MINUTES OF MEETING School: Meeting title: Date and time: Location: Membership A denotes absence In attendance A A A Heymann Primary Autumn term meeting of the governing body Monday, 11 November, 2013 at 6.30pm At the school Mrs H Darnbrough Dr B Robbins Ms M Stravino Mr A Nash Mrs A Devlin (chair) Mrs S Clayton Mrs J Hullis Mr M Routledge Mr M Shaw Mr D Knights Ms K Lavender Ms L Noble (headteacher) Mrs J Percival Mrs P Shepherd Mr A Sawford Mrs C Cox (clerk to the governors) GB/33/13 Apologies for absence Action Apologies for absence were received from Ms Stravino (prior commitment) and Mrs Clayton (family illness). It was resolved that the governing body consent to these absences. GB/34/13 Declaration of interest There were no declarations of interest, either direct or indirect, for items of business on the agenda. Review of register of business interest The register of business interest was not due for review until April, 2014. GB/35/13 Review of membership Governors received and noted the governing body membership list, which had been previously circulated. 1
The chair informed governors that Mrs Pett had resigned as an associate member due to work commitments. Mrs Percival had resigned as a governor as she had felt it appropriate to allow another member of the teaching staff to take on the role. Mr Sawford had to become a staff governor and the chair welcomed him to the meeting. The clerk to inform governor services of the changes to the governing body. The clerk passed Mr Nash a declaration of identity form and Mrs Darnbrough a declaration of eligibility form for completion and return to governor services. Clerk AN/HD The chair re-affirmed the membership of committees and explained that link governors would now be defined to reflect the teaching group structures in school. Governors that governors would have the following link responsibilities: Mrs Darnbrough Ms Stravino Dr Robbins The chair Mr Nash Mrs Clayton Mrs Hullis Mr Knights Mr Routledge Ms Lavender Mr Shaw Mrs Shepherd HT appraisal, Standards Community cohesion SEN, Health and well-being, Creative HT appraisal governor (appeals), Complaints Sci-Tech Safeguarding, Health and safety, Behaviour Standards HT appraisal, Literacy Numeracy Training co-ordinator, Enrichment Governor communications, Humanities, Literacy Enrichment The chair reminded governors of the etiquette on for meetings, including the reading of reports prior to the meeting. GB/36/13 Determination of term of office for chair and vice-chair The clerk reminded governors that under the new regulations, there is no minimum or maximum term of office for chair or vice-chair. The governing body that the end date for the term of office for the chair should be one year. The governing body that the end date for the term of office for the vice-chair should be one year. 2
GB/37/13 Election of chair Mrs Devlin was nominated for the position of chair. There were no other nominations. It was resolved that Mrs Devlin be re-appointed as chair. GB/38/13 Election of vice-chair Mrs Hullis was nominated for the position of vice-chair. There were no other nominations. It was resolved that Mrs Hullis be appointed as vice-chair. GB/39/13 Minutes of The minutes of the summer term meeting held on Monday, 10 June, 2013 having been previously circulated were confirmed and signed by the chair. Matters arising There were no matters arising. Committees and working parties Finance, General Purposes and Personnel Committee The minutes of the Finance, General Purposes and Personnel Committee meeting, held on Wednesday, 16 October, 2013, were presented. Strategic Development and Pupils Committee The minutes of the Strategic Development and Pupils Committee meeting, held on Tuesday, 8 October 2013, were presented. School Improvement Committee The minutes of the School Improvement Committee meeting, held on Tuesday, 1 October, 2013, were presented. Matters arising Strategic Development and Pupils Committee The chair reported that the County Council health check for schools providing support to other schools in the authority was to be completed in the near future. 3
An Aims and visions survey had been sent out to parents, with 130 responses received. The chair had been involved with sessions in school involving pupils and was in the process of writing a report. A report would be given about the matter at the next meeting of the committee. School Improvement Committee Mrs Hullis had completed her monitoring visit report regarding Mathematics. GB/40/13 Correspondence The clerk highlighted the following items of correspondence: Nottinghamshire Governor magazine The clerk drew governors attention to the following articles in the Nottinghamshire Governor: Page 2 Letter from Leonie The article informed governors of the publication of the DfE s new guide for governors, The Governors Handbook. The information was available for all governors online, but the DfE were not distributing printed copies. Governors were advised to familiarise themselves with the publication and it had been recommended that a