Clarendon Governors Forum
Date 12 May 2003
Time 7.00pm
Venue Winchester Professional Centre
Present:
Mr D Goodman Sun Hill Infant School
Mr A Teatherton Colden Common Primary School
Brig P Ryan Vigo Infant School
Mrs W Meikle St Peter's Catholic Primary School
Mrs C Fields Testbourne Community School
Mrs June Pitt Hatherden Primary School
Mr B Whittle Romsey Infant School
Mr A Simpson Alderman Quilley School
Mrs Wilson Preston Candover Primary School
In Attendance:
Mrs Janice Bernard Headteacher, Perins Community School
Mr Rhod Porch Headteacher , Sun Hill Junior School
Mr Phil Hand Local Governor Services Co-ordinator
Mrs Margaret Tanner Administrator, Governor Services
1 Apologies:
Mrs L Mortimer Grateley Primary School
Miss S Pole Knights Enham Infant School
Mr J Mason The Mountbatten School & Language
College
Miss J Bruce St John the Baptist RC Primary School
Mrs P Culpen Cheriton Primary School
Mr G Woolford Shakespeare Junior School
Mrs W Anderson Otterbourne Primary School
2 Welcome and Introductions
David Goodman, Chairman , welcomed everyone to the meeting. And introduced Mrs Janice Bernard and Mr Rhod Porch, who were to present a topic on `Earned Autonomy'.
3 Notes of the last meeting held on 17 February 2003
The minutes of the meeting held on 17 February 2003 were agreed and accepted.
4 Matters Arising
· 6 Term Year
It was asked what the situation was regarding the introduction of the 6 term year. There are problems with the County boundaries and co-ordination between schools in different counties. Nevertheless Hampshire has plans to move to a six term year in 2005-06
5 Earned Autonomy
David Goodman introduced Janice Bernard and Rhod Porch, who explained the system of `Earned Autonomy'. Their schools were previously in what was termed the `Perins Pyramid', this is now known as the `Alresford 7'.
Rhod Porch explained that Earned Autonomy between the 7 schools gave them:
· Freedom to innovate
· Freedom of partnership
· Freedom with pay and conditions
· And freedom to arbitrate.
Earned autonomy means that schools within the group can apply for funding directly from the DfES, effectively sidelining the LEA.
The 7 schools work together on curriculum issues, thereby integrating the curriculum smoothly through the child's education, with very positive outcomes.
Earned Autonomy also looks at preferred learning styles, not only of children, but of teachers as well, and matches the curriculum to differing needs.
Rhod Porch believes Earned Autonomy builds on what has been successful in education and brings it forward, thereby giving a greater opportunity to every child.
Janice Barnard then described how the `Alresford 7' schools started, with one gaining beacon status, and using its beacon funding to develop links within the pyramid.
She believes ICT is critical to any improvement for 3-16 year olds. The 7 schools have funded their own Network Manager, which has been of enormous benefit to the children, with a common system across the 7 schools. Children at Perins no longer do ICT at GCSE level, they do an AS level instead.
Perins applied for specialist status, and put in a successful bid to become a Sports College. The improved facilities are used by all 7 schools, creating a strong bond between them.
The 7 schools also hold joint events like music days and drama festivals, thereby Janice believes putting creativity back into the curriculum. The 7 schools have even joined together in the matter of grounds maintenance, although this is still being worked on. Both Janice Barnard and Rhod Porch believe the 7 schools working together has enriched the lives of children, adults and the community.
The floor was then opened up for questions.
Is not Earned Autonomy like grant maintained status but by another name?
The system established a new partnership with the LEA, and the schools still received funding through the County Council.
Wouldn't this system disadvantage the non-academic?
The idea of the system was to widen the curriculum, to encompass manual as well as academic children. We'd like to ensure there is a part of the curriculum to suit every ability, in which every child can participate.
Rhod Porch and Janice Barnard were thanked for their participation. They then left the meeting.
6 The Forum Structure and Representation
This was to be discussed by John Mason, who unfortunately could not attend, and sent his apologies. This subject will be discussed at a later meeting.
7 Feedback from Hampshire Governor Representative Group and County Forum held on 11 March and 25 March Respectively
Deferred to the autumn meeting
8 Reducing the circulation of Paperwork by governor Services
This item was discussed at Hampshire Governor Representative Group Meeting, and it was agreed that each local forum should determine a common format for reducing paperwork without limiting the availability of information.
After as short discussion it was suggested that a hard copy of the Clarendon minutes was sent to Chairs of Governors, and e-mailed to the Headteacher. If headteachers were happy with this idea, it was agreed to put this on the next agenda as a proposal.
9 Current Concerns/Issues
The main concern was with the shortfall on school budgets, caused mainly by the falling rolls of schools
10 Agenda Items for Future Meetings
`Raising Standards and Tackling Workload' - it was agreed that this subject should be brought up at the next HGRG meeting
11 Date of Next Meeting
20 October 2003, at the Winchester Professional Centre