North Yorkshire County Council
LADY LUMLEY’S SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY
Resources Governors Meeting
Thursday 5th November 2015 at 6.30 pm.
Item / Minute / Action /Res
15/01 / ATTENDANCE.
Staff Governors R Bramley - Head Teacher, T O’Cleirigh
Co-opted Governors J Fearn, J Garbutt, D Powley - Chair, J Hayward,
Local Authority Governors A Payne
Clerk JA Castleton
Others present L Phippen, S Cleary, Deputy Head Teachers. Karen Taylor and Janet Phillips - Bursars
Res
15/02 / Introduction
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Res
15/03 / Apologies for absence
Apologies had been received from A Kenyon, F O’Dell, R Wilson, N Allen and J Allan. Governors agreed consent.
Absent no apologies sent – T Carter, M Aconley
Res
15/04 / Declaration of interest
To invite governors to declare any interest in matters which are the subject of, or are connected with, any item of business on the agenda.
No declarations made
Res
15/05 / Confidential agenda items
To consider if an agenda item needs to be treated as confidential and excluded from the published minutes.
Nothing identified.
Res
15/06 / Presentation – Brian Davis – Staff Development
A presentation was given along with handouts.
There are various types of training sessions for staff eg Whole School, Workshops, Departmental Time etc. Frequently tap into in-house resources with staff providing training and dissemination/cascade training of courses they have attended, which is monitored by Blue Form.
How do we know dissemination/cascade training works?
It is recorded in Department minutes and being reviewed and developed.
On a Friday morning there is a briefing which alternates between whole staff and interdepartmental. There are also 15 minute Forums held every Thursday which are tailored to meet needs identified by Learning Walks/SLT etc after school which is compulsory for NQT. NQTs will be expected to deliver sessions as part of their CPD – drop in for other staff. Topics vary and different staff deliver them.
School Blog/Fronter is accessible to all and updated regularly.
Collaborate regularly with Ryedale and Norton building links and sharing expertise and best practice.
Does all the training work? How do you measure the quality of what is being delivered?
It is monitored by the appraisal system, learning walks, data analysis and underpinned by all teachers standards and reflects whole school policy. Teaching staff and support staff work exceptionally well together sharing knowledge and skills.
Does school formally record staff CPD?
It is all collated by Personnel Manager and tracked who has attended what.
Mr Davis was thanked for his presentation and left the meeting
Res
15/07 / Budget Update
A summary was given on the papers that had been circulated and a discussion followed.
In the 5 year forecast there is no assumption re inflation. The Pay Awards and the NI changes from April 2016 are reflected in the figures.
Pupil numbers are predicted to increase and looking positive at the end of the third year.
County wide there will be Spending Review on 25 November – it is most likely that spending will be maintained in schools.
The Benchmark figures are widely different as different schools use different budget headings. County Hall will be giving more guidance on what goes under what code to ensure that accurate comparisons can be made.
Business Rates are higher than other schools due to the after school external users but income goes into the budget to compensate this.
Pupil/Teacher ratio is low – is it what is expected?
Yes - max class sizes are 25 not 30 as in a lot of other schools.
VI Form funding per student seems low?
Weightings were askew and we are better than Benchmark suggests as they are not comparable due to the way in which other schools distribute their budget.
Sparsity was also discussed.
The Governors accepted the Budget and thanked the staff for all their hard work in producing a comprehensive report.
Karen Taylor gave her apologies for the next Resources meeting on 25th February due to family commitments and will send budget information with a narrative explanation and can be contacted after the meeting for any queries.
Karen Taylor and Janet Phillips left the meeting.
Res
15/08 / Minutes of the last meetings
Full Governors (Focus – Resources) 21 May 2015
Full Governors (Focus – Business) 14 July 2015
Full Governors (Focus – Teaching and Learning) 6 October 2015 – these will be corrected by the Clerk and signed off at the next meeting
The first two were all accepted as being accurate and signed off. / Clerk
Res
15/09 / Matters Arising
Full Governors (Focus – Resources) 21 May 2015
Sixth Form students will be wearing ID badges as soon as the Lanyards arrive.
DBS Policy – Has it been signed off? Head will check
Premises update – the Staff Room refurb has been rescheduled to Summer 2016
Full Governors (Focus – Business) 14 July 2015
FOD confirmed to continue as SEN Link Governor
AF to continue in Child Protection Role – to liaise with SENCO on training.
Expression of Business Interests forms issued for governors to complete
Full Governors (Focus – Teaching and Learning) 6 October 2015
T & L 15/10 – Pay Appeals Committee – JH agreed to be available as reserve
T & L 15/11 – ‘Supporting Pupils at school with medical conditions’ DfE guidance update – DP had met with P Holbrook; she devised a questionnaire prior to the meeting to prompt discussion which on completion had provided information of compliance and issues for action. The results are now with LP. Members of the Governing Body reminded of being legally responsible and accountable for their statutory duty to make arrangements to support pupils at school with medical conditions.
DP had requested a draft policy be presented at the next Governors meeting on 8th December
PREVENT to be on the Agenda in Headteachers section at every meeting.
