elected, hinting that she will stand down as a Thornton Heath councillor.

Mr Gooding has not responded to requests for a comment.

For more on this story see this week's Croydon Advertiser, out on Friday (January 27).