WMIN13032008
Western Church of England Primary School
Browning drive, WINCHESTER,SO22 5AR
Minutes of the Meeting of the Governing Body
Thursday 13th March 2008
Present; Karen Barratt, Helen Brown, Mark Brown (Chair), Sarah Duck, Sarah Pease, Mark Phillips, Chris Sermon, Lorraine Smith (Head), Andrew Strevens, Jon Thompson, Libby Wallis, Tim Woodland, Carla Zanetti.
In attendance; Neil McKenzie (Deputy Head), Andrew Maundrell (Clerk).
Meeting commenced at 19.30
The Head read the School prayer .
The Chair welcomed Jon Thompson, the new Parent Governor.
1. Apologies; Vicki Henderson, Isabel Hughes, Vivien McElroy, Peter Seal.
2. Minutes of the last Meeting held on Monday 21st January 2008 were approved and
signed.
3. Matters Arising;
6.2 see Item 6.
6.3 see Item 6.
7.5 A letter has been sent to ‘More Than Schools’.
9.5 Personnel committee is exploring the topic of community cohesion.
11.2 The Chair outlined a procedure for keeping within a time-frame at meetings.
12.3 see Item 11.
12.8 The up-to-date list of Committee Membership has been circulated via Yahoo link.
16.2 Governor Services have been updated re LA Clerking service and full access
option for Training.
4. Register of Pecuniary Interests.
4.1 Mark Phillips declared a possible interest arising from a computer training business
directed by his wife. A memo has been placed on the register.
5. Any other Business.
Only one item was forthcoming, thus it was taken at this point of the meeting.
5.1 The head alerted the governors that a Diocesan Inspection will take place within 8
weeks, following on from the OFSTED Inspection. She had included the target
objectives from the last such inspection within her Head’s Report. The Foundation
Governors met on Tuesday 11/03/08 in preparation for the inspection.
5.2 The four key factors the Diocesan inspector will look at are;
…collective worship, policy and practice,
…provision of religious education
…ethos that reflects a church school
….how leadership and management maintain the distinctiveness of a church school.
5.3 It is anticipated that the inspection will be carried out by one Diocesan representative
over one single day; as well as school staff, Rev Peter Seal and one other foundation
governor will meet the Inspector.
6. Membership of WGB.
6.1 Parent Governor; One application was received and Jon Thomson has duly been
appointed; his term of office running from March 1st,2008.
6.2 Community Governor. Two persons had expressed interest in becoming Community
Governors, via the school and Governor Services. The meeting had confidential access
to their introductory letters outlining skills and aptitude.
There being only one vacancy, a secret ballot was held and Nicola Davies will be
invited to join the governing body.
ACTION; Chair.
7. Correspondence;
7.1 The clerk notified that a ballot will be held to appoint a Parent Governor
representative (from within all Hampshire primary schools) to the Children and Young
People Select Committee. Parent Governors (only) will receive ballot papers in mid
April.
8. OFSTED Inspection Report;
The Head circulated three documents, the OFSTED Report, strengths and areas for
development based on the Draft Report and the Criteria for the “Outstanding”
category.
Discussion centred around three areas; the result, the process and the immediate
steps
required following receipt of the OFSTED Report.
8.1 The inspection found Western to be a GOOD school in every respect. This matches
exactly our own assessment within the SEF.
8.2 At the last inspection Western was rated satisfactory. Governors recognise how much
the school has moved forward from that position. There is a view amongst governors
that Western is very good in some areas and close to achieving outstanding status in
a few areas.
8.3 One quote given to governors is that “work has now started for Western to achieve
outstanding status at its next OFSTED inspection.” Governors were encouraged to
make appraisal of the Criteria for Outstanding status that was given out.
8.4 There was much discussion on the process of the inspection. Governors were
disappointed that the tone set by the Lead Inspector was to presume that the status
of the school was lower than standards specified in the SEF. There was little sense of
partnership with the school generated by the Lead Inspector on the first day. The
premise from the Lead Inspector was not to validate the SEF, rather to disprove it in a
rather hostile manner; thus making the process extremely stressful.
Governors were adamant that this concern should be fed back to the authorities. It
was decided that the feedback process for staff will be appropriate for this, whereby
staff report via e-mail to ‘Prospects’.
(Subsequent to the meeting Governors were advised of an internet link for posting
feedback from governors).
Governors commend the response of the whole staff team to the fore-mentioned
pressures with particular thanks to Neil McKenzie, Anne Burrell, Gayle Adams and
Lorraine Smith for their focused work over the two days.
8.5 The result will be communicated to parents and to pupils by letter and will be officially
posted on the OFSTED web-site.
8.6 Publicity of the GOOD result will be sought through local newspaper channels.
8.7 Governors will be sending a Newsletter to parents. This will be prepared once we have
received the categorisation report from Carole Burwell, (School Improvement Partner).
` ACTION;Chair
8.8 Action Plans will be drawn up using the detail of the Draft Report and incorporated into
the new School improvement Plan 2008-2009.