paper copy be kept in school for reference. Page 6 School websites what should be published? The article provided a comprehensive list of the DfE key information areas that schools were required to publish online. Governors were advised that they should ensure that the school website published the requirements and that information was kept up to date. GB/41/13 Headteacher s report including The headteacher presented her report to governors, which had been circulated prior to the meeting, highlighting the following areas: Numerical information Exclusions (0) Racial incidents (0) Pupil progress Looked after children (3) Staffing Impact of SIP priorities Impact of CPD School expansion update Attendance Behaviour SEN Use of Pupil premium grant PE and sports funding Appraisal process SEF report Curriculum enhancement Mr Shaw asked the headteacher how the census breakdown compared with other schools, in West Bridgford and nationally. The headteacher stated that it would be difficult to obtain a census breakdown for other schools in the locality as they would question why it was required. A national average could be obtained from the RAISEonline report. 4
Mr Shaw stated that he felt, given that the majority of the absence at the start of term was caused by two families, attendance was very good. In regard to house points, Mr Shaw asked what the winning house were awarded at the end of the year. The headteacher stated that a treat, such as a picnic would be awarded, but thought would be given to it. The chair asked if the school staff had received Dyslexia training. The headteacher confirmed that they had. Mr Shaw asked if the detailed pupil progress report would be shared with all governors. Mrs Hullis, as Standards link governor, confirmed that she had received the full report and was writing a summary that would be shared with governors and published on Fronter. The headteacher explained how the booklet for parents to explain pupil progress was compiled and that other schools had requested copies. The booklet had been well received. Ms Lavender commented that the parents evening was focused on academic targets and lacked any focus on enrichment. The headteacher noted Ms Lavender s comments, but advised that the first parents evening of the year was for setting out the aspirations for pupils for the year, and it was difficult to deliver more in a ten minute appointment. The headteacher reminded governors that the pupil premium grant report (PPG) had been posted on the school website for 2012/2013. Governors were informed that the Olympic legacy funding was provided for one year only and had to be focused on the development of PE and sports. The headteacher explained the current staffing situation, with one teacher leaving in January due to personal circumstances. Ms Lavender asked how the recruitment of two teachers in a job-share capacity had been decided on. The headteacher informed governors that the school received notification of resignation at a time that meant the school had to recruit at short notice to fill the vacancy to ensure continuation for the children. The teachers recruited had applied for the nursery vacancy and came from a very strong field. The headteacher stated that both teachers were excellent, well-experienced and showed good practice. The headteacher updated governors on the school expansion work. The school had received a positive response from West Bridgford Academy and permission had now been granted for a path to be built between the two buildings. As the path would cross a sewer path, the pipe would need surveying to ensure construction could proceed. Unfortunately, West Bridgford Academy had not for parents to use the path, but it had been decided that it was better to have the path for pupil access than to not have it all. Mr Shaw asked if it was still necessary to have the two extra INSET days in order to open the new building. The headteacher stated that it was and explained the logistical issues that had to be overcome in a short period of time to ensure that the building was appropriately stocked and ready for children without compromising their health and safety. 5
Mrs Hullis asked if the mobile classrooms would be removed. The headteacher explained the double classroom would remain, with a request to extend planning permission for three years to be submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council. It was proposed that this would be used as an after school club. A 15 week plan of refurbishment would commence for the existing building when the new building was occupied. Although it was inevitable that there would be some movement of classes during that period, in the long-term, all classrooms would be incorporated. The chair asked if the gap between girls and boys attainment in the Early Years Foundation Stage for 2012/2013 was normal. The headteacher stated that girls often outperformed boys in literacy and PSED at this stage, but the difference was largely cohort based for these results. Ms Lavender asked for clarification of the process