Reports claim a schism has formed in the group representing New South Wales public school parents.

The state government has sought legal advice about the ongoing infighting in the NSW Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations, which has seen two people squabbling over who holds the top position.

Both Lyall Wilkinson and Sharryn Brownlee allegedly claim to be president, with Ms Brownlee saying she was voted into the position last year but that Mr Wilkinson has not relinquished his position or control over the group’s website.

Mr Wilkinson says he is still the president, as does the P&C’s website and latest e-bulletin.

He used the most recent edition to assure affiliates “that there is no legal action in which P&C Federation's Officers are challenged to our positions,” and that “any information received to the contrary is untrue and should be seen as mischief-making”.

New South Wales Education Minister Adrian Piccoli says he is looking at all the ways that some progress on the stand-off may be made, but the situation remains sticky.

“The representation of the P&C is a rabble with two people claiming that they are president, we do not have and effective voice. So we do need to take drastic action,” he told the ABC.

“We're getting legal advice at the moment as to what that action can be.”

The state-wide P&C was not formed on any strict legislation, so legal avenues may have to be created, Mr Piccoli said.

“It is just not functioning the way it should. It is important because the peak body has a seat on the NSW Board of Studies but at the moment they do not because there are two people claiming to be president,” he said.

“When they are fighting amongst themselves then they are not representing the views of parents.”

In 2011, the NSW government commissioned a report into the inner-workings and tensions in the P&C.

Its broad findings revealed bullying, factionalism and disunity within the group, and recommended an overhaul of the management structure and personnel.

Mr Piccoli said the report’s recommendations have not been taken up, and that the problem is now coming to a head.

The government has already pulled $400,000 in funding from the group, yet the fighting continues.

“The P&C has not been able to fix themselves and obviously the government has to look at a way of fixing the P&C in a different way that's why we're looking at all of the options,” Mr Piccoli said.