There are 3 Governor vacancies – 2 Parent and 1 Community. One expression of interest has been received by a parent.
The Constitution needs to be reviewed in July 2016, given the long standing difficulty in getting interest in filling parent governor vacancies. / Head
AF/LP
Govs
Chair/Clerk
LP
Res
15/10 / Resources Checks
Chair presented an Annual Planner for the Resources meetings to ensure that all areas are covered. DP proposed that this be accepted, seconded by JH and accepted unanimously.
· DFE Census – RB confirmed this has been sent off ( always meets the County deadline)
· Review of Banking Signatories – The Headteacher, Both Deputys, Bursar and S Squibb are signatories and it must be 2 signatures on every cheque at all times.
· Petty Cash – The Bursar manages this on a day to day basis. It was agreed that SC would do occasional spot checks to ensure that procedures are being covered.
· School Insurance – This is done though NYCC – underwritten by Zurich, governors asked for a copy
· Standards of Conduct Policy – RB confirmed all staff had read and signed, this has been completed 100%
· SFVS – this needs to be reviewed by end of March 2016. The Governors sub-group to review the ’23 Questions’ will be RB, DP, JH and SC. Meeting to be arranged for December or January. / SC
RB,DP,JH,SC
Res
15/11 / Governors
· PREVENT- All Governors must complete this as a matter of urgency. The Governors that have completed the training have forwarded their certificates to the Clerk. These will be forwarded to P Watson.
· Link Governor Reports – DP has been to the Maths Department twice. Science teachers have been teaching the maths lessons; managed on a rotation basis with maths teachers. This seems to be working well. Very reassured that maths staff are working as a team. DP observed that the outside classrooms were cold and required simple redecoration– SC will investigate.
· Governor Training Feedback –
SIN meeting handouts have been circulated. At this meeting Rachel Riddell, Chair of Governors at Malton School approached DP to arrange to meet to network as governors.
AP & DP are attending Monitoring in Practice Governor training.
AP to complete Child Protection Training online.
No further gaps in governor skills identified at the meeting. / Clerk
SC
Res
15/12 / Staff Update
· 2 new ATS have started with others starting in the next couple of weeks. Appointed a Technician – very happy with appointment.
Did we get a good response to adverts?
Yes, and had the opportunity to appoint from a good pool of applicants at interview.
Has cover been arranged for Maternity Leave of English Teacher?
Will be using Supply Teacher – 5 potential teachers will be invited to do a day’s teaching with TO’C observing to ensure that the best for the school is employed.
· Staff Performance Pay Review – The governors were issued with a record of the Pay Committee meeting when the Governors had asked questions of the Head to clarify his decisions. There is the potential for 2 Appeals to be lodged.
· Headteacher Appraisal Performance Meeting – 20 November 2015. Please forward any suggestions for Headteacher focus to JG prior to the above date. RB will prepare a synopsis of the targets for the appraisal meeting and what he has done towards them. / Head
All
Res
15/13 / SEF, SIP and Key Priorities
The concise version of the document had been circulated but it still needs shortening to four pages; and to ensure that it is even between all the Key Stages. / SC/
Head
Res
15/14 / Premises Update
· Food Technology has been revamped. Does Food Technology area have to be inspected by Environmental Health?
No – not as far as anyone is aware.
· Painting has taken place in corridors and carpets cleaned
· Leisure Centre roof – There is a budget to replace the lights but it is not viable until the roof lights have been resealed/replaced. NYCC are looking at this problem. The cost is shared 60/40 between Rydale Council and the School.
· How do students report satisfaction with the Dining Services? – The Student Council gives feedback on this service. It is used extensively and will accommodate specialist diets.
· Fingerprint registration equipment will be installed used by Year 11 and Sixth Form.
Res
15/15 / Governor Review of Documents
The documents listed below were discussed
· Budget Management Policy inc Scheme of Delegation.
Proposed by JF, Seconded by JG, agreed unanimously
· Standing Orders
Proposed by DP, Seconded by AP, agreed unanimously
· Code of Practice
Proposed by JG, Seconded by JH, agreed unanimously
· Pay Policy
Proposed by JF, Seconded by DP, agreed unanimously
· Bursary Policy
Proposed by JH, Seconded by JG, agreed unanimously
· Developing Performance Policy
Proposed by AP, Seconded by DP, agreed unanimously
· Capability Policy
Proposed by DP, Seconded by JH, agreed unanimously
· Disciplinary Policy
Proposed by JH, Seconded by AP, agreed unanimously
· Appraisal Policy
Proposed by JF, Seconded by JG, agreed unanimously
· Children Protection Policy
Proposed by JF, Seconded by JG, agreed unanimously
Res
15/16 / Any Other Urgent Business
None notified prior to the meeting.
The meeting ended at 8:45pm
Date and time of the full calendar of meetings for the academic year 2015/16.
Strategy Team Meetings at 6.30 on 12th January and 19th April.
Full Governing Body Meetings at 6.30pm on 8th December and 3rd May and 12 July (Business).
Full Governing Body Meeting: Focus Teaching & Learning at 6.30pm on 22nd March, and 7th June.
Full Governing Body Meeting: Focus Resources at 6.15pm on 25th February and 19th May.