ABINGDON SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY MINUTES SUMMER TERM 2015 Date: Tuesday 12 th May 2015 Time: 4pm Venue: The School GOVERNORS PRESENT Mr J Delaney (Chairperson), Mrs A Naismith (Headteacher), Ms S Jackson, Mrs W Beer and Mr B Archer. IN ATTENDANCE Ms K Roe Ms C Flanders Mrs R Hodgson Former Governor Associate Member Governor Support Officer 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Mrs C Waterfield. 2. ELECTION OF CHAIR/VICE-CHAIR AND VACANCIES Ratification of Co-opted Governors Mr J Delaney proposed that Mrs A Graham should remain as the sole LA Appointed Governor. It was duly RESOLVED that Mrs A Graham remains as the LA Governor. Governors noted and discussed the individual merits of Mrs W Beer, Mr B Archer and Mrs C Waterfield to take up the Co-opted Governor vacancies on the Governing Body. A vote was taken and it was duly RESOLVED - That Mrs W Beer, Mr B Archer and Mrs C Waterfield be co-opted onto the Governing Body for a four year term of office with effect from 1 st April 2015. Governors noted and discussed the individual merits of Ms C Flanders as Associate Member. A vote was taken and it was duly RESOLVED - That Ms C Flanders be co-opted as an Associate Member for a four year term of office with effect from 1 st April 2015. Prior to the meeting, Ms Kate Roe had notified governors of her intention to step down from the Governing Body. Due to the reconstitution, her term of office as a Community Governor ended on this date. Ms Roe remained in attendance at the meeting. Appointment of Chair/Vice-Chair It was agreed that the Chair of Governors and Vice-Chair would remain in office until the autumn term 2016. Mr J Delaney declared an interest in the position of Chairperson. Additional nominations or expressions of interest were invited; there were no further candidates. It was unanimously RESOLVED that Mr J Delaney, be elected Chairperson for the agreed term. Mr J Delaney in the Chair. 1
Expressions of interest were invited by the Chair for Vice Chair. Prior to the meeting, Mrs C Waterfield had expressed her interest in the position to the GSO. There were no further candidates. It was unanimously RESOLVED that Mrs C Waterfield be elected Vice-Chairperson for the agreed term. (iii) Consideration of Vacancies Following reconstitution, there remained a vacancy for a Parent Governor and 2 Co-opted Governors. The Headteacher and GSO would set a date for a Parent Governor election in the autumn term. The Chair of Governors would contact SGOSS to recruit Co-opted Governors. 3. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS ACTION Governors were asked to declare a personal interest in any agenda items; there were not any declarations of interest. Governors were reminded that they should declare any interest should it arise during the meeting. 4. BUSINESS Discussion and Review of Committee Membership/Appointment of Linked Governors/Remits Governors discussed and reviewed committee membership and linked governors as per Appendix I. It was agreed that committee members and linked governors would remain in post until the autumn term 2016. Review of Policies, Open Government and Code of Conduct Governors duly AGREED to adopt the policies and procedures of the previous Governing Body as outlined at the autumn term meeting of 9 th October 2014. (iii) Previous Governing Body Minutes RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 27 th January 2015, copies circulated previously, (a) be approved and signed by the Chairperson and (b) authorised for publication. (iv) Matters Arising from Previous Governing Body Minutes The Headteacher informed the meeting that subsequent to the spring term meeting, the DfE had amended the target for age related progress and a child would be judged to have made expected progress if they had met 85% of the end of year expectations, not 100% as had been discussed. (v) Previous Committee Minutes RESOLVED that the minutes of the following meetings, copies circulated previously, be approved and signed by the Chairperson and authorised for publication: Teaching & Learning Committee Meeting of 24 th March 2015 Resources Committee of 24 th March 2015 2
