Hampshire Governors' Representative Group
Notes of meeting
Date 31 January 2001
Time 6.00 pm
Venue The Professional Centre,
Winchester
Present Janet Sheriton HCC Clerk
John Mason Mountbatten School
Robin Gray Oak Farm Community
Wendy Boyle Whitedown School
John Brailsford Sarisbury Infant
Glyn Wadey Castle Primary
Ian Chrystie Mill Chase Community
Jim Watt Wildground Infant and
Junior
Cynthia Hicks Stanmore Primary
Action
1 Apologies
Apologies were received and accepted from
David Goodman (WR), Sylvia Vine (HT), Terry
Tillman (FT) and Vernon Petherick (HT).
2 Notes of 4/10/00 and 19/12/00
Both were confirmed as a true record.
3 Matters Arising
4/10/00
Item 5 - Representing Hampshire Governors
Leaflet. John Brailsford reported that he HR
had been asked to approve expenditure.
Jim Watt had not yet received the revised
text for approval.
Bob Poulton to be asked to send proof to Jim All
Watt for sign off. The revised version was HGRG
on the Governor Services website HR
(www.hants.gov.uk/education/governors) and LGSCs
any suggestions for changes should be sent
to Jim. A run of 10,000 was agreed to be
distributed with next edition of Hampshire
Governor and included in Welcome Pack sent
to all new governors. TR
19/12/00
Item 4 - Secondary governor on focus group
looking at school transport. Terry Rath to
contact Ian Chrystie
(Ian.Chrystie@gstt.sthames.nhs.uk) re date
please.
4 Draft County Governor Forum Agenda
It was agreed that footnote items (lifelong
learning, post 16 education, learning skills
council, connexions) should be agenda for LR
the summer term CGF meeting. HGRG would CEO
welcome a briefing on all those matters but
most particularly any connections between
them and with maintained schools and the Chairman
governing body role. CEO
It was agreed that a "Budget Update" should
be added to the Agenda. HGRG would welcome
a report on the Education Committee debate
on the budget.
For other matters for CGF see item 11.
5 Coopted Place for a VI form Nominee
Currently both coopted places allowed by the
HGRG constitution are filled by
representatives from special school
governors. Neither are presently regular
attenders and Ian Chrystie has written but
without response. Jim Watt will make
contact with Linda Lawson. David Eagles
position will be filled by a rep from
schools with VI forms.
Nominations had been received for Graham AD
Walmsley (NF), Dr Chris Jones (HT), Graham
Ellicott (FT). After consideration it was
unanimously agreed to co-opt Graham
Ellicott. Clerk to write confirming outcome
to all nominees and giving dates of HGRG/CGF
meetings to Mr Ellicott.
6 DfEE Consultation on School Governing Bodies
It was agreed to move this item to the end
of the Agenda.
7 Correspondence
Items had been dealt with elsewhere in the
agenda.
8 Chairman's Items
HGRG had agreed that parent representatives
on Education Committee should have a AD
standing invitation to HGRG meetings. That
had not happened for this meeting due to a
misunderstanding. The Clerk would write to
all parent governor representatives AD
apologising for the oversight and including:
the notes of today's meeting, the full list
of future HGRG dates. Agenda's and papers
should be sent as a matter of routine for
all future meetings.
9 Treasurer's Items
Expenditure stood at £4306. The
Representing Governors leaflet would cost
about £1,049 for 10,000.
10 HGRG Reps Feedback from Meetings
Education Committee - in the absence of
Martina Humber no report.
01/ 02 Budget Meeting - Ian Chrystie
reported HGRG suggestion of council tax
increase omitted from paperwork issued
23/1/01 but subsequently added to papers for
Education Committee. Comment from Sarah
Pook in respect of capping that HCC tries to
stay in the middle range. HGRG can't
understand why, if those at the top of the
range are not capped, HCC fears it.
NGC - Ian Chrystie will attend the national
meeting on Saturday 3/2/01 to discuss NGC JS
response to DfEE consultation on GBs.
A survey on Governor Training was being
conducted by NGC. Jim Watt filled in
questionnaire. Clerk to return to NGC.
Numeracy Strategy - John Brailsford nothing
to report.
Southern Careers - In the absence of Vernon
Petherick nothing to report.
