Western Area - New Forest Local Office Governors' Forum
Notes of meeting
Date 21 October 2003
7.30 pm
Lyndhurst Park Hotel
Present
Gerry Price
Strategic School Improvement Manager, Standards & Improvement Branch
Roger Mead
Assistant County Education Officer, Resources & Planning Branch
Phil Hand
Local Governor Services Co-ordinator
Jayne Calvert
Minute taker, Governor Services
Apologies
E Cook- Arnewood School
John Seymour- Milford-on-Sea
Gerry Etherington-Calmore Inf
Ann Arscott - Foxhills Infant
Sherry Dodd -Ashley Infant
Ken Hayward -Fordingbridge Inf
Lesley Sonfield -Holbury Inf
1. Commencement of Meeting
It was agreed that in the absence of the Chairman that Phil Hand would steer the meeting until the elections had been held.
2. Governing Bodies and Target Setting - Gerry Price
Gerry distributed a handout and outlined the main principles involved in target setting in schools this year. There is difference between Primary and Secondary this year.
Primary: Key Stage 1 is not statutory but most schools have appropriate targets discussed with their Attached Inspectors.
Key Stage 2 - Statutory- for this year the Secretary of State advised that there would be softer targets and the DfES is not giving benchmarks.
However all schools should set challenging, aspirational, achievable, targets and the DfES has to satisfy itself that this is happening.
Primary Sector:
All are in agreement that children should make as much progress as possible between key stages. Average is 2 stages of progress at each KS level. Reality is what schools have achieved. The LEA is taking the approach with Heads, Attached Inspectors and Chairs of Governors that it is not an unreasonable aspiration to progress 2 stages. This applies to all subjects. Figures will be average for the County but schools will have individual targets and data. Even if children are not achieving the average the school should set aspirational targets. Schools set the targets and the LEA will accept them if they are reasonable in the school's circumstances.
Secondary Sector:
There is no change in approach. There is debate between the DfES and LEA regarding the top down pressure.
There are problems with the average number of points now that schools are entering pupils with different numbers of GCSEs.
The LEA will have targets imposed by the DfES, although the 2005 targets have not yet been received. 2006 targets are a difficult set to meet. There is tension between targets which are aspirational and targets which are so far from reality they are impossible to obtain. This is very demotivating.
The LEA can provide a variety of data on progress made by children in any school in Hampshire. There is concern over children entering secondary school without level 4 English. They will be disadvantaged and will find it harder to make progress in secondary school. Good standards of literacy at the end of KS2 will set a solid foundation for secondary school.
Children's' Progress:
Literacy -should be a gentle slope through each year -building gradually. There should be no steep climb in Year 6.
Numeracy - progress can either be an even slope or front loaded. There should not be a steep push in Year 6.
If schools track children correctly progress can be measured for each year. The data can be used to see where most progress is made and reasons can be looked at. Similarly with lack of progress. In Secondary Schools the excuse should not be used that it is more difficult with larger numbers of children. They have more staff and resources to utilise to enable them to be focused on standards and progress.
Targets should be set by 31/12/03 and should be an agenda item for the main governors meeting. Depending on timing of meeting it may be necessary to give Chair of Governors to have power to agree adjusted targets. The targets are then forwarded to the LEA by 31/1/04
3. Minutes of last meeting
Agreed - amendment to Pge 1 Item 3 b para3 amend on to one.
4. Matters Arising
Martina Humber asked if any of the schools had taken up the telescope project -not known.
5a. Roger Mead - SAP Rollout to Schools
Systems Application Processes
The rollout of SAP will commence in Jan 04 having been tested and piloted for last 18 months with Admin Officers from 14 schools. Feedback has been positive and adaptations made.
There will be staggered training for Admin Officers for 540 school with up to 9 days training taken in blocks of 2 day modules. Gap between training and live system will be minimised. Heads will also get some training. The roll out will be to 40 schools at a time. Completion date is aimed at December 2004. Reports have been trialled which will give governors the information they need.
Schools will need direct access to SAP and some changes to schools computer systems will need to be made. Training is free but there is no reimbursement for staff cover costs.
The Enterprise Learning Zone is available on Web and also drop in and phone in surgeries will be set up for advice and good practice. There will also be additional staff available.
SAP offers potential for savings in time and money and will cut the mass circulation of paperwork.
5b.
School Budget Shares in 2004-05 will be based on 6% -7% rise in Council Tax. The Schools Budget is set by government decree, so therefore this budget will be funded not cut. The amount of overall funding this year is reduced by £12 million pounds which is being given to poorer councils. (Last year amount was £24 million). There will be significant increase in SEN costs. This is because of SEN increase and the number of excluded children requiring full time education. The children with SEN leaving school is not matching the children starting with SEN. There is also an issue with funding for independent places at special schools with costs doubling this year.
All the issues are being discussed with the Leader of the Council, Cabinet members and Schools Forum.
6. Election of Officers
Chairman - John Seymour. Prop: Bill Dunbar, Sec: Martina Humber
Vice Chairman - Martina Humber. Prop: Jim Watt, Sec: Carolyn Miller
Hampshire Gov Rep Group: Martina Humber, Margaret Cooper, John Seymour
Good Practice Working Group: Alison Winnick
8. Hampshire Governors Representative Group
Minutes of last meeting circulated. There has been follow up action following recommendation from Forest Forum regarding the distribution of materials for helping schools when death of pupil or staff member occurs.
9. Bartley Slot - Circulation of papers is being kept to a minimum.
Awards for Governor- Don Allen's suggestion for recognising service of 4,8,12 yrs- also outstanding service awards. For service to own school certificates presented at own Governing Body meeting. For outstanding service suggestion is for special awards event.
Carolyn Millar received her award and it was very crumpled - could awards be better packaged. Lapel pin had also pierced certificate presented to another governor.
10. Agenda Items for future meetings
Martina Humber will prepare written reports for various groups she attends.
Vacancy Management
Jim Watt wished to pass on his thanks to Governor Services for their support and training over the years he has been a governor.