(vi) Matters Arising from Previous Committee Minutes There were no matters arising. 5. RESOURCES Budget Update The Business Manager circulated the proposed budget. Governors heard that school had received unexpected income of 16K at the end of the financial year for UFSM. This meant that the final balance of 127,187 had exceeded the 12% clawback figure. Governor comments and questions were invited. Governors noted the following budget points: I01 23, 678 had been included for infant class size I08 4,017 for the Breakfast Club, shop and bank interest I18-40,810 for UFSM and PE grant E07 32,932 for Midday Assistants and Breakfast Club workers E08-19,483 for Speech & Language Therapy, Stockport County, Flu Jab and Headteachers Consortium E12 11,088 covers water machines, hand driers, Pest Control and PE inspection E18 2566 for Waste Collection and Security E19 75,375 includes Sports Funding equipment, transport, Breakfast Club, furniture, paper, photocopier contract, educational visits, licence fees, Numbers Count, literacy money, curriculum spend and swimming lessons E20 94,011 includes text messaging service, Espresso, Mathletics, JF budget plan, Ink, internet, website and computer equipment and software E22 1,393 for telephone and postage E27 & E28-31,484 and 16,980 for buybacks The Cumulative Surplus at the end of this financial year would be 85,501. In addition, 5856 of DFC money had been carried forward to add to this year s sum of 5,857. This had been allocated for new ICT for the new school. The Statement of Internal Control was circulated. Benchmarking had been highlighted as an action. Governors AGREED that it should be signed by the Chair of Governors. Approval of Budget 2015/16 It was duly RESOLVED to approve the proposed budget for 2015/2016. (iii) Approval of School Fund Audit Arrangements Governors AGREED with the proposal to continue with the services of Mr Martin to audit the School Fund. (iv) To Consider and Approve any Changes to the Buyback of L.A. Services It was noted that the Resources Committee had considered and agreed the buybacks at the meeting of 24 th March 2015. (v) Scheme of Delegation Form 2015/16 3
Governors heard that there had been no changes to the Financial Delegation Form. It was AGREED by the Governing Body and signed by the Chair of Governors. 6. HEADTEACHER S TERMLY REPORT The report of the Headteacher was presented and discussed. The Headteacher highlighted the following and governors questions were invited: Governors were updated on Assessment without Levels and the Headteacher explained the particular difficulties for Abingdon. Both the Head and Deputy Head had attended a course and viewed two Assessment and Reporting tools, Capita s Assessment Manager 7 and Sheffield STAT. Staff would be consulted after the half-term break. The interim system was working well and the new reporting system would need to be meaningful for teachers and easy for senior managers to pull out data. Do parents understand the new system? Parents had been sent a letter informing them of changes to the curriculum and the way it was reported and had also received new style reports. Feedback from parents was favourable. School would continue to be proactive in involving parents in their children s education. The school had taken part in a free pilot with St John s Ambulance and received whole school First Aid Training. The Headteacher had organised classes for September. 11 split classes would be housed in nine classrooms. Reception and Year 6 would not be split but all other year groups would be. It was acknowledged that it would be challenging for teachers and the Headteacher had applied to Pat Morgan (LA) to stop in-year admissions to school next year. Attendance was 92%. Aidan Taylor had implemented some changes but had not yet had the opportunity to carry out all his ideas. Governors discussed a report they had heard in the media which outlined a proposal for persistent late arrivals to school. Persistent late arrivals were a problem in school and a Staff Governor explained the educational consequences of this. TAs had been organised for the next academic year. Consideration was being made to appoint one more full-time TA for the Infants. The Headteacher was thanked for her comprehensive report and there not being any further questions it was RESOLVED that the Headteacher s report be received. 7. UPDATE ON STATUTORY ITEMS School Improvement Plan (SIP) Update Governors were referred to the relevant section of the Headteacher s Report. Appraisal Update (Headteacher and Staff) The Headteacher updated governors on the appraisal cycle in school. Interim Appraisals had taken place and Review Meetings would take place this term to determine whether or not targets had been met. 4
