Governor Services

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Apologies for absence

These were received from the governors listed above.

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Welcome and Introductions

William Heaps introduced the members to the Forum.

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Workforce Reform - discussion

Sandy Gregory, Education Personnel Services (EPS) gave a presentation which is a follow up to the recent briefings on Workforce remodelling. The focus is on Planning Preparation and Assessment (PPA) and working on remodelling agenda. With the implementation of the national agreement, raising standards is a key part of remodelling agenda - EPS are working with HIAS. This is the 3^rd year of national agreement which is being implemented in 3 phases. In the 3rd year changes in national agenda and in year 3 links with remodelling agenda and every child matters and extended schools. The next year will focus on monitoring and evaluating the impact of remodelling on standards and workload issues within schools. Key challenge is gathering of data around national agreement. Continue rolling out of network groups which are schools voluntarily coming forward often within pyramid groups. Small amount of funding for network groups. 60% of HCC schools to be working within network groups by end term. Strategies will be needed for schools not networked. There is an extended team in place for remodelling support to schools and continue delivery through this team. PPA workshops are being run - networks will follow this up. NRT will release further guidance this term re invigilation. Dedicated Headship time guidance to be given out this term. Centre based training this term from Governor Services - plus small schools event.

Q. Peter Stuckey, Wellow - 2% increase in budget this year and covers half academic year - what is amount next year.

A. 2005/06 Primaries overall budget increase of 5% and 4% in secondary schools. 1% differential is to recognise PPA for primary schools. This is new money for PPA time. There will be a small amount in addition of £330,000 overall and represents a small amount for primary schools (needs to go through cabinet).

Q. Peter Cane, Freegrounds Infant - Teachers having PPA and LSA running classes - his school looking at higher level LSAs - not sure if viable. Some schools have implemented this - what experience have other counties had - how do you give HTs 10% time off without using unqualified staff to run classes.

A. HCC liaising with national remodelling team - using this link to gain information. Higher level LSAs - used in circumstances where HTs and governors are confident this will be beneficial. There are other ways of achieving release time -

Q. What other ways?

A. There is no model that will work in all circumstances - could use community people and specialist staff. HCC schools are collating experiences and these will be made available and HTs in networked groups are supported by other experienced HTs who have already been worked towards non-contact time. EPS happy to talk to individual schools to support what they are trying to achieve. At present it is not statutory to have 10% non contact time but all schools should be working towards this figure.

Q. DHT working half week to release staff for PPA time

Q. Compton All Saints (also pathway school) they had additional funding to get this process rolling. As funding no longer in place staffing levels are under review. Many LSAs have taken on additional role, extension programme for Drama using outside people has been very positive. (Curriculum enrichment programme). EPS should produce a document showing what has worked and what is not so good

A. Experience at Compton was very valuable and HT very supportive of process. Information available through NRT website. Case studies available through this website. In almost all schools this is an evolving model - there are changes in school and new opportunities arise - LSA skills expand - you cannot use a fixed model

Q. Good practice working groups - can we use this group to collate this information.

A. Phil Hand - we will look into this.

Q. Focus on teaching & learning - 2% increase in cost and needing 10% PPA time - this is as government initiative - no-one can tell schools what the budget will be after six months.

This has been discussed at County Governor Forum - make better use of higher level Teaching Assistants - message from CGF is that schools will have to follow this pattern. Dedicated HT workload and wellbeing. This is a new initiative which will mean that the slack will not be picked up the HT and DHT. Some Teaching Assistants do not want extra responsibility

A. There is some funding to support higher level TAs - this July over 100 applications from TAs who want to take on this status. Through curriculum enrichment some TAs have taken on additional work which has encouraged them to apply for additional training.

Q. Mel Davies, Colden Common Primary - how do we judge TAs to be able to take on higher level work. Teachers would need to prepare lessons to pass to TA to ensure standards are maintained?

A. www.hrta.org - standards are on this website for TA's

Q. Peter Stuckey, Wellow - budget £600,000 pa - will we get £12000 for a full year

A. Messages can go back through HGRG and CGF - EPS in contact with NRT through regional co-ordinator. EPS report a high level of concern.

Q. Jane Skinner, HT, Shakespeare Infant - not enough money but schools have to be creative. Jane is |Headteacher to a 9 class infant schools which is not full. The School has entered into the spirit of this reform - it is statutory, not perfect and HT works more in class. All teachers released one afternoon per week at same time at a cost of £12000. Current staff and cover supervisors are being used. The curriculum has been moved around to the sessions that don't need to be supervised. Sickness rates may come down which supports budgets. Morale may improve.

Q. Graham Woolford, Shakespeare Infant - if any schools can share their model he is on working practice group and will take these for consideration at the meeting in March.

William Heaps thanked Sandy Gregory for answering questions.