8.9 Through the Chair, governors expressed a formal vote of thanks and recognition of
success to all the staff of the school
9. Headteacher’s Report;
The Head presented a written Report, which had been previously circulated. Certain
items, NOR, Premises, Diocesan inspection are covered elsewhere within the Agenda.
9.1 Governors were updated on staffing appointments and recent staff training. In
addition the Head was able to report that Mrs White has achieved Higher Level
Teaching Assistant status; governors expressed their congratulations.
Especial mention was made of the role of Anne Burrell in co-ordinating Special Needs
learning and Jo Grimes. Both staff presented an analysis of data which was useful for
the OFSTED inspection.
A summary of the Management structure at Western was presented with the role and
inter-linking responsibilities of each team specified.
10. Number on Roll.
10.1 Currently standing at 417, but soon to increase to 420.
10.2 There are three appeals to be heard with regards to entry into Yr R.
10.3 Governors sought clarification of the Equal Preferences system for admission. This is
regarded as equal preference, since admission is dependent on criteria, rather than
whether a pupil has declared first or second choice for a school; which does mean that
pupils selecting Western as first-choice may not meet the criteria to get in, whereas
pupils selecting Western as second-choice may get in.
11. Premises;
11.1 The latest quote for the refurbishment to pupil toilets is £75k. Governors approved the
Head to go ahead in procuring the work, to an upper limit of 10% more than the quote.
ACTION;Head
The latest figure for devolved capital available is £84k; some funds left over will be
used for IT purposes, with a small amount carried over.
11.2 Enquiry was made as to the quote being so much in excess of the original quote, which
was £48k.
This is due to around two years of inflationary pressure, plus it includes extra works
compared to the original quote.
11.3 The work now envisaged will refurbish all four toilets and cloakrooms, plus restore two
steel pillars and include the costs of stripping out and removing asbestos from the
cisterns.
11.4 Governors were informed that staffroom refitting will probably not now take place in
the summer.
11.5 The simple partitioning proposed for Yr 4 classrooms is quoted at £3k. Resources
committee will follow up.
ACTION; Resources
11.6 The problem with the roof and render is estimated to need £2k expenditure. Mansells
are the original contractors , but dispute liability and proving a case against them is
reckoned to cost the LA around £2k. Work to proceed when LA have funds in the new
year.
12. Budget;
12.1 Resources committee continue to monitor this closely. Some unofficial funds are due to
be incorporated into the 2007 / 08 budget, which will swell the carry-over figure.
12.2 The Head reported that the 2008 / 09 budget is to be set at 2.5% inflation. This will be
a tight call, since staffing costs within our structure may exceed this increase. There is
a requirement for a three-year budget plan to be made.
13. Travel Plan;
13.1 This has been re submitted to the LA, following consultation. The ‘deadline’ seems to
change, but is imminent.
13.2 Governors welcomed the news that the Council Highways Dept., is to carry out a
feasibility study for a crossing at Links Road / Chilbolton Avenue. Funding is in place
and if given the go ahead it may be in place within a year.
Governors suggested a need for dropping off / picking up points on both sides of the
road.
14. Reports from Committees;
Curriculum;
14.1 The meeting held 27/02/08 essentially became a pre-OFSTED meeting; the Head
thanked members for their contribution.
Personnel;
14.2 Minutes will be circulated with these WGB minutes. The meeting on 05/02/08 looked in
depth at the Confidentiality Policy; also the Equality of Opportunity and Gender
Equality policies.
14.3 There is a need to delineate Statutory and Non-statutory policies held, with revision
dates.
14.4 It was noted that the whistle-blowing policy will be looked at by the Resources
committee.
Resources
14.5 Minutes will be circulated with these WGB minutes. The meeting on 03/03/08 focussed
on the Budget and premises matters.
14.6 In the next few months we will need to get back to the FMSiS process
15. Training
15.1 The latest booklet on Courses available was distributed.
15.2 Notification was given of a session on music and one on Childrens’ Services.
16. Governor Visits to Schools.
16.1 Sarah Duck spoke of an inspiring assembly that she had attended. In that visit she
also looked at the ethos within the school and she praised the teacher / pupil
interaction.
16.2 Jon Thompson had enjoyed his preliminary visit as a new governor; particularly noting
the eager attitude to their work of the pupils.
16.3 The Head commented that there have recently been several external visitors to school
and particular mention has been made that Western is a welcoming school with pupils
obviously engaged with their studies.
17. PTA;
The presence of a governor at meetings has been appreciated by PTA and the
governing body alike. The PTA is focussing efforts towards purchasing more
whiteboards. Governors noted that the use of the urn at PTA events has now been
reviewed due to health and safety considerations.
18. Policies;
18.1 The Confidentiality Policy was approved by governors , (subject to clarifying that
‘parents’ refers to parents engaged on activity for school purpose, e.g. assisting with
reading).
18.2 Gender and Equal Opportunities Policy
Disability and Equality
Disability Access
Work on these is nearing completion.
19 AOB see Item 5.
20 Next Meeting;
Wed 14th May 2008 at 19.30
Ajm 200308