MINUTES FOR GOVERNING BODY MEETING

HELD AT

6.30pm on WEDNESDAY 13 November 2013.

Present:

S King (Head) SK / C Clucas (Chair) CC / C Willoughby CW
F Alderman FA / S Briggs SB / D Ellis DE
D Ibbotson DE / E Jones EJ / S Watts SW

Not Present:

J Plisson JP / Greaves NG / A Green AG

Also Attending:

K Pavey (Clerk) KP
Action:
16 2013/14Apologies
Apologies have been received and accepted from NG, AG, JP
17 2013/14Declaration of Interest.
There were no declarations of interest
18 2013/14Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday 25th September 2013 at 6.00pm
The Minutes of the previous meeting were circulated in advance by KP for
review by the governors. DI commented on 06 2013/14 regarding he
would like to go on Finance not Premises committee. This has been
noted and the committee list amended accordingly. After this
amendment it was unanimously agreed to approve and adopt the
minutes.
All governors introduced themselves to Steve Watts, the new parent governor. SW would like to go on the Finance, Pay and Personnel and Premises/Health and Safety
19 2013/14Head Teacher’s Report to Governors
SK circulated the Head Teachers Report in advance and then ran through. The new attendance regulations have come into place and SK feels that our policy covers this. The main change is the warning letter comes from the school. There was a general discussion on the changes and how this is working.
AfA – FA ran through what is happening and how she has seen an improvement. In January 2014 we are hoping to be accredited for the first stage of this. If and when successful we are keen to go on to the next stage.
SK ran through the Pupil Premium results to ensure all governors understood how this was going in all aspects of their learning, development and support. There was a general discussion on this.
SK re-iterated that if governors were available to attend any of the events coming up, that would be great. CC also commented especially to help with the Christmas lunch!
20 2013/14Standing Orders
CC has completed these and will forward to SK. The individual committees will then review these at their next meetings.
21 2013/14SATs Review (Item from Sept 13 meeting)
SK circulated an overview of the RAISE ON-LINE Report and then ran through this and explained the contents further.
CC asked if the Key Stage 2 Writing improvements are due to the including creative writing across more topics? SK confirmed yes definitely. FA ran through examples of this. DE asked if there had been not enough focus on the spelling as emphasis on the creative writing? SK yes possibly.
There was a thorough discussion about KS2 children achieving Level 6s and the schools approach to this. There was also discussion about the schools approach to Grammar school tests. Whilst happy to talk to parents if they ask, it wasn’t felt that the onus should be on school to provide practice questions and training for children wishing to sit the Grammar school test.
There is an area for concern in value added expected progress. Whilst this is the first time there have been entries in blue on the RAISE ON-LINE Report for this, SK commented that it is not an expected trend as there are particular issues with the cohort relating to these figures and we need to address the cohort (but still be careful and consider this to ensure that this is not a trend going forward).
The other area that there is concern is expected progress in maths, particularly girls. We have started addressing this already and one of the biggest improvements is emphasis on the basics, hence the introduction of the Times Table Challenge, which is already a big success. FA re-iterated that covering other work eg fractions, the ability to learn and understand is already improving with the fact the times tables have improved. CW asked if there was anything else that can be done? SK commented that we have already a good program started now including more intervention programs as well, SK also commented that there was a large section on maths in the school development plan.
Following this discussion, SK circulated the finalised School Development Plan, but commented there were no changes from the draft version that was reviewed in detail at the last governors meeting. / SK asked if governors would like a copy of the RAISE ON-LINE report emailed? All agreed that yes please, it would be great to have a copy to read through – SK to circulate
22 2013/14Parent Questionnaires
CW has collated the results and prepared a summary report. This was circulated electronically in advance and hard copies circulated at the meeting.
CW ran through the figures. There was a general discussion over the results and understanding/interpreting some of the views, eg was the don’t know, meaning they didn’t understand the question or weren’t aware of what went on or didn’t feel they could comment as weren’t at the school in these situations. DI asked what other comments were received that may help understand this? SK ran through the comments and these were discussed in full as to whether there was anything further we can do and whether there were further issues we need to discuss or whether there is consideration for them in the school development plan. SW asked were some of the results down to communication issues maybe? CC confirmed that one of the items in the school development plan was to review and improve the school website so hopefully this would help. It was also agreed to include something in the newsletter to confirm that if there are issues staff will contact parents and not just wait till parents evenings in the same way parents can contact school if any issues at any point. There needs to be consideration for the website maintenance shortly as there is currently nobody tasked directly with this. / It was agreed that the results should now be circulated to parents.
23 2013/14Monitoring Timetable
SK circulated monitoring timetable. It was agreed that as in previous years, governors should be allocated an area to link with. The following was agreed:
1 – SB
2 – JP (as last year)
3 – DI and DE
5 – NG (links with Other SDP Linked Monitoring – SEN/G&T)
6 – CW (as last year)
7 - CC (as last year)
8 – EJ
Other SDP Linked monitoring– PE - SW
Other SDP Linked monitoring– SEN / G&T - NG
Other SDP Linked monitoring – Performance Management – CC and DE / KP to update governor list
24 2013/14Governor meet and greet at Parents Evening Governor (Item from Sept 13 meeting)
The next parents evening is in Feb 2014, SB suggested that it would be nice for some governors to be there, the dates are 6th and 11th Feb 2014 from 3.30 to 6.30pm. Governors to have a think about this for next meeting. / Agenda item for Jan 2014 meeting.
25 2013/14Review of feedback from new style End of Year Annual Reports (Item from Jun 13 meeting)
SK commented sub levels can be included for this year, but there will be no sub levels thereafter
Attendance in the full report – SK agreed with this.
Box for how parents can help children at home. CC suggested this could go on the website and SK suggested maybe an A5 leaflet in with the report. / SB asked for copy of format, SK to email over
26 2013/14Tewkesbury District Partnership Update
SK advised new Chair now in place, hoping for training on new curriculum.
27 2013/14Committee Reports
Curriculum – minutes circulated by JP
Premises – minutes circulated by AG
Finance – is being re-arranged, so date to follow….
28 2013/14Governors visits to school (if any)
DI – Assemblies
SK/CC re-iterated great to see governors in for visits.
29 2013/14Governor Training
CC completing Chair training
DI has attended the new governor training
NG – booked on governor safe guarding training
EJ and SW would like to attend the new governor training. / KP to forward link to EJ for application form.
30 2013/14Governors’ Reports and items for future agendas.
SK – Could people drop something round for the hamper for the Christmas performance please?
31 2013/14. Date and time of next meetings
Full Governors Meeting–Wednesday 22nd January 2014 at 6.30 pm
Pay/Personnel & Finance –
Curriculum Standards – Wednesday 15th January 2014 at 6.30pm
H & S/Premises – Wednesday 22nd January 2014 at 5.30pm

Signed as approved and adopted by the Full Governing Body

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Mrs C Clucas - Chair