North East Hants Governors' Forum
Date Tuesday, 23 September 2003
Time 7.30 - 9.30 pm
Location Fleet Local Education Office
Present |
Bentley Primary School Bishopswood Infant Chineham Park Primary Fleet Infant Froxfield Infant Great Binfields Primary Greatham Primary Greenfields Junior Heatherside Infant Liphook Junior Liss Junior Marlborough Infant Marnel Junior Mayhill Junior Oakridge Infant Park View Infant Parsonage Farm Infant Rowledge Primary St Patrick's Primary St Peter's Junior Silchester Primary West End Infant Westfields Infant Woodlea Primary Wootey Infant Secondary Schools Aldworth Science College Bohunt Cove Fernhill John Hunt of Everest Oak Farm Community Robert May's In attendance Richard Howlett Allison Price Roger Mead Mike Hiscock Janice Fenner Karen Westwood |
Ann Wilson Sarah Harris Andrew McCormick Deborah Stephenson Nancy Barker Dawn Ballinger Denise Fenton Sue Talberg Helen Fearn Lynne Blackman Justin Philipps Mark Redmond Anne Hood Martyn Underwood Gill Raper Barry Harrington Jeremy Struthers Elizabeth Anson Lynne O'Neill John Divall Keith Chapman Jane Pratt Trevor Prentice Paddy Hughes Don Mackeggie Gill Chivers, Moira Whitaker Jim Duckham Karen Legge Neil Watkin Charles Cassell Robin Gray Jane Pratt Hampshire Music Service Hampshire Music Service Assistant County Education Officer Governor Services Co-ordinator Administrative Officer Governor Services Administrative Officer Governor Services |
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Apologies |
Louise Brierley Mildred Stocks Steve Curtis David Wimpenny Tony Carter David Quante Val Bush John Stocks Penny Horner Nigel Baines |
Strategic School Improvement Manager All Saints Junior Belle Vue Infant Calthorpe Park Church Crookham Junior Cove School Liss Infant Tavistock Infant Testbourne School The Wavell & Samuel Cody |
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Action
1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND WELCOME
Apologies as listed above.
Jane Pratt welcomed everyone to the Forum. She introduced Richard Howlett, Head of Hampshire Music Service and his deputy Allison Price.
2 HAMPSHIRE MUSIC SERVICE
Hampshire Music booklets had been distributed to Governors before the meeting.
Richard talked about the work the Music Service does with Hampshire Schools and the range of opportunities and literature it offers to them. He was pleased to be able to inform Governors that OfSTED had described the Music Service as `very good', at their last inspection.
Richard encouraged Governors to talk to pupils receiving music lessons and to promote performances by the children in school. He also highlighted the use of their website to find out more about the workshops and ensembles available across the County. www.hants.gov.uk/education/hms
Richard's deputy, Allison Price explained how 162 members of teaching staff provide instrumental and vocal lessons across the County at all key stages. Most instrumental teaching commences at Key Stage 2 as many instruments require that pupils have reached a certain size and stage of physical development, although violin can be offered at Key Stage 1. She showed governors, certificates issued to pupils free of charge, for continuous effort throughout the year.
Through Standards Fund grants, HMS has been able to support a wider range of instruments, ensembles and workshops to schools. Through its curriculum programme, an extensive range of courses and conferences are offered for teachers. There are regular `newsletter' mail-outs to all Hampshire schools, describing these opportunities.
Richard finished the presentation by showing a video clip from the performance of Noye's Fludde by Benjemin Britten, staged at Winchester Cathedral earlier this year. This had developed from initiatives in local schools and local Hampshire ensembles, and grown into a large `community' project.
Jane Pratt thanked Richard and Allison for their time and their interesting presentation and they left the meeting.
3 SAP ROLLOUT (extra item, not on Agenda)
Jane Pratt introduced Roger Mead, Assistant County Education Officer who had come to talk to Governors about the imminent change to ICT in schools and the introduction of SAP. (Systems Application Processes)
Trials and fine tuning of the system have been taking place during the past 18 months, working with Admin Officers from 14 schools, in readiness for rollout to begin in January, 2004. The feedback from the AO's trialling the system had been generally positive and further changes are being made.
Adequate, staggered training will be available locally for Admin Officers from 540 schools with a possible 9 days training, taken in blocks of 2 day modules. Training will be given in such a way as to minimise the gap between training and using the live system. Head teachers will also need to undergo some training.
