Wmin190109
Western Church of England Primary School
Browning Drive, WINCHESTER, SO22 5AR
Meeting of the Governing Body
Monday 19th January 2009 at 19.30.
PRESENT; Karen Barratt, Helen Brown, Mark Brown (Chairman), Claire Boughton, Nicky Davies, Sarah Duck, Isabel Hughes, Vivien McElroy, Sarah Pease, Mark Phillips, Stella Popowicz, Peter Seal, Chris Sermon, Lorraine Smith (Head), Andrew Strevens, Libby Wallis, Kathryn Ward, Tim Woodland
In attendance; Neil McKenzie (Deputy Head), Andrew Maundrell (Clerk).
Meeting commenced at 19.35
Rev Peter Seal opened in prayer.
The Chairman welcomed Kathryn Ward, newly appointed Staff Governor.
1. Apologies; Jon Thompson.
2. Minutes of the last Meeting on Wed 19th November were approved and signed subject to the following;
2.1 Item 7.4 was taken up as an Action Point for Sarah Pease to report to the next Curriculum Committee.
2.2 Item 8.1.2 The web-site can incorporate booklets as downloadable links.
2.3 ‘typo’ in 8.3 Karen Barrett should read Karen Barratt
2.4 20.1 Seeking costings for the proposed symbol of the cross is an action point for Peter Seal.
2.5 INSERT paragraph as follows ( included in electronic draft but omitted accidentally during photocopying)
20.2 The diocese has clarified the criterion used for pupil admission purposes, of parents to “be an active member of the Church of England”.
A parent will need to show regular attendance at church of at least two attendances per month over the last two years (ratified by the Vicar).
(Andrew Strevens arrived at 19.40)
3. Matters Arising;
7.5 Transition arrangements (from YR to Y1) is an agenda item for Curriculum Committee on 21/01/09.
8.1.1 As debated by Personnel Committee (15/01/09); we propose that parents opt in to e-mail correspondence, to ensure parental e-mail addresses are kept up-to-date. Westgate have started a parental e-mail system and feedback from them will be useful.
8.4 see item 7
9.3 monitored by Curriculum Committee.
12 SEF will be an agenda item for WGB meeting in March
ACTION; Clerk
13 School Profile has not yet been centrally populated with current statistics, thus the school cannot update it. There are central proposals to replace the Profile with a School Report Card.
19 Terms of Reference will be checked by each committee , in consultation with Sarah Pease.
The rota of governors for putting together Appeals Committees has been updated and placed in the WGB file (in outer school office). Copies will also be placed with each committee file for terms of reference.
ACTION Clerk / Sarah Pease
4. Declaration of Pecuniary Interests register. There were no new interests declared. The register is available in WGB file (in outer school office )
5. AOB (see item 15). Items were notified by Karen Barratt and Lorraine Smith.
6. Correspondence;
6.1 A detailed report from Carole Burwell (School Improvement Partner) had been circulated with the agenda. The report covered a visit on 08/12/08; and reviewed assessments and outcomes for 2008, statutory targets for 2010, school’s priorities for improvement and proposed professional learning.
6.2 Key features from the report will feed through in the work of the Curriculum Committee. Governors noted that the language of the report is in step with the approach taken by OFSTED.
6.3 Mark Brown reported that he had drafted a letter to Mark Oaten on the topic of SATs. This follows a letter from NAHT seeking support for a campaign to abolish SATs at the end of KS2, following the scrapping of SATs at KS3. Mark will forward his letter by e mail to all governors.
(Subsequent to the meeting, by e mail, governors agreed , without any dissenting voice, that the letter, supporting abolition of SATs in KS2, be sent to Mark Oaten M.P. as from the WGB, copied to Jim Knight, Minister for Schools).
6.4 ‘Governors’ a newsletter published by DCSF was distributed.
6.5 Governors were reminded of the Clarendon Forum to take place in Winchester on Feb 9th (as in Training Programme booklet from Governor Services).
7. Report on Premises;
7.1 A detailed written Report, compiled by Nicky Davies on behalf of the working group, was circulated. The key objective is to identify how to provide an additional teaching space for vulnerable children and children with SEN (for work with individuals, small groups or for respite time). The space to be readily accessible and large enough to accommodate 12 pupils at a time.
7.2 The Report stresses the need for a short term and a long term strategy for premises.
7.3 Seven possibilities were looked at methodically; identifying areas where space may be created;
ICT SUITE QUADRANGLE
MUSIC ROOM KITCHENS
PPA ROOM STOCK ROOM
ADDITIONAL EXTERNAL BUILDING
7.4 The possible creation of a quiet space utilising the ICT suite provoked much discussion around the role of ICT within the curriculum. While there are times when the ICT suite appears under-utilised, Neil McKenzie stated the suite set-up is currently essential to support ICT in the curriculum and we may double the usage of the suite in KS2. The laptops themselves are not robust enough to dismantle the suite and solely use laptops. Consideration may be given to a revised layout of the equipment in the room, which might yield some space; investment in more compact hardware may also free up some space.
Governors enquired whether ICT was used outside lesson time; there is a thriving lunchtime club and in future a ’homework club’ may be needed. Comment was made that not all children will have computers at home; not all computers at home will be available appropriately for home study.
