Hampshire Governor Representative Group
Notes of Meeting 10th February 1999
Present: Ian Chrystie; Cynthia Hicks; Richard Kearsey;
John Brailsford; Sylvia Vine; Derek Richards; Peter High;
Jim Watt; Chris D'Arcy; Martina Powell
In Attendance: Janet Sheriton (Clerk)
ACTION
1 Apologies: Vernon Petherick; Paddy Ryan;
Terry Tillman; Linda Lawson
2 Notes of 8/10/98 were agreed
Notes of 9/12/98 were agreed
3. Matters Arising 8/10/98
Item 4 8a - Sun tan lotion - Area 4 forum
were pressing for a response to the request Clerk
for guidance from the County Council.
Item 8a - Personnel & Training Review report
to the Personnel Sub Committee of 25/1/99
was noted and members were pleased to see
that no change was proposed to the
organisation of Governor Services. Clerk
The Review Group wished to record their
congratulations to all those who worked in
and with Governor Services on the award of
their second Charter Mark
Item 8e - Martina Powell had attended her
first meeting at VTSC on 9/2/99 which had
covered Government plans for the careers
service. This emphasised the statutory
responsibility for schools to have Action
Plans for careers education in the 11-19 age
groups. The government focus was on young M Powell
people most in need of advice (those who
tend to 'opt out'). VTSC intend to press
the needs of all pupils and to suggest that
all teachers should receive some careers
education training. A fuller report would
be available at the summer meeting of HGRG
when the notes and OHTs from the meeting
would be available.
Item 13 - There was no further information
on what had been decided in respect of the
Portal prize.
Matters Arising 9/12/98
The chairman and others who had been present
at the budget meeting on 11/1/99 reported
that it had been an interesting meeting
notable for the unanimity of view of all
partners that the full 5.7% additional
allocation from government should be spent
on education. Regret was expressed by HGRG
that recent budgets seemed to be more about
politics and accounting than about
addressing even the most modest needs of
schools like the request for non-contact
time and sickness cover for support staff in
special schools.
4. Correspondence - The log was noted and
reference was made to the letter from
Buckingham Association of School Governors.
Whilst it was agreed that it was useful to
compare expenditure from LEA to LEA, HGRG
did not feel that this was a job that could
be done without calling on the "experts" in
the department.
5. Teachers - Meeting the Challenge of Change -
The Chairman introduced this government
Green Paper and drew attention tothe need to
respond with HGRG views to the NGC by 20th
March and the DfEE by 31st March. A general
discussion of principles followed which
would inform HGRG's view. The following
points were made:
Performance Related Pay can only be
successfully introduced with:
- the support of the teaching
profession
- the availability of proper and
robust management
information to inform judgements
- enough money to fund it (some can't
be rewarded by robbing others.
Teachers at the top of the scale would have
the right to apply to cross the threshold
and a right to the extra money if they were
successful. There was concern that any
additional government money might not cover
all that were entitled and on past
experience governors doubted whether the
funding mechanism would be transparent
enough for them to know that it would be
fully funded and not an additional pressure
on their schools' budget.
There was fear that the autonomy of heads
and governors to cut the school cake in the
light of school needs was being eroded when
a single national payscale was effectively
being replaced by two payscales and there
was no governing body control of the
proportion of staff on one or the other.
There were concerns about the time
implications of the proposed new appraisal
system alongside a recognition that there
was a need for a proper management appraisal
system in education capable of evaluating
individual contributions. There would be
problems if the attempt was made to link
this to pay.
PRP was not seen as the answer to everything
in business, commerce and industry.
Governing bodies have a responsibility to
the staff in their schools and should make
sure that the school staff management and
appraisal systems are such that those staff
who qualify are able to cross the threshold.
There were concerns about the impact of
fast-tracking and contracting for greater
mobility on the staffing stability of
schools - especially small schools.
Several members of HGRG were attending the
DfEE meeting in Southampton on March 2nd and
the chairman had been invited to a meeting
with the Departmental Group who would draft
the response from the County Council on 23rd
February. A sub-group of HGRG would meet on Clerk to book
March 8th at 4.30 p.m. at the Professional room
Centre immediately before County Governor
Forum to draft a HGRG response.
6 Chairman's Items - Attention was drawn to
the Government's announcement of £180
million for music which had been ring
fenced.
Details of an NGC backed national conference
on 1st March were circulated. Anyone able
to go was asked to book direct in view of
the short timescale.
Reference was made to the CEOs letter
outlining the further consultation which
would be need on the EDP following DfEE
comment and the very short time that would
be available if DfEE deadlines were to be
met.
The proposal to leave further discussion on
the LEA Code of Practice until later in the
year was noted.
7. Treasurer's Items - Expenditure stood at
£3500. An invoice was awaited for £1000 to
cover IT work. If all free places at the
1st March conference were allocated HGRG
could fund someone to go.
8. HGRG Feedback from meetings
a) Literacy Task Force - Cynthia Hicks
referred members to Paddy's notes of the
last meeting. Heads had been unhappy at the
Newsletters propaganda and wanted more
practical suggestions for implementation.
There was concern about providing the
booster classes in the timescales available.
In discussion members noted that most
teachers in their experience welcomed some
part of the NLS. The planning had been an
initial very heavy additional burden for
staff but it was getting better as the good
bits of NLS got absorbed into normal
practice. There were still concerns that
the NLS and NNS would make delivering a
broad balanced curriculum difficult. More
work was still needed to cope appropriately
with the needs of pupils with SEN and the
more able.
b) Education Committee - Martina Powell
reported that the Education budget had been
approved and would now go to P&R and full
council. The capital programme had been
approved. There were concerns in committee
about money for youth and about the School
Organisation Committee (SOC). Committee had
agreed to seek permission for an additional
group comprising heads and teachers on the
SOC.
