Western Area – New Forest Local Office Governors’ Notes of meeting
Date 18 February 2003
Time 7.30 pm
Venue Lyndhurst Park Hotel
Present |
Roger Mead |
Assistant County Education Officer, Resources & Planning Branch |
|---|---|---|
|
Alex Munro Mike Hiscock Carole Gibbs John Seymour David Smith Paula Davies Alison Winnik Alex Cunningham Graham Pike M Ashford A Durston Ed Gurd Lesley Sinfield Tony Jerrett L Tams A Orme R Mason E Powell Elizabeth Cook Chris Hummerstone |
Education Officer, Admissions & Special Projects Local Governor Services Co-ordinator Minute taker, Governor Services Chair & Milford on Sea Primary New Milton Junior School Fordingbridge Infant Orchard Infant School Orchard Infant School Bartley Junior School Applemore College Applemore Colege Burley Primary School Holbury Infant School Oakfield Primary & Teswood School New Milton Infant School Noadswood Marchwood Junior The Ringwood School The Arnewood School The Arnewood School |
|
|
Dave French J Gibbs R Conway J Brownsea T Gibson A Glanville |
Hythe Primary School Hazel Wood Infant School Breamore Primary Copythorne Infant Bransgore Primary Beaulieu Primary |
|
|
Apologies |
A Arscott T Hilliam T Daniel D Payne M Humber T Lloyd |
Foxhills Junior Fawley Infant Fawley Infant Fawley Infant Pennington Junior New Milton Junior |
Action
1 Update on Funding for 2003/04 – Roger Mead
Schools Forum update
There are 34 representatives on this Forum and one of their main functions is to recommend the allocation of funds to schools and LEA – funding currently runs at about 90% to schools and 10% to LEA.
The "Hands of Hampshire" campaign did not change the mind of the Government regarding the proposed move of funds from South or North England.
The Leader, Councillor Ken Thornber, joined the second budget meeting of the Schools Forum to propose increasing Council tax by 15% to cover the grant shortfall and avoid reductions in service levels to the community.
The School Standards Grant is going up next year and figures published are for 3 years which will help with future budget forecasts at school level.
There is 1.23 million extra across school budgets. The eligibility criteria for free school meals has changed.
Induction of NQT – Schools Forum felt this was essential
Behaviour support team – half a team starting in the New Forest from September 2003, full team from 2004.
Full Funding – does it include threshold pay?
The Government has funded only 60% - HCC funded an extra 0.5%+ .3% extra from £1.13 million, + extra standards grant next year – all this will help.
Are some of Standards Fund budgets ceasing and the money going into schools share?
A. Yes, this was 52% to schools 48% to the LEA, this has now gone into schools. There will be a shortfall of £10 million which is why Council will need to increase. The principles of funding has not changed. The formula still rests on NOR. Teachers pay = 2.9%
Q. When is Schools Forum going to be more democratic on representatives.?
A. Membership is the decision of HGRG. John Seymour and Martina Humber are both on the Schools Forum.
John Seymour thanked Roger Mead for his time.
2 Minutes of last meeting
Minutes of the last meeting were agreed and proposed by Elizabeth Cook and seconded by Tony Jerrett.
3 Election of Vice-Chair
No-one has volunteered for this role – to be carried over to next meeting.
4 Nomination for Service Review Group Representative
No-one has put their name forward for this role – to be carried over to next meeting.
5 Education Act 2002 – overview of revised Admission arrangements – Alex Munro
In June/July there will be a series of presentations. Admissions in 2004 in Secondary Schools will be different. Admission Policies will need to reflect updated arrangements.
Need to publish notices in the Local paper if admission numbers (PAN) are set below the new net capacity figure.
Policy Review Committee will need to look at School specific criteria, PAN and policy.
Co-ordinated Scheme
By 2006 there will be a coordinated scheme in Secondary Schools in Hampshire and there is a need to start planning for this in 2004.
There will be a common application form and from 2004 parents will use this common form.
If an HCC parent wants a school in West Sussex, for example, they will apply and HCC will liaise with other authorities. There are a minimum of 9 neighbouring LEAs which will require coordinated arrangements.
There will be a legal obligation to offer parents 3 preferences, whereas now different applications can be given to different schools individually. Under the new regulations if the 1st choice school was offered and turned down by the parents, they would need to complete a fresh application.
First preference offer letter will be sent to parents pre-Christmas for 2004. From 2005 all letters will be delayed unttil 1 March 2005.
Secondary appeals – the new timing will impact on appeals and this is still under discussion.
Primary Co-ordination 2005 – if coordination across other LEAs for Secondary Schools works well, Primary Schools may be included.
Code of Practice – a governor will need to be identified on each governing body who has a sound understanding of the Code; Foundation Schools will also need someone who understands the Code of Appeals. All schools have to follow this Code The LEA are not looking to take powers away from Foundation Schools.
Q. Deadlines – if parents get an offer is there a date parents must accept, and are there going to be checks on fictitious addresses?
A. No legal date – however it is recommended that acceptance is made within 10 days. The new forms will clearly state that if a fictitious address is used then the place will be taken away.
Q. Are there any plans to redraw catchment areas.
A. No – it rarely achieves what is sets out to do.
Q. 1st March date will affect recruitment as schools will not know numbers.
A. Schools will know, it is just parents who won’t know.
Q. Six term year – this may affect admission applications across LEA’s.
A. A report on the consultation is on the Governor Services web-site.
Q. Can parents appeal against all refused applications.
A. yes – there is a legal requirements to ensure HCC parents are offered a place.
John Seymour thanked Alex Munro for his time.
A handout on this discussion is attached to these minutes.
M Humber
6 Bartley slot
Briefings – reconstitution of governing bodies – do nothing at moment – don’t rush – briefings will be held between 12 – 23 May 2003.
A DfES Consultation document on regulations for School Governors is available on the Governor Services website. It is currently proposed that Committees with delegated powers will need a non-governor clerk.
Governor Services are seeking to increase their pool of Associate Tutors – if anyone feels they have presentation experience and good knowledge of governance speak with Mike/Phil.
Mike leaves Bartley Office from Summer Term 2003 and Phil Hand returns as the Co-ordinator.
7 Topics for next meeting
Low level KS2 pupils
Ask John Clarke to attend Forum as guest speaker as he recently made a presentation to Education Managers which covered LEAs targets for KS3 & KS4.
Invite Dr Paul Roche of the Faulkes Education Trust Project to make a presentation on the Faulkes telescopes for schools.
8 Next meeting
The next meeting scheduled for 20 May 2003 has been changed to Tuesday 13 May 2003 at 7.30 pm at Lyndhurst Park Hotel.
John Seymour thanked Mike Hiscock for his contribution during his time at the New Forest Office.