Schools will be set up to have direct access to the SAP software running on computers in Winchester. This will require some changes to schools' computer systems, details of how this will be achieved will be sent to schools as soon as possible.
In response to a question from the floor, Roger explained that as and when SAP was introduced, training would be free but no reimbursement of any cover costs would be available for training days.
Enterprise Learning Zone will be available on the Web, as will local drop in /ring in surgeries to share experiences and good practice and to receive advice. Additional people would also be made available to help support staff.
Roll out is due to begin in January of 2004 with groups of about 40 schools at a time, with the aim to complete by December 2004, although this may run into the spring of 2005 at the very latest.
Roger informed the governors that a suite of reports had been trialled, which would be at least as good as they receive from FMS, if not better. He explained that SAP offers the potential for great savings in time and money, and will cut the mass circulation of paperwork.
A question was asked about virus problems. Roger was able to report that due to very good anti-virus software and expert knowledge, no problems had arisen or were envisaged.
BUDGET UPDATE
Roger explained that the Cabinet were starting to consider the County Council budget for next year. The 15% increase in Council Tax this year had enabled all front line services to be maintained. It was expected that the Government Grant would be decreased again next year and Council Tax would need to rise by 6-7% just to stand still for services and allow passporting for schools. The Government requires County Councils to indicate their Minimum Schools Budget far earlier this year.
Roger said that we would be doing very well to have a stand still budget. The cost of placing special needs children out of county would be increasing significantly.
Roger stressed that it was very early in the budget process. He wanted to alert governors to potential problems. The cabinet were consulting with the Hampshire community. They had already had a meeting with members of the Schools Forum and would be meeting with them again in January when the picture would be much clearer.
Jane thanked Roger for the updates and his time and he left the meeting.
4 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
Mike Hiscock took over for the election of chairman. Mike thanked Jane Pratt for all her hard work on behalf of the Forum during her year as Chairman. He also thanked Jim Duckham, the outgoing vice-chairman.
It was agreed that Robin Gray, the in-coming vice-chairman be elected chairman until the Autumn Term meeting 2004.
Robin took the chair from that point.
5 ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
No nominations had been received prior to the meeting for the position of incoming vice-chairman. Robin asked for nominations from the floor, preferably from the primary sector.
Dame Elizabeth Anson, of Rowledge Primary, put herself forward and it was agreed that she be elected vice-chairman until the Autumn Term 2004.
Jane Pratt as outgoing chairman became the second vice-chairman until the Autumn Term 2004.
6 MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 20 May 2003 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the chairman.
7 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
There were no matters arising from the minutes.
8 TERMS OF REFERENCE
The terms of reference were agreed without amendment.
9 HGRG (Hampshire Governors' Representative Group) and County Forum
It was agreed that, Jane Pratt, Jim Duckham, Robin Gray and Terry Tillman, continue to be the HGRG representatives. Dame Elizabeth Anson was happy to continue as one of the deputies.
Post Meeting Note: Tony Darroch was unfortunately unable to continue as the second deputy.
Justin Philipps of Liss Junior volunteered to become the second deputy.
10 HGRG AND COUNTY FORUM
Notes from the County Governor Forum held on 17 June 2003 had been distributed with the Agenda.
a) Feedback from the meeting
Security Issues on School Sites
Andrew Seber has agreed to write to the Chief Constable, asking for clarification on policy response times, following concerns raised regarding serious security incidents on school sites.
Robin Gray mentioned that this was not just a NE area issue, but concerns were felt countywide.
b) Items to be taken to the next HGRG/County Forum
Transport to Schools, including cycle racks, walking bus and crossing patrols
Falling roll issues and Funding
Workforce Remodelling - Funding
11 FLEET LOCAL OFFICE ISSUES
Mike Hiscock had nothing urgent to raise on behalf of Governor Services.
12 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
13 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
A future speaker was suggested as Russell Wheeler, EdICT Business Manager.
Practical solutions to combat dog fouling - discussion.
14 DATE, TIME, AND VENUES FOR NEXT TWO MEETINGS
Tuesday 27 January 2004 at Cranbourne School, Basingstoke
Tuesday 18 May 2004 at Wootey Infant School, Alton
Both at 7.15 pm for 7.30 pm start
The meeting ended at 9.30 pm.
Signed.....................................
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