Martina asked HGRG members to let her know
ahead of the meeting if there were comments Clerk to check
she should make on Agenda items. Some with Helen Lister
members said they did not receive Agendas.
Clerk to check distribution.
Members were reminded that Education
Committee minutes and papers were on
Hantsnet.
c) Governor Recruitment Members Panel -
Chris D'Arcy and Richard Kearsey reported on
the first meeting of the panel which had
been a wide ranging discussion on
recruitment issues. The main points that
emerged were:
if recruitment is to be targeted effectively
material has to address the reasons people
become and stop being governors. Local
forums could help by providing information
on this.
extra recruitment effort needs to be focused
where there are the greatest number of
vacancies. This can be in geographical
areas (mainly urban) or sometimes an
individual school in an area where
recruitment is not generally difficult.
confidence to do the job is an issue which
needs to be addressed. Governors have needs
too!
the benefits need to be identified. These
are different for different groups of people
and for those who employ them.
HGRG were keen to help support recruitment
in schools or areas where it was difficult
and would like more information on the
vacancy situation. The clerk agreed to Clerk
supply information with the minutes.
d) Numeracy Strategy Group - John
Brailsford had attended on behalf of HGRG.
Wendy Hoskins chaired the group which was
largely a professional dialogue. The first
meeting had dealt with the groups terms of
reference and Wendy had provided a lot of
information on the NNS. An interesting
question had arisen about the need for
standardised tests in Yr 4 if progress was
to be monitored effectively. HCC had
received less Standards Fund money than it
had bid for to provide medium and intensive
support to schools.
e) LEA/GM schools meeting - Jim Watt
reported on the meeting of 17/11/98. GM
schools were concerned about the
transitional arrangements and the impact on
their funding. The County Treasurer
highlighted the part FMS played in his
responsibility for public money and asked GM
schools what help they would need to move to
FMS. GM schools had annual audit
arrangements and were disappointed that the
County Council audit arrangements were less
frequent. GM schools had contributed to the
EDP. There had been discussion about the
future liability for buildings erected
during GM status and subsequently requiring
major attention if they failed to meet
County Council building standards.
f) National Governors Council - Nothing to
report.
g) VTSC Careers - Martina had reported
about (Item 3) but added that Jenny Claton
(VTSC) would be pleased to attend HGRG if
that would be helpful at any point.
9. Local Forum Items
Area 2 Forum - There were complaints from
governors about the reductions in standard
number associated with class sizes of 30.
These had been arbitrary and without
consultation. HGRG members indicated that
this had not been the experience elsewhere.
Clerk to
COGs would like copies of the department's Julie
grey Directory when it was next printed Hollings
Concerns had been raised about the inequity
of the County Council support for staff
sickness - 20 days of continuous sick leave
triggered compensatory payments whereas it
took 30 days of non-continuous sick leave to
trigger the payment. The impact on schools,
particularly small schools was no different
however. HGRG recognised that this could
only be addressed by holding more money
centrally or extending the 20 days to 30
days.
Area 1 Forum - Wished to register their
dismay at consultation times which were much
too short.
Forum believed that mandatory training for
governors should be considered.
A stated number of "days off" allowed to
undertake governor duties would be helpful.
Concern was expressed at the new Ofsted
summary for parents which was seen as stark
and negative. This view was generally
supported by HGRG who emphasised that
governors can express such concerns to
Ofsted and should make sure that they
presented a balanced view with their own
publications following Ofsted.
VI form funding had been raised. HGRG Clerk - CGF
agreed to ask the CEO what the County forum Agenda
Council strategy on post 16 education is.
Budget letter from Ian had not been received
in school until January so not much action
had been taken.
Area 6 Forum - Tony Hurlin had given a very
good talk.
Forum had discussed what it wants from HGRG
and identified the following main points:
the work that HGRG did to respond to
consultations when time was short for
governing bodies in school was highly valued
general support for HGRG terms of reference
would like ways to be explored of speeding
up communications
would like to align local forum and HGRG
dates better
would remind members they have a role in
setting agendas for forum meetings
Area 3 Forum - had an enjoyable talk from
Andrew Seber and his presence had done
wonders for attendance
Area 2 - East Hants Forum - had a discussion
on the 4 patch forum meeting arrangements.
The County Council could only support and
service 2 meetings a term. Patches will
service themselves for additional meetings.
10. County Governor Forum - Draft Agenda
Item 5 - Fair Funding - An information paper Clerk; LR
will do. Unless there are issues HGRG see T Whiffen
no need for Thomas to attend
Item 6 - EDP - Update. Can this just focus Clerk; LR
on the DfEE required changes and any issues. J Clarke
If there are no issues than an information
paper will do.
Item 7 - SEN Audit Consultation. HGRG Clerk
recognise the importance of this but unless LR
timetables indicate a real need to discuss R Thomas
this in March would be happy to take it at
June 17th CGF
Item 11 - If information only and no Clerk; LR
action/decision needed please have as an J Wakeling
"information only item".
Item 12 - Update on single status - Issues Clerk; LR
only please J Wakeling
Item 13 - Unless Cllr Allen wishes to raise Clerk; LR
with CGF take off as HGRG have discussed Cllr Allen
with feedback from their representatives on
the Members Panel
Please add an extra HGRG requested item Clerk; LR
"County Council Strategy for Post 16 A Seber
Education".
The clerk was asked to move CGF draft agenda Clerk
higher up the next HGRG meeting.
11. Any other business - None
The meeting closed at 10.00 p.m.
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