MINUTES FROM THE FAREHAM & GOSPORT PATCH FORUM MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, 10TH OCTOBER 2002 AT THE LYSSES HOUSE HOTEL, FAREHAM
Present: 23 governors - see attached list
Apologies: 5 governors, 1 headteacher - see attached list
In attendance: John Clarke - Assistant County Education Officer, Hazel Round - Governor Services Co-ordinator, Jenny Bulled - Headteacher, Henry Cort Secondary, Kevin Harcombe - Headteacher, Redlands Primary, Alison Webb - Clerk
John Brailsford welcomed everyone, and introduced John Clarke, the Assistant County Education Officer - Standards and Improvement, who is also the line manager for Governor Services. John Clarke would leave promptly after the presentation due to another meeting at 8pm in Havant.
1. HAMPSHIRE TEACHING AND LEADERSHIP COLLEGE (TLC)
John Clarke gave a presentation detailing the initiatives and aims of the college. Full details can be accessed via the web-site: www.hants.gov.uk/education/governors.
John Clarke concluded the presentation, by saying that funding was a potential issue. The project is not viewed to be an LEA responsibility by the Government, and therefore it is unlikely funds will come from this source. The most likely option is that schools will be able to `buy in' to the scheme,(estimated cost £5/teacher) as per the current Service Level Agreements. It was therefore important to gauge governor support to the project. A consultation will take place in January.
Governors were asked for their reaction to the project. Response was positive and supportive of the aims.
John Clarke answered the following questions from the governors:
Why is the emphasis on leadership rather than management?
Although management is important, many can manage, but more leadership is required. Leadership is more about changing things, and brings with it, emotional pressures.
Is it possible that this could be considered a `pilot' scheme, and receive a government grant?
The project has generated much interest and is considered innovative, hence the DfES innovation unit will be approached for funding. However, it is important that sustained funding is secured, and not just a one-off grant.
2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Chairman No volunteers came forward, but John Brailsford agreed to stand for another year. It was unanimously agreed John Brailsford should be re-elected as Chairman. John did notify the group that this would be his last year standing as Chair.
Vice-Chairman Geoff Moore has been Vice-Chair for the last year, but has missed the meetings. Volunteers were requested. Three came forward (David Foster, Dianna Hopkins and Joy Preston) and each gave a few words about why they wanted to be Vice-Chair. The votes were made by a show of hands, and Joy Preston (Wallisdean Juniors) was duly elected to be the new Vice-Chair.
HGRG Representatives Agreed to remain as Dianna Hopkins and John Brailsford.
Steering Group Representatives John Brailsford explained the commitment of 1hour/term to organise the agenda/speakers for the Patch Meeting. David Foster (Leesland Junior/ Peel Common Infants) volunteered to join John Brailsford, Maureen Sygrove and Elaine Remnant-Ashton. All agreed.
Hazel Round (Havant Governor Services) added that a representative from this area, is required to join the group that decide the content of the Governor Services Working Practice web-site. Governors and Headteachers currently meet once per term and review documents for possible inclusion. Interested governors should contact Hazel Round or Claire Bailey (Winchester).
ACTION: All interested governors
MINUTES FROM THE FAREHAM & GOSPORT PATCH FORUM MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, 10TH OCTOBER 2002 AT THE LYSSES HOUSE HOTEL, FAREHAM
3. DISCUSSION WITH HEADTEACHER REPRESENTATIVES- includes issues from HGRG/ County minutes
John Brailsford welcomed the two Headteachers: Jenny Bulled (Henry Cort Community) and Kevin Harcombe (Redlands Primary). Apologies had been received from Rob Hendry, who also advised he would be standing down from the Patch Forum, but is consulting with his colleagues to find a replacement.
Before governor questions, John Brailsford wanted to gauge governors' opinion of the change of venue for this meeting. Governors fully supported the move to the Lysses, and were against a move to Brune Park.
Governor Questions / Issues
Alverstoke Infants School raised the issue of Police Checks taking a huge amount of administration time. John Brailsford indicated that he had this noted for Headteacher discussion points.
Headteacher Issues
Re-distribution of Funding
Kevin Harcombe voiced concerns about Government plans to cut school funding in the Shires, (in the worst scenario, by £20million) and relocating the funding to Northern counties. This would effect school budgets from April 2003, and would reduce the current funding of approximately £700 million. He stressed the importance of governors expressing their concerns, by individual letters, to the DfES. A draft letter has been already circulated to Primary Heads on the PROFS system. The best approach for governors is to obtain a copy of the draft letter and rewrite it to include their own thoughts. A copy will be forwarded if a request is made via email: 2074fght@hants.gov.uk.
ACTION: Governors to feedback and organise letters.
School's Forum
HGRG representatives will be members of the new `Schools Forum'. Equal numbers of Headteachers and Governors will form the group to look at the budget for April (meetings: November, January, March). General opinion was that it could be a duplication of existing efforts and its role was only advisory.
Police Checks
As raised earlier, these are still a big problem with paperwork and backlogs taking up much time. The Headteachers felt the media had exaggerated the actual problems this was causing. If teachers were transferring from another school they would have already been checked previously both, by their old school and most probably at post-graduate stage.
Headteachers answered governors questions :
Has there been problems with using school pupil photos?
