Hampshire Governors' Representative Group
Notes of Meeting - 8th October 1998
Present: Peter High (Area 7); Mike Loneragan (Area 4); Richard
Kearsey (Area 3);
Vernon Petherick (Area 3); Chris D'Arcy (Area 2);
Linda Lawson (Special Schools); Terry Tillman (Area 1);
Cynthia Hicks (Area 5); Paddy Ryan (Area 7); Ian
Chrystie (Area 2); Jim Watt (Area 6).
In Attendance: Janet Sheriton (Clerk)
Mr G Williams (Charter Mark Assessor)
Caroline White-Mackenzie (Minutes)
1. Apologies: Received from Martina Powell (Area 6); Sylvia Vine
(Area 1);
Derek Richards (Area 5); John Brailsford (Area 4).
2. Election of Officers & Representatives
Chairman: Ian Chrystie was unanimously elected and took the
chair.
Vice Chairman: Jim Watt and John Brailsford were unanimously
elected to the role of Joint Vice-Chairmen.
Treasurer: John Brailsford was unanimously re-elected.
3. Notes of 10th June 1998: Page 2 with reference to publication
of targets a typographical error was pointed out - it should read
".... there is no legal requirement to do so for KS1 and KS3".
The minutes were signed as an accurate record with that
amendment.
ACTION: Clerk to note amendment on
originals
4. Matters Arising:
Item 4 Matters Arising 23/2/98 4a Hantsnet HGRG Governor Index-Jim Watt
(JW) reported that this had been updated.
Item 8a Suntan Lotion in Schools - HGRG feel it is still
appropriate for guidance to be issued, and this should be
countywide, by next summer.
ACTION: Clerk
5. Correspondence: Jim Watt highlighted some of the
correspondence:
10/8/98 NGC Draft Code of Practice/Parent Governor
Representatives. It was felt that the main document was
excellent and that a letter of commendation should be sent to
NGC.
ACTION: Clerk
19/8/98 Transitional School Government Regulations - It was
noted that HGRG were pleased that Minor Local Authority
representation would continue; there was, however, concern
about the exclusion of parents in some categories. It was
agreed that the lack of consultation time was appalling, and
that NGC should be asked to make a case for improving this
process.
ACTION: Clerk
8/9/98 Consultation on Home School Agreements - Jim Watt
commended the document and felt it was easy to read.
Discussion followed about the agreements standing as legal
document. Will there be a need for parental agreement for a
child who is "competent" to be able to sign their own HSA, as
children under 18 cannot sign legal documents? Will the
parents who most need to commit to the agreement be prepared
to sign it? What tracking systems can be put in place to
check agreements are being signed? It was agreed further
guidance would be required about when and where a child can
sign the agreement (with or without parental approval; in
class, or where else?).
24/9/98 NGC November Conference & AGM
Conference of 21st November requires two nominees. Janet
Sheriton had indicated interest in attending in addition.
Post meeting note: Ian Chrystie and Sylvia Vine will attend.
5/10/98 E-mail from NGC on Teachers' Pay
This correspondence was for information; HGRG need to be
thinking about their response; NGC can help HGRG keep up-to-
date with the debate. E-mail can be used to send responses,
or sent via Janet Sheriton and Ian Chrystie and onwards to
NGC. An initial question for NGC regards implications for the
school budget.
6. Chairman's Items
Jim Watt noted the NGC paper on the appointment of the Clerk
to the Governing Body and felt members of HGRG should have a
copy. (This was passed to the chairman).
ACTION: Clerk to send copy with these
notes
It was agreed that a letter should be sent to Hugh Deed to
thank him for his past service; he had been truly influential,
had credibility and had gained involvement in County Governors
Forum. A copy should be sent to Cllr Don Allen with a request
for some sort of Award for Hugh Deed.
ACTION: Jim Watt to discuss with
JS
7. Treasurer's Items
In his absence John Brailsford had sent an E-mail which was
read out. (Attached - Item 7 - HGRG Budget Status). It was
discussed that there was still a contingency for a County
Conference, and that thought might be put into it again. The
offer of a venue at IBM Hursley might still be available.
ACTION: HGRG
8. HGRG Reps Feedback from meetings
a) Training Review - Paddy Ryan
PR discussed the meeting he attended; the view, supported by
HGRG, that the training of governors and teachers should
remain a separate entity from the rest of Hampshire in most
cases, was supported by Don Allen. There has been no feedback
from the meeting. HGRG asked if any minutes have been
produced and recommended that County Governors Forum ask
Education Committee what responses there have been since the
HGRG representation.
ACTION: HGRG at CGF
b) Literacy Task Force - Paddy Ryan and Cynthia Hicks
PR and CH reported back from what appeared to be the last
meeting as such; there will be progress review meeting in
March 1999, however. CH detected concern from headteachers
that this was the last meeting. It was felt there had been
value in wider representation than just John Wilkinson and
Kate Marron monitoring progress. A debate followed regarding
the process of monitoring the effectiveness of the Literacy
Strategy, and about the potential lack of support for SEN
children during the literacy hour. The Chairman felt that
HGRG concerns should be debated. It was confirmed that the
literacy and numeracy hours are an item for the County
Governor Forum Agenda.
ACTION: HGRG at CGF
c) Education Committee - Jim Watt
Jim Watt reported back on behalf of Martina Powell.
- The Director of Education has fed back to the DfEE that
Education Committee does not support the parent-governor
representative having voting rights.
- Education Committee supported the continued place of the
Minor Local Authority representative in the new framework.
