MINUTES OF THE FAREHAM AND GOSPORT PATCH FORUM
MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2004 AT LYSSES HOUSE HOTEL, FAREHAM
Present:- 23 Governors (see attached list)
Apologies:- None received
In attendance:- Paula Paul, Clerk
Dianna Hopkins the Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1. MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING
Copies of the minutes from the last meeting had been circulated at the beginning of the meeting. DH apologised and informed the governors that she had only found out just before the meeting that they had not been circulated in the usual way. DH said that she would endeavour to make sure that in future copies are sent out as soon as possible after the meeting.
One amendment was pointed out on Page 2, line 3. Should have read £1800 not £800. With this amendment the minutes from the meeting held on Thursday 16th October 2003 were approved.
2. MATTERS ARISING
DH confirmed that she had raised the question about Police Checks and had been informed that in light of recent events the whole process is currently under review.
3. FEEDBACK FROM THE HGRG AND COUNTY FORUM MEETINGS
DH asked governors to contact her direct on 01329 233085 if they have any questions/issues to be taken to County Forum or with ideas for future agenda items.
One governor asked with regard to Item 7 on the County Forum minutes - Building Schools for the Future. When are governing bodies going to be made aware of which schools will be involved in the initiative? DH confirmed that as far as she was aware it would not be happening until 2010 and that Gosport & Fareham Schools would be quite low on the list.
Another governor asked with regard to Item 5 on the County Forum minutes - School workforce remodelling. Has there been any progress with the funding? DH said not as far as she was aware and added that this would be discussed under the next agenda item.
4. CURRENT ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION
School Workforce Remodelling
DH handed round a sheet which listed 25 key issues regarding School Workforce Remodelling and asked the governors present to split into groups of 4 or 5 to discuss them.
Many concerns were expressed and it was agreed that in particular small schools could have problems getting support staff and that potentially schools could end up losing the more experienced teachers so that they can pay for additional administration staff. There would also need to be better use of non contact time. Many governors felt that there would need to be more money in the school budget to enable the process to take place.
One governor confirmed that her school have successfully completed the process without extra money and added that it is all about managing the money that the school gets more effectively. It was agreed that of course more money would be great but that this was unlikely to happen and that schools need to look at ways to make their money go further.
New Regulations
DH said that she assumed this was to do with the new regulations regarding governing bodies but that as the Guide to the Law had not yet been distributed it would be difficult to discuss. A governor present confirmed that the new Guide to the Law will be delivered to schools in March 2004 and that it has been available for viewing/downloading on the internet for some time.
DH confirmed that all governing bodies need to have reconstituted by September 2006 and many schools have already done so or have it in place to do. She added that hopefully the new system would enable more parents to become involved in the school by increasing the number of parents governors on the governing body to at least a 1/3rd.
5. ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR
One governor raised a concern regarding the way in which LEA appointments are made. He went on to say that recently his term of office came to an end and the local councillor responsible for re-appointing him did not complete the necessary paperwork before the governing body had their next meeting, which meant that he was not a governor at the time. He questioned why a local councillor is responsible for appointing someone he/she has never met to a school he/she had never visited. DH said that she agreed with the point and would raise the matter at the next HGRG meeting but did add that the local councillor for her school always makes a point of contacting the potential governors and has visited the school. DH - HGRG
6. ITEMS FOR THE NEXT AGENDA
New Ofsted Regulations
Governor Services are currently holding briefings and consultations are due to be finished by the end of April 2004. New regulations would come into effect from 2005.
School Meal Provision
It was confirmed that the school meals are delivered on a three week cycle and cost £1.45 each. One governor said that only 18p from the £1.45 is spent on the food and the rest is spent on administration. It was agreed that if this was correct the food was very good value for money but the forum requested that DH get a breakdown on how the money is spent. It was also suggested as a future agenda item. ACTION - DH
DH confirmed that she had mentioned to Governor Services several agenda items for future meetings and had been told that they would not be possible, one being school meals. The reason that had been given was that this had been discussed in the past two years. One governor said that surely it is up to the governors to set their own agendas. DH agreed but added that the problem seems to be getting someone from the relevant departments to come and talk to the governors. It was suggested that perhaps we could agree an agenda six months in advance so that there is time for speakers to be arranged. DH agreed to speak to Governor Services. ACTION - DH
7. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Thursday 20th May 2004.
ATTENDANCE LIST FOR THE GOSPORT AND FAREHAM PATCH FORUM
MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2004
Kevin Banting Berrywood Primary
Jan Bates Anne Dale Junior
Hilary Bax Bursledon Infant
Keith Butler Rowner Infant
Linda Byrne Swanmore College of Technology
M Campbell Northern Infant *
Colin Channon St John's Primary
Dianna Hopkins Peel Common Junior / Haven Early Years
Trevor Howard Wallisdean Infant
Debbie Lander Sarisbury Junior
Roy Lee Harrison Primary
Maureen Sygrove Henry Cort
Mike Pengully Grange Infant
WM Phillips Redlands Primary *
Gill Pickburn Sarisbury Junior
I Potter Crofton Anne Dale Infant *
Joy Preston Wallisdean Junior
Elaine Remnant-Ashton St Francis Special
Peter Riches Wicor Primary
Za Rowe Meonstoke *
Carol Scott Siskin Infant and Nursery
Nick Smart Ranvilles Junior
P Squire Cams Hill *