Hampshire Governor Representative Group
Notes of meeting
Date 1 March 2000
Time 6.00 pm
Venue The Professional Centre,
Winchester
Present Robin Gray Fleet
John Mason Winchester
John Brailsford Havant
Sylvia Vine Havant
Vernon Petherick Havant
Jim Watt New Forest
Martina Humber New Forest
Ian Chrystie Fleet
Janet Sheriton HCC
The Chairman welcomed
Sylvia Vine back to HGRG
in her new capacity as a
representative of the
Havant local forum
Action
1 Apologies had been received from Linda
Lawson and Cynthia Hicks
2 Notes of 30/9/99 were agreed as a correct
record.
Notes of 2/12/99 were agreed following the
correction of Sylvia Vine as representing
Havant (not Fleet).
3 Matters Arising
30/9/99 - Ian Chrystie had been unable to
attend a meeting of the Admission Forum as
dates had clashed with prior commitments.
2/12/99 - HGRG had attended the January
budget consultation meeting with other
partners. It was understood that the County
Council had agreed an Education Budget which
passported the increased SSA to schools.
HGRG - Notes of Meeting - 1 March 2000
4 HGRG Constitution - The constitution needed
to be updated to take account of the changes
to the organisation of the education
department and the new designation of schools
following the implementation of the School
Standards & Framework Act in September 1999.
The Clerk would adjust the document to bring
it in line with the SSFA.
The Chairman reported a request from the
North East of the county for representation
on HGRG for schools with VI forms.
Historically there had only been two in the
county both in the North East and they had
formally been represented by one of the North
East representatives. Now there were 11 and
none were currently represented. It was
agreed that as the constitution allowed HGRG
to co-opt up to two additional members to
ensure that various phases of schools were in
membership, schools with VI forms could be
represented in this way. Both places were
currently filled by representatives from IC
special schools although one of these rarely
attended. It was further agreed that the
constitution should be amended to allow
co-options for the period of one year to
bring this in line with the term of office of
other members. Individuals could
nevertheless serve further terms if their
co-options were renewed.
The Chairman would approach one of the JS/AD
special school co-optees with a view to
freeing up a place for a VI form nominee.
Members discussed whether at this time they
should further amend the constitution to
allow voting membership for the soon to be
elected parent representatives on the
education committee. It was agreed that at
this stage it would be sufficient to invite
their attendance as non-voting members and
further review the position in the light of
experience.
The clerk would amend the constitution
accordingly and HGRG would ratify the
revision at their summer term meeting.
5 County Governor Forum - Draft Agenda
CGF Items 5 & 6 - Members questioned the Lorraine
purpose of these items (Devolved Capital and Robinson
Seed Challenge). If they were "information Bob
only" items it might be unnecessary for Bob Eardley
Eardley to attend.
CGF Item 7 - Social Inclusion - members Lorraine
discussed the perceived conflict between the Robinson
social inclusion agenda and the requirement Sheila
to raise standards. This had been raised in Arney
a number of local forums and governing bodies John
were looking for guidance as to how to Clarke
balance these competing demands in ways which
maximised inclusion and improvement and took
proper account of the costs (human and
financial) of keeping difficult pupils in
school. HGRG requested that John Clarke also
be present to take place in discussions on
this item.
CGF Item 8 - Review of off-site activities
and Safety in Hazardous Pursuits. A short
discussion revealed the variety of governing Lorraine
body practice currently in respect of Robinson
off-site activities with some governing Steve
bodies actively sanctioning all such activity Poynton
and others unaware of any such processes in
their schools. HGRG requested that Steve
Poynton under this item make a statement
clarifying the County Council's expectation
of governing bodies in this respect.
CGF Item 9 - HGRG welcomed this item as an
opportunity to develop greater inter-agency
working.
6 Chairman's Items - These were covered under
other agenda items.
HGRG - Notes of Meeting - 1 March 2000
7 Treasurer's Items
1999/00 Budget - outturn expected in the
region of £5000 from a budget allocation of
£7500.
00/01 Forward budget - In considering the
forward budget the Treasurer had anticipated
funding clerking arrangements at
approximately £150 per meeting for six
additional local forum meetings a year in
parts of the county which wished to continue
to meet on a basis which exceeded the one
meeting per term per administrative area
which could be serviced by Governor Services.
On current spending patterns this could be John
afforded. NGC subscriptions were not yet Brailsfor
known and although currently £400 per annum d
were expected to rise and provisionally £500
would be allowed. The cost of secretariat
support would increase by 2.5%. Following
discussion it was agreed to propose a budget
for 00/01 to the county of £8000. The
Treasurer to action.
8 Local Forum Items
8.1 New Forest - Jim Watt reported that there had
been deep concern about performance
management and the process and timetable for
implementation. Governors are extremely
reluctant to see the process start before
agreed standards and resources are clearly in
place. They believe the rate of change is
dangerous, that the summer term will be
horrendous, and that the schedule
particularly for headteachers is not
deliverable.
8.2 Others reported similar concerns raised at
forums around the county. Whilst it was
recognised that it was unlikely that
government would listen it was important to
communicate the real concerns of governors.
