ADSWOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL GOVERNING BOARD MINUTES SUMMER (2) TERM 2018 Date: Time: Venue: 17 th July 9.30am The School GOVERNORS PRESENT Mrs S Hawkins (Chairperson), Mrs M Smart (Headteacher), Mrs J Jackson, Mr D Seddon, Mrs J Dancy, Mrs E Wilson, Mrs K Findlow, Mrs E Carter and Mr J Gee IN ATTENDANCE Mrs S Gee Teacher Mrs K Nixon Governor Support Officer Bold = governor question 1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE The meeting convened at 9.30am and governors were welcomed. Apologies for absence were received from; Ms S Falzon, Mrs A McCurry, Mrs A Lennon, Mrs D Sandwell and accepted by the governing board. No apologies had been received from Mr M Rasheed by the time of the meeting. The Chair informed governors that as Mrs McCurry s term of office would come to an end on the 31 st August 2018 and she did not wish to renew her co-option to the board. Governors discussed the opportunities to recruit a new co-opted governor to the board. The Headteacher and Chair confirmed they would consider possible candidates for the governor vacancy. ACTION 1 2. IMPACT FEEDBACK BY STAFF Mrs Gee presented to governors an overview of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision and pupil progress data. The meeting heard a summary of; the school s inclusion teams work, the impact of the SEND development plan on the pupils and their families, links with external SEND agencies, transition support for SEND pupils, the inclusion award scheme and education and health care (EHC) plan applications. The meeting discussed the impact of the SEND and the pastoral teams focus across cohorts and pupils. Mrs Gee was thanked by governors for her presentation. 10.16am Mrs Gee left the meeting Signed: Date: 1
3. DECLARATION OF BUSINESS INTERESTS Governors were asked to declare any business, financial or personal interests; no declarations were made. Governors were reminded that they should declare any interest which arose during the meeting. 4. BUSINESS a) Previous Governing Board Minutes It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 23 rd May, copies circulated previously, be approved and signed by the Chairperson and authorised for publication. b) Action Points from Previous Governing Board Minutes The actions raised at the spring term meeting were duly reviewed as follows: MINUTE POINT ACTION REQUIRED ACTION FOR UPDATE 1 Review the Anti-bullying procedure and Headteacher, Equality procedure Mrs Findlow, Ms Falzon and Mr Seddon 2 Present summary of IT resources and costings review to FGB IT Working Party The meeting was informed that the school was working with external partners and more information would be available in the autumn term. Ongoing. 3 Discuss Writing Working Party review and plans 4 Co-ordinate and complete subject leader meetings Writing Working Party & Headteacher Mr Rasheed and Headteacher 5 Summarise governor skills matrix Chair & Dev Gov 6 Feedback a summary of accident data Mrs Findlow analysis to FGB 7 Provide support to the SBM in completion of documentation actions from the DofE asbestos audit 8 More Able Pupils Policy to be considered and approved 9 Conduct a practice of the lockdown procedure 10 Identify a specific medicines fridge for the school to comply with the Medical Needs Policy and present policy for approval Mrs Dancy All governors Headteacher SBM, no further action required. ACTION 2 The Chair confirmed that a timetable for meetings over the next academic year was in place Ongoing ACTION 3 It was confirmed to the meeting that information would be evaluated termly, in advance of the FGB meetings and findings presented to the FGB. See below The planned event has been deferred to the autumn term. ACTION 4, a new fridge had been sourced. Signed: Date: 2
11 Request clarification on the Data Breach Policy from the LA GDPR team 12 Return Monitoring form to LA Services to People 13 Any issues accessing the National Governance Association (NGA) website are to be reported to the Chair and/or 14 Update the school s GovernorHub calendar with next years meeting dates 15 Invite Mrs McCurry to consider her role as co-opted governor for a subsequent term on the board. 16 Notify the Chair of interest in the formation of a Staffing Working Party Chair and Governors All non-staff governors Policies were reissued by the GDPR team and presented for consideration again, see item 5 below. Governors were advised to contact if problems reoccurred. No further action required c) SAT Results and Data The Chair referred governors to the summary of the schools SAT and end of year pupil assessment results. It was highlighted to the meeting that the SAT results were very positive, with the school achieving above the national average result for three subjects. The governors discussed and noted the good progress that the Year 6 pupils had made from their starting points. Governors thanked all the school staff for their work in supporting the pupils during their journey through the year groups. Governors noted that the Year 3 cohort were making better progress. The meeting discussed the Year 5 cohort data. Are the current Year 5 pupils ready for the move into Year 6? The Headteacher confirmed that based on the data and moderated results, the pupils were ready for the move. It was added that areas of learning which required additional focus for each individual pupil, had already been raised with the Year 6 teacher. d) Subject Leader Reports Governors were informed that the subject leader reports would be available before the next FGB meeting. 