Phil Hand/Jayne Calvert

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Minutes of the last meeting (18 October 2004)

These were agreed as an accurate record

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Matters Arising

SAP training - outcome from evaluations of training scored 5 when 6 is excellent. Cost of SAP and SIMS - changes to the updates to this hardware are out of County hands.

Insurance and school grounds - members of public using grounds out of school hours - are governing bodies covered under HCC insurance. Jeanette Buckman Chief Exec says schools are responsibility for trespassers on school grounds - make it look like school gates are locked and schools will be better protected (there is letter from Jeannette Buckman.

Police response times - letter has been sent via schools communication on 22 November 2004 and all HTs should have seen this.

Updates to Guide to Law - raised at HGRG. At national level huge displeasure at updates only being downloaded. PH said a new version will be at end of 2005/06 and will be sent out in hard copy.

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Western News - for the Spring Term - Phil Hand

2005/06 Directories are now in schools. Letters sent out regarding full access. PH promoted full access - gives good value for money, most GBs gain on average 20% more on training than they spent. There is also the "Community aspect" to buying full access - the training programme only exists because most schools buy full access - GBs who do not take full access generally do not do training, not even from other providers. Governor Services have supported governing bodies in last year through some difficulties on the GB - it is important these schools take training. A handout sheet was passed around which showed 2005/06 prices. Full access allows governors to freely access training and not feel guilty about the cost to the school. Prices are based on numbers of governors and not size of school. Training programme is self funding - HCC input large sums of money for staffing etc and core training (Induction courses, briefings and support meetings) but do not fund the extension training programme. A small number of schools have not taken up their whole governing body training (WGBT) although they have bought full access. (WGBT) can be relevant for staff and not just governors - GS positive about this as it supports staff to understand what governance is about. All school staff can book on training under full access.

Briefings - Rights, respects & responsibilities - now a training course and not a briefing.

Staffing regulations & guidance - manual of personnel practice being updated. Guidance to be sent out soon. Session at WPC and BLH are booked. Govs can go on waiting list and we may offer an additional session if enough people on waiting list.

Child Protection briefing - summer term - 2 sessions for western in WPC and BLH - none in Andover. A session could be added if governors feel this is an issue. If 15 or 16 people would be committed to attend GS will ask Rita Crowne to put on an additional session. If session in May is fully booked, GS will put on another session in Winchester. Briefings are nil cost.

Reconstitution - 75% of schools have reconstituted.

Late reconstitution produces more new appointments and
re-elections as the regulations say governors in post on or after 2.9.03 will need to be reappointed once a governing body reconstitute. GS can advise a "pain free" approach for those schools that have not reconstituted (ie conducting double appointments) and are asked to contact us for advice.

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Hampshire Governor Representative Group/County Forum

· HGRG
John Mason reported back and some items have already been covered.
HGRG meet before County Governor Forum - Education

Officers give presentations on items that need to be covered. Four members are from Clarendon.

· Teachers salary scales - to be raised through CGF and NGC.

· Deficit situation in schools - schools may be penalised. Last year for transition money.

· CGF
Felicity Roe will feed back to DfES on guide to law and other documents issued electronically by DfES.

· Pay structure for support staff - John Wakeling Head of EPS - consulting with HT conferences - will also put consultation to HGRG.

· Education Department reducing branches from five to four - Schools and Lifelong Learning Branches combined to form School and Community branch headed by Ann Begley.

· Schools forum minutes update - increase in ICT costs - looking at Secondary school exam cost, rates review for 2005/06. Primary schools will get 5% increase per pupil for WFR. Concern expressed at impact of free use of Management allowances. PH went to NGC chairs conference - briefing paper handed out - from 11.06 for 3 years schools will need to have a revised way of implementing management points. These management points will need to have a link to teaching and learning and schools will have to prove this. GBs may be asked to review staffing structure by end of this year prior to implementation. Management points have been given to aid retention in some Secondary schools.

· Freedom of Info act - came into force 1.2.05.

· Management points info - to be sent with minutes.

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Items raised by Governors

· Schools are being asked to develop a new fire policy - no model policy is available for schools to use or adapt.

· NASG had article on work life balance for school governors. Timing of meetings - some governing bodies have earlier meetings - what is the impact on those who have adopted this. Some governors could be put off joining certain committees who meet early to fit in with HT and teaching staff. GBs should be looking at number of committees - can you combine some - also number of full meetings in year - think about reducing to 4 or 5.

· Chartermark applications - J Mason reported a cost of £7000 to apply for a chartermark. PH reported the current chartermark awarded to GS has been the most dissatisfying in terms of process.

· Governor Services - vacancy management how quickly does it take to process appointments? GS write to new governors when we receive application/personal declaration forms - the clerk is responsible for informing GS of new governors.

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Dates of future meetings

Monday 23 May 2005 at 7.00 pm Winchester Professional Centre. Suggestion for topics - discussion on falling NORs. Special Schools - no funding for outreach - linking with mainstream schools.

J Calvert to organise