- Policy and Resources Committee - Centralisation of the
training function should not compromise Hampshire Governor
Services.
d) LEA relationships with Grant Maintained Schools - Jim Watt
Jim Watt reported back from meeting 20/7/98. GM schools are
to be invited to contribute to the Education Development Plan;
there is evidence that GM schools are concerned about their
return to authority control, and about the loss of money in
their budgets. GM schools are also unlikely to be aware of
the developments made in LM schools. There will need to be
guidelines offered on how GM and the LEA will work together.
The Admissions Policy is a particularly sensitive issue. This
was an exploratory meeting; another meeting will now be set
and will discuss how HGRG/HGS can support GM schools through
the transition and beyond.
JS reported that HGS will need to provide support and training
from 1st April 1999 to GM schools. There is no current
mechanism to discus the content of the training provision. JS
sought views from HGRG on the need to invite GM colleagues to
Training Liaison Governors' meetings, and to Forum meetings.
The view was that this needs to be raised at local forum level
and that GM colleagues should be encouraged to 'blend in'.
ACTION: HGRG at local Governors Forums
e) Any Other Feedback
It was reported that the HGRG Rep for Careers had resigned.
He has found the meetings with VTSC both interesting and
informative.
JS can check details about the regularity of the meetings, and
asked if HGRG would wish for a replacement representative to
be considered.
ACTION: Clerk
9. Improving attendance at local forums and expectations of HGRG:
The strategies employed to encourage greater attendance at local
forums include inviting key speakers who will attract greater
numbers. The Education Officer at some forums, not only
attends, but has his or her own slot. Headteachers have been
invited to talk about their expectations of governors. The
length of the meeting can be critical to attendance, as can
governors awareness of the forum and its role. Communications
about forum do not always pass to all governors, but stay with
the chairman, particularly if he/she is also the forum rep.
If wider attendance were to be encouraged by inviting more
than one governor from each governing body there would need to
be a pro forma 'return' to help assess the need for larger
accommodation for the forum.
It would be useful to know how many schools have a nominated
representative. HGS staff are currently updating their
records as governing bodies return their forms of notification
of new officers since the first meeting of the year. This
would also indicate whether the chairman and the forum
representative are the same individual. Other useful
information would include how many governing bodies have the
forum as a regular item on their agenda; it was seen as good
practice for there to be a reporting back process from forum -
JS reported that progress had been made in the attendance of
schools at forum; half the schools in the county attended a
forum meeting this year; this shows a slow and steady
increase.
HGRG is viewed as being able to respond to those items which
come from the DfEE which governing bodies do not have time to;
they are happy to delegate to HGRG.
10. Local Forum Items
Feedback about the literacy hour raised some of the early
problems and concerns. There was concern about the erosion of
other parts of the curriculum, in terms of loss of the broad
and balanced provision; there were also concerns about the
effect on SEN children. It was agreed that a considered
response be debated at a future meeting.
The salary increase of the Chief Inspector (Ofsted) coinciding
with the Teachers Pay Award was not deemed diplomatic. Should
there be a HGRG/Forum response?
11. HGRG Members Items: Members updated the chart listing their
special interests. This will be retyped and distributed with the
minutes.
12. County Governor Forum Agenda: All items agreed with no
additional items.
The following comments were made:
Item 3 Feedback from HGRG 8th October Training Review. What
is the progress and outcome of the last meeting. Has there
been any feedback, and are there any minutes?
ACTION: Clerk to alert Lorraine Robinson
before CGF
Item 4 The Role of the LEA from 1999. Will the shape of the
Department/reorientation be included?
ACTION: Clerk to alert Andrew
Seber
Item 5 Literacy and Numeracy. Questions and concerns from
HGRG about the process of monitoring effectiveness; some
concerns detected about no more meetings till March 1999.
ACTION: Clerk to alert John
Wilkinson
Item 6 Class Sizes of 30. Jim Watt to consider paper and
identify issues to debate.
Item 7 Differential Support to Schools. JC to answer
questions on his paper. HGRG concern - is there anything to
be done to avoid schools feeling its another stick to be
beaten with. Reassurance that it will be a 'tool' requested.
ACTION: Clerk to alert John
Clarke
Item 8 Fair Funding. Repairs Aspect. Andrew Smith's offer
to attend CGF accepted. It is assumed Thomas Whiffen will be
attending.
ACTION: Clerk to confirm AS & TW attendance
(Update: Most of draft will take place; there will be some
postponements. The majority voting option has been deleted
altogether).
Item 12 Governor Recruitment and Appointment. It is hoped to
set up a panel of Members with partners; a couple of governors
are requested to join.
Date of following CGF meeting cannot now be 25/2/99 as its
County Council Budget Day.
13. Any Other Business. Jim Watt reported that Legal Services had
found information relating to the Portal Prize. This was
originally an essay competition for secondary pupils. There is a
fund of £800 - £900. Hampshire County Council would like
suggestions for how this prize be used. HGRG recommend returning
to its original format of an essay competition broadly based on
the foundation subjects.
Jim Watt reported that he had received a letter from George
Heller, enclosing a copy of the draft document containing
policies for Education Otherwise than at
School (EOTAS). HGRG were asked if anyone was prepared to
review it and make comments. Richard Kearsey undertook to do
this for the Education Committee meeting on 24th November
1998.
ACTION: Richard Kearsey
Date of Next Meeting
County Governor Forum - 22nd October 1998 6.00 pm (tea from
5.30 pm)
HGRG - 10th February 1999 6.00 pm (tea from 5.30 pm)
(HGRG budget meeting 9th December 6.00 pm (tea from 5.30 pm)
The meeting ended at 8.40 pm
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