Governors were not against performance
management but believed that there is a real
risk that the benefits will be lost unless
its introduction and resourcing is sensibly
planned. Following discussion it was agreed
that Ian Chrystie should discuss with Don
Allen whether a press release could be agreed
following CGF which expressed governors
concerns. Governors could also take the
opportunity to respond to the consultation on
the School Teachers Review Body Report which
had expressed similar concerns about the
timetable. The report and the Secretary of
State's response are both to be found on the
Web at www.dfee.gov.uk/teachingreforms
8.3 Havant Forum - Vernon Petherick reported that
it had been a very angry and difficult
meeting. The forum were very upset at the
proposed loss of secretarial and officer
support at forum meetings. Governors felt
they were being asked to do more and more
things and that the county was responding by
reducing their support. The issue of
secretarial support had now been resolved by
the agreement of HGRG to fund a clerk from
the county pool. However, the issue of
officer support remained. The forum had
approached headteacher conferences as a
source of professional input to replace
officers but in general forum members were
extremely unhappy with the position the
education department was taking.
8.4 John Brailsford reported that these concerns
were mirrored at the Fareham forum. The
original terms of reference for the forum
network in the county had seen their purpose
as two way communication. They were not
fulfilling that role now.
HGRG - Notes of Meeting - 1 March 2000
8.5 The Clarendon forum in Winchester had also
been angry at the changes which were being
introduced. They had had a meeting recently
at which Andrew Seber was present but there
had not been much input from forum members.
8.6 Following discussion it was agreed that HGRG
request an item on the CGF Agenda of 14/3/00
against which the CEO could be asked to
outline what he saw as "the role of local
area forums in the LEA".
8.7 Vernon Petherick reported that forum members
had raised concerns about the costs of
consultations which had to be borne by
schools in the reviews of school places
occasioned by falling rolls in schools.
Governors would like to see these costs borne
centrally
8.8 There was also concern that there had been
agreement for some schools to exceed their
standard number thus exacerbating the
situation for other schools
8.9 Fareham & Gosport Forum - John Brailsford
reported that forum had been unable to fill
their vacant position on HGRG.
Next term a joint meeting with the Havant
forum had been arranged to which George
Heller and Alex Munro had been invited.
8.10 Governors at the forum had expressed concerns
about the "control freak tendency" of central
government displayed in the new rules
concerning Registers of Pecuniary Interest
and the regulations concerning governor
apologies for absence.
8.11 Some heads were concerned at scarce governing
body time being diverted into GB
self-evaluation. HGRG felt that this was a
matter for GBs to judge.
8.12 Clarendon forum - John Mason reported the
concerns over admissions policy and the
oversubscription to schools like Mountbatten,
Romsey and Kings, made worse by applications
from Southampton. John was advised to refer
concerns to Alex Munro and/or invite him to a
future forum meeting.
8.13 Fleet forum - Robin Gray and Ian Chrystie
reported concerns about recruitment and
retention of teachers and the impact that the
pressures and bureaucracy surrounding the
profession was having.
8.14 The quality of marking in some examinations
and the increasing number of appeals was also
a concern.
HGRG - Notes of Meeting - 1 March 2000
8.15 The treatment of governors by an Independent
Appeal Panel was also raised as an issue.
The governors concerned felt their treatment
by the Chairman of the Panel had lacked
courtesy and had been unnecessarily adversial
compared with the way the panel had treated
the parents. The question was raised as to
what control the County Council had over the
Chairmanship and membership of panels. A
complaint had been made to the Chief
Executive's department and HGRG agreed to
await the outcome of that before pursuing the
matter further.
9 HGRG Representatives feedback from meetings
9a NGC - Ian Chrystie had attended the meeting
on 17/2/00 for Chairs of local associations.
Although the long agenda had not been
completed it had been a good meeting and the
practice would continue. Finance had
dominated and there had been much discussion
of how NGC should seek to drive the debate.
The consensus was to argue for a bigger cake
and there were differing views as to the
stance to be taken on a national funding
formula. There was also discussion on the
independence of the NGC whilst its finance AD
was heavily dependent on DfEE grant. HGRG
NGC wished to improve communications with agenda
members and intended to increasingly rely on
E-mail to do this. The intention was to try
to get an E-mail recipient in each member
association who would be responsible for the
onward transmission of communication within
their own organisation. This to be an HGRG
agenda item in the summer term
9b Numeracy Strategy - John Brailsford had
attended three meetings. Two heads from each
of the seven areas attended and provided
feedback on how the strategy was going. It
was a largely professional debate with no
major issues. HGRG asked how the impact of
the strategy was to be evaluated and JB
informed members that a questionnaire was
being used for this.
9c Education Committee - Martina Humber would
provide the clerk with written notes on this
to be distributed with the minutes.
9d VTSC Careers - Martina Humber reported that
this organisation was now Southern Careers
following a merger and a new General Manager
had been appointed. Head teachers were
concerned about the reduction in resources
available to all pupils following the
refocusing along with the Youth Support
Service on the socially excluded.
9e Governor Recruitment Members Panel - Martina
Humber had attended the final meeting of the
Panel and it had now been wound up. The
recruitment strategy which the panel had put
in place had now been piloted for two terms
and was judged to be successful. Further
work remained to be done and the panel had
asked Governor Services to ensure that local
governor forums were aware of recruitment
issues in their own locations. Future
reports on governor recruitment would be
taken to Education Committee
HGRG - Notes of Meeting - 1 March 2000
9f Asset Management Plans - Steering Group -
The clerk had been asked to secure a further
representative for this Steering Group.
John Mason agreed to serve and the clerk JS/AD
would pass details on.
9g Literacy Task Group - No report
9h Budget consultation dealt with under matters
arising
10. Correspondence - The log was noted
11. Any other business - None
The meeting closed at 10.00 pm
HGRG - Notes of Meeting - 1 March 2000
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