7.5 Governors noted that the kitchen is much larger than the required size. However conversion will be costly; and there is currently a sharing scheme in operation with Castle Catering which will finish in June.
7.6 With reference to additional building, the Chair advised that the LA are most unlikely to fund any temporary building like a mobile classroom. As for long term capital development of the premises, Western is unlikely to get towards the top of the LA priority list.
7.7 There was a comment that in the long term a radical vision for the site may include incorporation of a pre-school nursery, or separate reception buildings. The site does not lack space, while the buildings do.
7.8 As a next step it was decided to invite Martin Shefford, LA Planning officer to an on-site ‘brainstorming’ visit, in conjunction with the Head and at least two governors from the working group.
ACTION; Head
7.9 There was a question raised by governors concerning the newly installed partitions with respect to parents being informed. News-letters sent in the autumn 2008 did cover the topic and the Parents’ curriculum meeting, which looked at Maths study, has also covered the topic of building developments.
8.Financial Management Standards in Schools;
8.1 Governors unanimously adopted the Scheme for the Financial Management of Schools.
The Western audit is due on the 29th January 2009.
The Scheme for the Financial Management of Schools is available to governors from the school office at any time during the school day, as is the Management of Financial Procedures and Practice.
8.2 The Best Value Statement document, as considered in detail by Resources committee, had been circulated to governors.
This had been derived from a model and adapted to suit our circumstances. The key principles are summarised as Challenge, Compare, Consult, Compete.
This Statement was APPROVED by governors and signed by Head and Chair.
8.3 Key extracts from the model Good Practice in Developing an Allowances Policy had been circulated to all governors. Western policy will be derived from this and will be brought back to governors when finally drafted. Western requires a policy though to date no governor has sought any allowance.
ACTION/Head
8.4 Andrew Strevens reported on the Benchmarking analysis that had been undertaken in Resources committee, comparing our financial data with other similar –sized schools ( numbers between 375 and 450 pupils). We will also seek further comparison with local schools.
8.5 In conjunction with Admin Officer, Gayle Adams, the following Action Plan will be followed up;
carry out an energy cost audit (with help from LA. Visit arranged on 21.1.09)
investigate delegated funding (we appear low compared to other schools)
key points from statement of financial controls (see Item 10.7 19/11/08)
to review cleaning contract.
Trends and the reasons for fluctuations in income /expenditure were also examined..
8.6 The Induction Checklist for New Governors will be updated to include the Statement of Governor’s Financial Responsibilities.
ACTION; Jon Thompson
8.7 Pay Policy see Item 13..
9. Reports from Committees;
9.1 Personnel Committee met on 15/01/09; next meeting will be 26/02/09. Tim Woodland advised governors that in year Admissions will be administered by the LA for 2010.
9.2 Curriculum Commmitee were meeting on 21/01/09
9.3 Resources Committee met on 13/01/09.
Governors APPROVED the authority of the Head to dismiss a member of staff or to terminate a contract.
10. Training;
10.1 Whole Governing training is set for
THURSDAY MARCH 12th
From 19.00 to 21.00
Attention is drawn to the start time (incorrectly listed in the Agenda).
11 Opportunities for Governor Visits;
11.1 Please will governors arrange visits through the Head to look at a particular curriculum subject or a particular topic.
Neil McKenzie commented that such visits will aid governors to input into the next (3 Year) Strategic Plan.
11.2 Previously issued information sheets, including a pro-forma, will be tracked down and reissued to governors.
ACTION Chair / Clerk
12 PTA;
12.1 Mark Brown reported an encouraging and vigorous PTA meeting. Funds raised exceed £4k. Proposals include
PTA web-site
Governor photos in the foyer
A link with a charity shop for second-hand uniform
12.2 Next PTA Meeting is 10/03/09
13. Pay Policy
13.1 This had been circulated with agenda papers. Attention was drawn to the section on use of recruitment incentives (reference Specialist teacher needed to teach statemented children with complex needs). Reference to ‘submission of appropriate travel claims’ will be deleted.
13.2 The policy is current, but may yet need amendment should the regulations for part time staff be altered.
13.3 Subject to the above, governors APPROVED the Pay Policy.
14 Options with Governor Services;
14.1 Governors opted in to the LA Clerking service for 2009/2010.,
14.2 Governors opted in to full access to Governor Training for 2009/20/10
Governor Services to be notified.
ACTION / Clerk
15 A.O.B.
15.1 Coun Karen Barratt advised that Greening for Fulflood has a public meeting arranged for Thursday Feb 2nd at 19.00, (at Western).
Governors are happy for posters to be displayed at school. The meeting seeks individuals and businesses to commit to ‘simple steps’ to reduce global warming.
15.2 Lorraine Smith advised that the Information Commissioners Office have produced a Model Publication Scheme for Schools (01/01/09), pertinent to the Freedom of Information Act.
Governors APPROVED the school to adopt this model.
The school completes a pro-forma which will enable parents and others to know where they can find key information. We will also place a link on the web-site.
16. Next Meeting;
Tuesday 17th March 2009 at 19.30
Meeting ended at 21.40.
AJM270109