which resulted in the decision to close the school during the recent teachers strike action. The headteacher explained that the decision was based on the safety of the children and teachers had notified her that they wouldn t be attending, which they weren t required to do. The school residential trip had continued as it had been booked before the strike date had been. Early warnings had been given through Parentmail that the strike action may require the school to shut and the issue had been widely broadcast in the media. The headteacher had informed parents with as much notice as she was able to give. The clerk advised that the decision to close the school lay with the headteacher and was not one for governors to decide on. Ms Lavender commented that the language in the SEF made it difficult to read. The headteacher stated that it was a working document written in the way Ofsted would expect, following an format. Mrs Hullis explained that the acronyms used were listed at the end of the minutes of the Strategic Development and Pupils Committee. GB/42/13 Confirm arrangements for headteacher s appraisal meeting and ensure appraisal governors have appropriate training Mrs Darnbrough and Mr Knights were confirmed as the headteacher appraisal link governors. The chair was confirmed as the appeal governor. GB/43/13 Reports from the Corporate Director School Disciplinary (Capability) Procedure The Performance of School Staff The clerk spoke to the report, which set out the arrangements for the new capability procedures for all school based staff, highlighting the need for the governing body to adopt the County Council Capability Policy with effect from 1 June, 2013. This must be approved by the full governing body or appropriate committee depending on the level of delegation in the governing body s decision planner. 6
Governors had the policy and procedures at the last meeting of the Finance, general purposes and personnel committee and it was recommended for ratification. Governors to ratify the decision to agree the policy at the last meeting of the Finance, General Purposes and Personnel Committee. School Pay Policy and Guidance on Performance Related Pay Progression Criteria The clerk spoke to the report and took governors through the key action points. The Pay Policy must be considered by the full governing body, or at committee depending on the approved decision planner, and approved retrospectively as from 1 September, 2013. Governors had the policy and procedures at the last meeting of the Finance, General Purposes and Personnel Committee and it was recommended for ratification. Governors to ratify the decision to agree the policy at the last meeting of the Finance, General Purposes and Personnel Committee. New arrangements for assessing and meeting the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) The clerk spoke to the report highlighting the on-going involvement of Nottinghamshire County Council with the Pathfinder project and the implementation of the SEND reforms. The governing body to note the report. GB/44/13 Safeguarding children in education governors compliance checklist The clerk reminded governors of the importance of completing the checklist and returning it to Cheryl Stollery, safeguarding children in education officer at Meadow House, Mansfield, by 27 December, 2013. The checklist had been completed by the headteacher and chair of governors and had been signed by the chair. The clerk would return the completed form to governor services to be forwarded to Cheryl Stollery. Clerk 7
GB/45/13 Governor training Ms Lavender was confirmed as the new training co-ordinator. Mr Routledge and Mr Shaw confirmed that they would be attending the Induction (module 1) training course on Tuesday, 26 November, 2013. Ms Lavender requested that all governors attending courses provide a brief review of the training, for collation by her. Governors discussed appropriate subjects for the four hour, in-house training allocation. The chair suggested that the introduction of the new national curriculum and SEN/vulnerable groups would be an appropriate use of the training allowance and to liaise with Ms Lavender after the meeting to organise an event. The headteacher informed governors that she would open up the training to the family of schools, who provided a reciprocal arrangement. Chair/KL HT GB/46/13 Governor visits The chair informed governors that she had attended a pupil focus group to discuss the aims and vision of the school with pupils. The chair had also attended a session with year 6 children to look at the results of the parental survey. While both visits had been informal, the chair reported that they had been enlightening and informative. GB/47/13 Confirmation of dates for 2014 The governing body Spring term Monday, 3 March, 2014 at 6.30pm Summer term Monday, 9 June, 2014 at 6.30pm GB/48/13 Determination of confidentiality of business It was resolved that all papers and reports be made available as necessary. The meeting closed at 8.24pm. Signed...(chair) Date... CC/jag 8