GOVERNING BODY FOR ST PAUL’S CEPRIMARY SCHOOL NW7
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD AT THE SCHOOL
ON TUESDAY10 MAY 2016
FOUNDATION GOVERNORSPARENT GOVERNORS
*Mrs Toyin Adjei (LDBS)Mr Jason Fox Baron
*Mr Robert Cottingham (Deanery)*Mrs Carli Turner
*Mrs Gillian Finney (Deanery)
*Mrs Jenny Crane (PCC)STAFF GOVERNORS
Mr Barrie Martin (LDBS)*Mr Anthony David (Executive HT)
*Mr Mike Roberts (PCC) (Vice Chair)Miss Jo Smith
*Revd. Jonathan Shaw (Chair)
LA GOVERNOR
1 x vacancy
* denotes member present
IN ATTENDANCE
Ms Madhu Nambiar–Relief Clerk (Governor Services)
PART I
Opening Prayer
The Chairopened the meeting in prayer.
16/66WELCOME
The Chair welcomed all to thefirstsummer term meeting.
16/67ACCEPTANCE/NON ACCEPTANCE OF APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were submitted and accepted in respect of Miss Jo Smith, Mr Barrie Martin and Mr Jason Fox Baron.
Ms Jenny Crane and Revd Jonathan Shaw had sent apologies for their anticipated late arrival to the meeting.
Ms Carli Turner submitted her apologies for missing the last meeting which was accepted.
16/68NOTICE OF ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items anticipated.
16/69DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS
None of the Governors present declared a pecuniary interest in the business to be discussed.
16/70PART I MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 15 MARCH2016
The Part I Minutes of the meeting held on 15 March2016 were confirmed, initialled and signed by the Chair, subject to the following amendments:
Pg. 2 16/60 Safeguarding review: ‘There was a reminder that all Millbrook staff should show their DBS….’ This should be that Governors show their DBS certificates.
Pg. 6 16/12 Ofsted: The planning of the Learning Walk for Governors should have been an action for the EHT.
Action: EHT
16/71MATTERS ARISING
There were no matters arising.
16/72REVIEW OF ACTION POINTS
-The Executive Headteacher and Robert Cottingham to notify Governors would check the Admissions Policy was compliant.This had been completed.
-The Vice Chairman would circulate a notice to confirm the Building Maintenance audit had been completed. This had been completed.
-The Head of School to draft a policy about DBS checks for staff, permanent and transitory. As Head of School was absent, this was carried forward to the next meeting.
Action: HOS
Ms Jenny Crane joined the meeting.
-The Head of School to circulate minutes of the School Association meeting. As the Head of School was absent, this was carried forward to next meeting.
Action: HOS
-The Head of School would check all Governors had signed the E-Safety policy. As the Head of School was absent, this was carried forward to next meeting.
Action: HOS
-The Executive Headteacher would send the audit report to the Clerk for distribution with the next agenda. This was a carried forward action.
Action: EHT
-The Executive Headteacher would draft a letter for parents to outline the Schools financial position and circulate to Governors.This had been done and the EHT summarised the positive feedback and support received from parents
16/73REPORT OF THEEXECUTIVE HEADTEACHER
The Report of the Executive Headteacher, a copy of which was held in the Minute Book, had been circulated prior to the meeting. Arising from the report:
Teaching and Learning
-Progress and Outcomes: On being asked by Governors why the results for Maths had declined the Executive Headteacher explained that this was because the curriculum had changed and expectations had to be altered accordingly. He went on to explain how this was being managed and monitored. The Governors offered their support and asked if extra finance would have to be allocated. The Executive Headteacher thanked the Governors but said that the budget included the extra funding required to support the adjustments.
Revd Jonathan Shaw joined the meeting.
On being further questioned about the planned provision the Executive Headteacher went on to say that he would be discussing the plans, which included a review of leadership targets and staff training, at the LAT meeting the following week. The Executive Headteacher said that since this was a long term undertaking, he would report back to the Governors on progress about three times a year unless anything significant occurred.
-Progress with the School Development Plan: The contents were noted.
-Specific Issues: The Executive Headteacher continued in his efforts to contact Alison Dawes at the LA to discuss expansion of classes in September.
-Curriculum Issues: The Executive Headteacher explained that the falling figures reflected the entry to the School of three children who had extra needs. He was however, pleased to note that the School had been supporting them and they were settling in well which presented in the progress they were exhibiting. The Governors agreed the welfare and wellbeing of the children was important.
-The measurable: It was noted that if attendance fell to 95%, this might trigger interest from Ofsted.
There was a discussion about the Behaviour Management system being used. The Executive Headteacher recounted that only one child had been recorded on the most serious category rating and teachers knew how the ARBOR system worked in conjunction with the Blue Sheet system. The staff had provided positive feedback about using ARBOR.
Finance
The Executive Headteacher noted that recruitment for the vacant posts had been challenging but there were interviews scheduled for the Head of School position the following week.
Premises
Governors asked about the schedule of plans and the Executive Headteacher informed them that all the proposals were captured on a two-year plan which was being constantly reviewed in relation to the tight budget which funds the works.