Written permission must be sought before using a photo, and many web-sites are now devoid of pictures for this reason, but otherwise no real problems.
Would a teacher have to be police checked when moving school? Can list 99 be used?
Guidance still advises police checks for transfers within the county, but a Head can use their own professional opinion. Teachers have to divulge any previous history, confidentially at time of appointment. A transfer from out of the County is definitely police checked. List 99 is no longer used by Heads.
Upper Pay Spine 2 - Threshold
Jenny Bulled explained that the only criteria for the Upper Pay Spine 2 was, `substantial and sustained performance'. This is subject to variation by different headteachers. Care would be needed to ensure consistency and to avoid staff grievances on unfair application. Threshold 1 determination is very different and involves a very structured process based on evidence and external advisors. It was commented that by giving the headteachers freedom in setting their own structure/criteria for determining threshold 2, the new Education Act attempts to be less prescriptive.
Concern was raised as to whether money was actually available to finance the pay increases. Estimates are that 60-80% will be funded. Governors felt that this could be a problem if teachers were eligible to progress, but money was not available.
Governors raised that this process is happening in large companies, and in the Civil Service (with respect to bonuses) and breaks down national pay structures.
Headteacher Review Board
A governor questioned if the situation had stabilised. The Heads felt generally the vast majority are fine and it is just a few schools that experience problems.
LSA Salary Changes
The group discussed the high level of reliance schools place on the relatively low paid LSA's and even parent volunteer helpers. It was felt that the system depends on people with young children looking for work that fits around their family circumstances. However, the increased responsibility for the LSA's has benefits; it can boost creativity and inspire those who are considering a future career in teaching.
Jenny Bulled reported that Pupil Retention Grants were found to be one way of using LSA's effectively to monitor attendance, or give one-to one time with potentially excluded pupils.
Focus on Key Stage 3
Governors questioned:
How has the focus on Key Stage 3 affected Literacy and Numeracy within Secondary Schools?
The Heads both commented that the liaison it had generated between the Primary and Secondary Schools had been positive and very useful. Jenny Bulled explained that for children not attaining the average level, `Springboard' lessons are added to the beginning or end of the pupils' day, (with the incentive of biscuits or breakfast!), to help bridge the gap.
Is there a recognised `dip' year?
Jenny Bulled answered that Year 7 had been identified as a dip and this has been worked upon. Pupils often receive lots of parent /teacher guidance up to this year, but are not quite as focussed in year 7.
Six Term/Year Consultation
The pros, (reduced tiredness, standardised Spring term), and cons,(inset days being absorbed into holiday period, spreading of more expensive holiday time) were discussed. Staff had been consulted via their August payslip (although this precluded new September starters); the public consulted via survey, and governors by questionnaires. There was mixed opinion as to the potential outcome, and the announcement date of whether the move was to go ahead, was unknown.
OFSTED Inspections.
The Governors questioned the Heads:
How involved were governors with the Ofsted inspection?
The inspectors meet the Full Governing Body, and meet individually the Chair, and Committee Chairs. They also provide a feedback session to the governors at the end of the inspection.
Do the inspectors feedback regularly to the Head during the inspection?
They feed back daily usually before school starts, and sometimes again at the end of the day.
A discussion ensued about how the inspectors themselves were monitored, and this has occurred recently during a local Ofsted inspection. Inspectors from HMI, were monitoring the inspectors, and the Head was asked to give feedback on their performance.
Recruitment
Both Heads reported that they had made some effective appointments recently, and the situation was easing. The average fields for Head vacancies are currently 2-4 candidates.
4. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
5
. The date was quoted in error as the 30th January, 2003. This is in fact the meeting of the Steering Group.
6 PLEASE NOTE
The correct date for the next Fareham & Gosport Patch Forum will be 20th February, 2003 6.45pm for 7pm start, at the Lysses House Hotel, Fareham.
Meeting closed at 8.54pm
PRESENT:-
Karen Barker, Haselworth School
Kay Bayles, Alverstoke Infant
James Bell, Neville Lovett Community
Susan Bown, St. John the Baptist Primary
John Brailsford, Sarisbury Infant
Steve Bullock, Castle Street Primary
Keith Butler, Rowner Infant
Daphne Cooper, Crofton Anne Dale Junior
David Foster, Leesland Junior / Peel Common Infant
Rosemary Gudgeon, Neville Lovett Community / Uplands Primary
Dianna Hopkins, Peel Common Junior/ Haven Early Years
Margaret Hunt, Heathfield Special
Sue McMullan, St. Jude's RC Primary
Karen Moore, Wicor Primary
Mike Pengelly, Grange Infant
Nicky Platt , Alverstoke Infant
Joy Preston, Wallisdean Junior
Elaine Remnant-Ashton, St. Francis Special
Iris Satherley, Orchard Lea Junior
Paul Squire, Cams Hill
Maureen Sygrove, Henry Cort Community
V.C. Thornwall, Haselworth Primary School
Barry Wallace, St. John's Gosport
APOLOGIES:
Rob Hendry, Headteacher, Bay Croft Special
Jackie Hodgkinson, Locks Heath Infant
Sue MacDonald, Holbrook Primary
Beryl Peacey, Siskin Infant & Nursery
Gill Pickburn, Sarisbury Junior
Nick Smart, Ranvilles Junior