5. POLICIES a) Charing and Remissions Policy Will the price increase for the breakfast club? It was confirmed to the meeting that the price would remain the same as set currently. The meeting heard that this was an annual review of the existing policy and no changes had been made. Governors considered, APPROVED and duly RATIFIED the policy. b) SEND Policy Governors APPROVED and duly RATIFIED the policy. Signed: Date: 3
c) SEND Information Report Governors were told that the SEND Information Report was previously referred to as the School Offer. In addition to this, it was confirmed to the meeting that the report had been updated and would replace the school offer. The Chair invited the meeting to comment; none were received and the SEND Information Report was APPROVED and duly RATIFIED. d) Equality Objectives The Chair invited the meeting to comment; none were received and the Equality Objectives were APPROVED and duly RATIFIED. e) Data Breach Policy The meeting was told that the model policy had been re-issued by the LA GDPR team. Governors APPROVED and duly RATIFIED the policy. f) Parent and Visitor Behaviour Policy The meeting discussed the behaviour of parents and visitors encountered by the school, both face to face and on social media. Governors APPROVED and duly RATIFIED the policy. 10.32am Mrs Wilson left the meeting g) More Able Pupil Policy Governors discussed opportunities in place to challenge and support more able pupils. It was AGREED that the policy should come under the remit of SEND governor. The meeting discussed the scope of the policy, DfE definition of more able pupils and the processes to identify pupils with recognised skills or talents. Governors APPROVED and duly RATIFIED the policy. 10.36am Mrs Wilson returned to the meeting h) Wellbeing Policy The Headteacher informed governors that the school was considering applying for an accreditation for the school s mental health and wellbeing provision. Governors discussed the policy and Governors APPROVED and duly RATIFIED the policy, with the condition that the policy was reviewed under 12months. i) Data Subject Rights Policy The meeting was told that the model policy had been issued by the LA GDPR team. Governors APPROVED and duly RATIFIED the policy. j) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Privacy Notices The meeting was told that a number of privacy notices had been issued by the LA to support the school s compliance with GDPR. The Chair invited governors to comment on the privacy notices; none were received and all the notices were APPROVED. k) Homework Policy Signed: Date: 4
The meeting was advised that the Homework Policy would be circulated for comment post meeting. ACTION 5 It was AGREED that if no comments were received, the policy would be APPROVED. ACTION 6 6. RESOURCES Governors were referred to the resources reports circulated prior to the meeting and invited to comment. a) Budget Update Governors were informed that the school had already accrued a 16,000 deficit. The meeting discussed the matter and the status of the budget going forward. The Headteacher explained that a number of potential savings had been identified by the school business manager (SBM) and these could help to offset the deficit. Is the Nursery class full? The Headteacher confirmed that the school that the Nursery was not full. It was added that pupils did sometimes register with the school in September and that this could change the current numbers. Governors were also told that the Nursery was planning to offer a second intake of pupils in January 2019. Would this affect Reception? The meeting was told that the Reception class was full. The Headteacher explained that the school believed some of the potential local Nursery pupil population were already attending private settings. Governors discussed the need to promote the Nursery to improve uptake of places. b) New Build Update Governors noted that planning permission had been granted for the new build. The meeting was told that the school were in discussion with the newly appointed LA contractors, who had taken over the project from Carillion. The Headteacher informed governors that there would be a delay in the start of the project which would also impact on the completion date, September 2019. It was noted by governors that the delays could affect the school intake for 2019-2020. Have the costings been fixed yet? The meeting was advised that the project had not gone out to tender and so costings had not been set. It was explained that the delay was as a result in the issues in appointing a new contractor for the project. Could the school consider temporary classrooms for the new intake? The Headteacher said that it was too early in the project to decide on installing prefab classrooms. It was added that the school would consider ways to make best use of the internal school space, to support future pupil intake. Would it be possible to consider a different contractor? Governors were told that there would be no benefit in appointing a different contractor at this stage of the project. Signed: Date: 5
