Board of Governors meeting
01 Minutes 8 October 2010
13.30 – 17.00
PRESENT: Andrew Collinson (AC); Ann Addison (AA); Nick Deacon (ND); Jo
Fishley(JF); Martin Bradley (MB); Alison Gebert (AG); Lawrence Keen (LK);
Carol Kirk(CK); Trevor Mepham
(TM); Sylvie Sklan (SS); Jon Syed (JS);
Richa
rd Temple (RT)
Apologies: Kate Robertson
1. Minutes of 02/07/10 were approved and signed.
2. Actions from last meeting completed and signed off, except:
summary of findings of performance review; sickness policy
3. Correspondence
3.1
Letter re: LA School Governors’ Year book 2011.
DECISION: ask KR
to order one copy
3.2
NAHT letter advising governors of the Association’s withdrawal of
support for industrial action over SATs in 2010-11
4. Register of governors’ interests
4.1
AC’s wife no longer employed by SAH
4.2
AA’s husband is currently employed by SAH on a casual basis
5. Election
5.1 Chair: SS was unanimously re-elected as Chair
5.2 Vice-chair: AA + AC were unanimously elected as joint Vice-Chairs
6. Governance matters
6.1
Nick Deacon was formally welcomed as a new sponsor governor and
member of the Finance Committee
6.2
Clarified: that a representative for the class representatives would be
welcome to attend General Committee meetings again
7. Principal’s Report (circulated prior to meeting)
71.
AGREED: that the new format of the Principal’s report is very helpful
and highlights where decisions from the Board are required.
7.2
APPROVED RETROSPECTIVELY: the implementation of staffing re-
structuring, subject to details being made available to the relevant
committees.
7.3
APPROVED: the Vision and Aims statement, with the expectation that
this agreed statement provides a definitive context for considering future
strategic planning proposals. This statement should go on website.
7.4
APPROVED: the ‘Priorities for 2010-11’ as presented, subject to
adding ‘volunteers’.
7.5
AGREED: not to take the Ofsted complaint any further following the
Nov. 2009 Section 8 visit.
7.6
AGREED: to allocate £10,000 from start-up funds to support the
development of 14+ accreditation routes in partnership with SWSF and
Crossfields Institute.
7.7
APPROVED: the position paper on ‘Teacher Assessment at 14’ (as
required by our Funding Agreement). TM to inform parents/carers about this
by letter
7.8
The Board supported the Principal’s judgment made in favour of the
child in an on-going child protection case.
8. Finance (report circulated prior to meeting)
8.1
APPROVED: authorisation process for the write-off of unpaid sales
invoices as set out in Finance Report.
8.2
REQUESTED: breakdown showing proportion of revenue budget spent
on management as opposed to teaching.
8.3
Bursar has produced a 3 year forecast. The small size of the school
and the high staff:pupil ratio both contribute to the challenge of running the
school within the revenue budget. The bursar will present the accounts to the
next Board meeting on 10/12/10.
8.4
REQUESTED: circulate Finance Report annexes to all governors.
8.5
REQUESTED: clarify what can be carried over for how long into next
financial year
9. Personnel (report circulated prior to meeting)
9.1
The Board had supported in-principle staff re-structuring on the
Visioning Day last May and had anticipated that they would consider the
proposed re-structuring plan at a later stage. In the event, two colleagues
have been appointed to take on additional responsibilities. The additional
salary supplement of £3000 per post was approved as it was within budget.
REQUESTED: that the Principal brings any proposed plan for further staff
restructuring to the Board for approval; that he clarifies for the next Board
the remit of the Strategic Planning Group.
9.2 The eurythmy teacher is a new teacher and this is his first post. His
teaching is being monitored. He is on a temporary contract until his work
visa is processed.
10. Teaching & Learning (report circulated prior to meeting)
10.1 At the recent meeting at DfE attended by TM and SS it was pointed
out that the Secretary of State can exempt a school from any part of the
education legislation under the
Power to Innovate (Education Act 2002).
AGREED: to explore how this can be used to exempt us from the Section 5
inspection regime, on the grounds that significant elements within Section 5
are based on the national curriculum.
10.2 Admissions: SAH’s proposed admission arrangements for 2011-12
are still awaiting approval. The lack of a decision particularly affects
parents/carers of children in the school’s pre-statutory provision who still
don’t know if ‘enrolment at the school’ is going to have priority over
proximity when Year R places are allocated. SS to chase this with relevant
parties in DfE.
11. Capital programme (report circulated prior to meeting)
10.1
AGREED: Although slippage continues to be a worry, in the interests
of maintaining good relations with the builders no action is being proposed at
this stage.
10.2
CONCERN: The temporary reception office has to serve also as the
pupil first aid station and the accommodation will be inadequate once the
weather worsens. The options urgently need to be considered.
12. General (report circulated prior to meeting)
12.1
Governors continue to have a legal duty to ensure that the school
administers SATs KS2 next May 2011.
AGREED: In the event that during
this school year, parents again insist that their children do not sit KS2 SATs
and that alternative arrangements are made within the school for their
children, as governors we acknowledge our legal responsibilities to ensure
that the staff register all eligible pupils for these tests, send for and receive
all the test papers and set up appropriate arrangements for the tests to be
taken and supervised.
12.2
APPROVED: Scheme of Delegation
12.3 Review of website is being undertaken by Chris Adams of
Fibbonacci
Designs before a webmaster is appointed.
12.3 New Prospectus expected 1st Nov
10.
AOB
10.1 MB will circulate a report re his visit to classrooms
10.2 Niki is updating all policies
11.
Date of next BG meeting 10 December 2010
(9 December: supper + discussion with teachers)
Summery of actions
Action
By whom
By when
1
Summary of findings of performance review
CH/Personnel Before 10/12/10
2
Absence and sickness policy
Personnel
Next P meeting
3
Order one copy from LA of School Governors’ Year book 2011
KR
a.s.a.p.
4
Ask Kate to up-load Vision and Aims statement onto website
TM
a.s.a.p.
5
Add something to ‘ Priorities’ doc about volunteers
TM
a.s.a.p.
6
Get some data on staff/pupil ratio in other Hereford schools
JF
10/12/10
7
TM to clarify and reiterate the Strategic Planning Group’s remit TM
10/12/10
8
Circulate Finance Report annexes to all governors
ND
a.s.a.p.
9
Clarify what can be carried over into next financial year
WC
10/12/10
10 Chase DfE for decision on new over-subscription criterion
SS
Next week
11 Options for action to improve the temporary Reception Office
AC
a.s.a.p.