Issues arising from outside the school
The contents were noted.
The Executive Headteacher was thanked for his report.
The Executive Headteacher thanked Mike Roberts for his feedback in drafting the format of the report.
It was agreed that updates on the main headings of a Governors meeting agenda could be covered on the Executive Headteacher’s report and if there was anything more substantive to discuss then this could be done as a separate item.
The Executive Headteacher agreed to the request of the Governors to provide more detailed context around the attendance figures.
Action: Executive Headteacher
A Governor asked if they could see the School Development Plan in order to be able to consult with the Executive Headteacher on its contents. The Executive Headteacher said this would be possible but not advisable at a full governing body meeting as it would require a substantial amount of time to go through. He would consider another way of arranging a meeting for the specific purpose.
Action: Executive Headteacher
There was a brief discussion about the impact of losing a TA and the Executive Headteacher said he would keep the Governors updated of the decision making process.
Action: Executive Headteacher
16/74LEARNING
This was covered in the Executive Headteacher’s report.
16/75PREMISES
This was covered in the Executive Headteacher’s report.
16/76 STAFFING
This was covered in the Executive Headteacher’s report.
A Governor asked about the situation with cover in the office. The Executive Headteacher advised that the person who had been off long-term had tendered their resignation. He went on to ask if the Governors would agree to extend the contract of the person who was covering the post. The Governors AGREED to extend her contract permanently for the three days she was presently working.
There followed a brief discussion about how the office would be managed with one person working part time. The Executive Headteacher explained how this would be achieved and said he would update the Governors of any issues that arose. He also reminded the Governors that the staff at MBP and STP’s were also able to support each other when required.
16/77FINANCE
This was covered in the Executive Headteacher’s report.
16/78ADMISSIONS
This was covered in the Executive Headteacher’s report.
The Executive Headteacher was pleased to note that the outstanding appeal had not been taken any further.
16/79SAFEGUARDING REVIEW
Jenny Crane stated that she would be visiting the School the following day to do a review of the Single Central Record.
16/80REVIEW OF POLICIES
The Executive Headteacher apologised for the delay in sending the policies to Governors.
Attendance Policy
After due consideration, it was decided that the policy should be re-written with reference made to the LAT policy to be used as a template as it was more concise.
Learning and Teaching
After due consideration it was decided to postpone ratifying the policy to another session after the contents had been further deliberated.
Whistleblowing
After a full consideration and on a show of hands where one abstention was duly noted, the policy was RATIFIED.
The following policies were to be considered further at a later date:
Community cohesion
English policy
Freedom of information Act
RE
Staff expenses
16/81OFSTED
The core Ofsted Working Group had not met and the Executive Headteacher undertook to schedule a date for the meeting.
Action: Executive Headteacher
16/82SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
The item was deferred to the next meeting as the Head of School was absent.
16/83THE EDUCATION AND SKILLS DIRECTORS REPORT
1. The Education White Paper and Academisation: The Governors noted the contents.
2. The National Funding Formula: The Governors noted the contents.
3. Barnet with Cambridge Education: The Governors noted the contents.
4. School Improvement Partnerships: The Governors noted the contents.
5. Maintained School collaboration across Partnerships: The Governors noted the contents.
6. Attendance in Primary Schools: The School were doing a survey of which term time appointments were doctor and dentist appointments and which could be rescheduled outside school hours.
7. Mandatory Disclosure and Barring Service: The Governors noted the contents.
8. Governor Info to be published on Edubase: The Executive Headteacher said that he had been working on capturing all Governor details onto the Edubase system in order to be compliant with the new legislation by September.
9. School Organisation Guidelines: The Governors noted the contents.
10. Statutory timelines for Maintained Schools, Academies and Free Schools: The Governors noted the contents.
16/84 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Gillian Finney reported she had prepared the Covernant letters which were due to be sent out in May.
16/85DATE OF NEXTMEETINGS
The dates of the next meetings were confirmed as:
-Summer Term (2): Tuesday 7 June 2016 at 6.00 pm
-Summer Term (2): Tuesday 12 July 2016 at 6.00 pm
16/86MOTION OF CONFIDENTIALITY
It was RESOLVED that, because of its nature, the business to be transacted be treated as confidential and not for publication.
Summary of Action Points
10 May 2016
- 16/70 The EHT to draft a plan for the Governors Learning walk.
Action: EHT
- 16/72 The HoS to draft a policy about DBS checks for staff, permanent and transitory.
Action: HoS
- 16/72 The HoS to circulate minutes of the School Association meeting.
Action: HoS
- 16/72 The HoS would check all Governors had signed the E-Safety Policy.
Action: HoS
- 16/72 The EHT would send the audit report to the Clerk for distribution with the next agenda.
Action: EHT
- 16/73 The EHT would provide contextual information around attendance figures.
Action: EHT
- 16/73 The EHT to organise a meeting to discuss the School Development Plan.
Action: EHT
- 16/73 The EHT would provide updates on decisions about not replacing aTA.
Action: EHT