(iii) Report on Incidents of Racism, Bullying, Homophobia The Headteacher reported that there had not been any incidents in school during the spring term. The GSO provided a nil return form, which was completed and signed by the Headteacher and Chairperson; the GSO then undertook to return the form to the appropriate section within Services to People. The Headteacher reported that there had not been any incidents of bullying or homophobic behaviour during the spring term. (iv) Report on Physical Incidents The Headteacher reported that there had been no incidents during the autumn term where the use of physical intervention procedures had been necessary. (v) Young Carers Update There were no issues to discuss. 8. GOVERNOR DEVELOPMENT Development Plan The Chair of Governors had been disappointed that several courses he had wanted to attend had been cancelled because of lack of interest. The GSO undertook to feed his comments back. ACTION 9. BRIEFING PAPERS FROM STOCKPORT LOCAL AUTHORITY Early Years Pupil Premium Governors noted the information. Early Years Baseline Assessment Governors noted the information. (iii) PSHE Update Governors were updated on the development of eight principles to promote emotional health and wellbeing in schools and colleges https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/promoting-children-and-young-peoplesemotional-health-and-wellbeing (iv) The Constitution of Governing Bodies A register of governors interests and governor information should be uploaded to the school s website by 1 st September 2015. The GSO undertook to forward the relevant information to the Business Manager. ACTION (v) National Standards for Excellence for Headteachers 5
Governors were informed that a revision of the Headteachers Standards was published by the DfE in January 2015; the document is non-statutory and intended as guidance only. The document outlines four Excellence as Standard domains: Qualities and Knowledge Pupils and Staff Systems and Processes The Self-Improving School System The GSO undertook to send link to the document to the Headteacher and Chair. ACTION (vi) Ofsted Update Governors noted the update. (vii) DfE Updates The links to updated guidance released during the spring term were noted. 10. DATES Full Governing Body Tuesday 6 th October 2015, 4pm Committee Meetings Tuesday 8 th December 2015, 4pm 11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS End of Terms of Office The meeting was informed that the following governor s term of office would end on the 31st August 2015: Mrs Anne Graham (LA) New Building The new build would begin on Tuesday 26 th May. The Headteacher informed governors of the planned arrangements for moving into the new building around the Easter holidays 2016. A penalty clause was in place should the building not be ready by the second week of the Easter holidays. A meeting had taken place with the Children s Centre to discuss access arrangements during the 6-8 week period when deliveries of building materials will be made. A gate man will be on the driveway until all deliveries have stopped and parents will not be allowed on site during the delivery and collection period. Two letters will be sent to parents after the half-term break 6
informing them of the access arrangements for children. The contractor, Wates, was keen to keep communication open when they were on site. A presentation was made to Mrs Kate Roe to thank her for her contribution as Community Governor and to wish her all the best for her maternity leave. There not being any other business to discuss, the Chairperson thanked everyone for attending and the meeting closed at 17:13 pm. 7
ABINGDON SCHOOL SUMMER TERM 2015 GOVERNING BODY MINUTES MEETING ACTION POINTS MINUTE POINT ACTION REQUIRED ACTION FOR ACTION DATE TO BE COMPLETED 2 (iii) Set date for Parent Election GSO/Headteacher Post meeting 8 Report back to LA re cancellation of training courses 9 (iv) Send information of governors details for the website GSO GSO Post meeting Post meeting 9 (v) Send link to Headteachers Standards GSO Post meeting 8
Appendix 1 ABINGDON SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP & LINK GOVERNOR LIST 2014/15 CHAIRPERSON (until autumn term to 2016) VICE-CHAIRPERSON (until autumn term 2016) RESOURCES (Finance, Premises & Staffing) Headteacher Wendy Beer Anne Graham Claire Flanders TEACHING & LEARNING (Pupils, Curriculum & Policies) Headteacher Wendy Beer Anne Graham Claire Flanders PAY COMMITTEE Headteacher PAY APPEALS COMMITTEE Anne Graham Mandy Ward PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT GROUP STAFF & PUPIL DISCIPLINE /APPEALS Any three governors to be selected as required subject to no prior involvement or interest DEVELOPMENT LAC GOVERNOR DIVERSITY GOVERNOR GOVERNOR Mr Mrs Christine Waterfield Mrs Christine Waterfield SEND GOVERNOR SAFEGUARDING HEALTH & SAFETY GOVERNOR GOVERNOR VACANCY Headteacher CLASS LINKS Reception Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 9
Subject links overleaf SUBJECT LINKS English Maths Computing Science Arts Humanities Wellbeing Pupil Premium 10