7. HEADTEACHER S INTERIM REPORT a) Questions and Discussion The Headteacher s Interim Report had been circulated to the governors prior to the meeting and questions were invited; none were received. The Headteacher was thanked for her report and it was RESOLVED that the report be received. b) Staff Allocation for September 2017 Governors were referred to the staffing allocation summary circulated by the Headteacher prior to the meeting. No additional comments were made regarding the allocations. c) Admission numbers for September 2017 The Chair invited governors to comment on the pupil number summary circulated by the Headteacher prior to the meeting; none were received. 8. STANDING ITEMS There were no further updates from the FGB meeting in May 2018. 9. GOVERNOR DEVELOPMENT a) Terms of Office for Chairperson/Vice Chairperson and End of Term Date Governors duly AGREED a continuation of the current arrangements. Terms of office would remain at one year from the date of the autumn term meeting 2018; the Chair and Vice Chair would remain in office until the date of the autumn term meeting 2019. b) Expressions of Interest for the Posts of Chair/ Vice Chair/ Chairs of Committees The meeting was advised that the election of a new Chair and Vice-Chair would take place in the autumn term FGB meeting. Governors were encouraged to speak with the Chair if they had an interest in any of the governing board roles, including operating as co Vice-Chair. Mrs Hawkins expressed an interest in continuing her role as Chair. Mrs Wilson and Mrs Findlow expressed an interest in the position of Vice-Chair. 10. BRIEFING PAPERS FROM STOCKPORT LOCAL AUTHORITY a) GOVAS Summer Meeting and AGM This was not discussed by the meeting. Signed: Date: 6
b) Admissions Team Update Governors discussed the feedback from the LA on the appointment of school term dates. The meeting considered the dates previously proposed by the school and agreed by the board. Governors AGREED to continue with the dates previous agreed in the previous FGB meeting, May 2018. c) GDPR Governors noted the guidance. d) Website Compliance The meeting discussed the compliance guidance issued by the Dept. for Education and it was confirmed to governors that the school met the new requirements. e) Parent and Visitor Behaviour Policy As discussed under item 5 above. f) NGA Newsletters Governors confirmed that they were receiving the newsletters. f) Support for Schools Governors noted the guidance. 11. DATES Governors were AGREED the following meeting dates, for 2018-2019; Autumn (1) FGB: Tuesday 2 nd October 2018, 9.30am Autumn (2) FGB: Monday 19 th November 2018, 3.30pm Spring (1) FGB: Tuesday 22 nd January 2019, 9.30am Spring (2) FGB: Tuesday 12 th March 2019, 3.30pm The meeting AGREED to set the summer term dates during the autumn term FGB meetings. 12. ANY OTHER BUSINESS a) End of Term of Office It was noted that Mrs Sarah Hawkins term of office as co-opted governor would come to an end on the 31 st August 2018. Mrs Hawkins expressed an interest in continuing in her coopted governor role. Governors noted and discussed the individual merits of Mrs Hawkins. A vote was taken and it was duly RESOLVED that Mrs Hawkins be appointed to the governing board for a four year term of office with effect from 1 st September 2018. Mr Masroor, parent governor, had previous announced his intention to resign from the governing board at the end of the academic year however he had not formally tendered his Signed: Date: 7
resignation. The Chair confirmed that she would contact Mr Masroor to discuss his positon on the board going forward. ACTION 7 Governors noted that both Mrs Findlow and Mrs Dancy s end of term of office was the 31 st December 2018. b) Budget Request Governors were referred to the request submitted to purchase the NFER assessments, circulated prior to the meeting. The meeting considered the application and duly APPROVED the NFER purchase. With no further business to discuss, the Chairperson thanked everyone for attending and the meeting closed at 11.15am. Signed: Date: 8
ADSWOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL SUMMER TERM (2) 2018 GOVERNING BOARD MINUTES MEETING ACTION POINTS MINUTE POINT ACTION NUMBER ACTION REQUIRED ACTION FOR DATE ACTION TO BE COMPLETED 1 1 Consider possible candidates for the coopted Chair and Post meeting giver vacancy Headteacher 2 4b Present summary of IT resources and costings review to FGB IT Working Party Autumn (1) FGB meeting 3 4b Summarise governor skills matrix Chair & Dev Gov Autumn (1) FGB meeting 4 4b Conduct a practice of the lockdown Headteacher Autumn term procedure 5 5k Provide comments on Homework Policy to All governors Post meeting Chair 6 5k Confirm Homework Policy adopted by the school Chair Autumn (1) FGB meeting 7 12a Confirm Mr Masroor s positon on the governing board. Chair Post meeting Signed: Date: 9