Asset Management Plans - John Mason had
attended a meeting in December. His notes
are attached to these minutes.
11 Local Forum Items
Havant and Hordean Forum had discussed Asset
Management Plans and the DfEE consultation
document.
Fareham and Gosport had discussed the DfEE
consultation document.
New Forest yet to meet this term. Last term
had invited June Nisbet from School
Governance Branch at the DfEE. She was well
received but bombarded with concerns about
Performance Management and dissatisfaction
with the CEA's responses to requests from GB
advisers. Robin
North East Forum - discussion of SEN audit Thomas
and concerns about the amount of the
compiling audit reports. Suggestions were
made to reduce the frequency of audit and Robin
guarantee funding for more than one year at Thomas
a time.
HGRG agreed that Robin Thomas should be made
aware of the concerns and provide either a
written response or attend next CGF to Robin
explore issues. It would be helpful if Thomas
governors could put Hampshire practice in a
wider context:
how do other LEAs do it, is HCC a leader in
the field or are there better practices
elsewhere. Clerk to alert Robin Thomas who
could get further information from Ian
Chrystie if he needs to.
Complaints about SATs marking were raised.
HGRG suggest this needs to be taken up with
QCA or MPs it is not a county matter.
External Assessors and their quality was
concerning some. Concern about quality of
assessors should be referred to the Sheila
consortium managing them. Arney
Winchester Forum
had discussed DfEE consultation document.
Concerns raised about the availability of
EWOs and the focus of their work. HGRG
would like an update on the EW Service and
the current SLA and whether anything has
been changed. Clerk to alert Sheila Arney Sheila
so she may cover at CGF 13/2/01 as she is Arney
already attending.
Difficulties in getting school cleaners was
reported as not enough money was delegated All HGRG
through the formula.
School Terms and holiday dates- the
consultations were felt to be restrictive
e.g. there was no mechanism for saying if
the preference were for complete weeks
rather than term sending and starting
mid-week.
Funding of speech and language therapy and
the availability of speech therapists was
causing some concern. HGRG to raise
with Sheila Arney at CGF.
The Clerk circulated the response from
Arthur Cosgrove on school meals issues
previously raised (available from Angela
Donnelly 01962 845706 on request). HGRG
would indicate if they wished to discuss the
matter further.
12 Any Other Business
It is believed the Ofsted/DfEE Governors
Conference 8 - 10 February has been
cancelled although this has not been
formally announced by DfEE.
13 Dates of Future Meetings
Next meeting Wednesday 23rd May 2001.
Autumn Term meeting changed to Tuesday 16th
October 2001. (delete original date from
diaries 25 September 2001).
6 DfEE Consultation on School Governing Bodies
A number of local forums had discussed the
document at length. A few would do so in
the next few weeks. The deadline for
responses had been extended to March 14th.
HGRG would make a combined response from
governors in Hampshire but individual
governors, governing bodies and local forums
should also respond on their own account.
The County Council response was still in
draft and was tabled.
Comments would be welcome over the next few
days to Janet Sheriton. The County was
aiming to make its response early in
February in order to maximise the choices of
influencing the outcomes.
HGRG discussed the document and the
following points were made:
-questions are too specific, out of context
and therefore difficult to answer. Approval
of "what" does not necessarily indicate
approval of "how" and if the "how" is
prescriptive may not therefore approve the
"what".
This document tinkers with specifics in an
unrelated and piecemeal way. If change is
needed it needs a more joined up and
fundamental review of governance.
It is "how" governors are supported in doing
the job which will make a difference to
workloads not tinkering at the edges of
responsibilities e.g.
Model policies
Slower rate of change
Mail more specifically
Change statutory consultation procedures
DfEE believing it is cutting bureaucracy by
not sending the document to the governors it
affects most is missing the point. The
restricted circulation has just caused anger
and frustration and increased the work
associated with having to get your hands on
the document. Not proposing more changes so
soon after the last lot would have reduced
the workload.
Changes proposed so soon after the last lot
of changes is unacceptable. If DfEE had
listened last time then further changes
would not now be necessary.
Recent publications from London have
undervalued the supportive role of governors
by overemphasising the strategic role.
Recruitment will worsen even further if this
continues.
This and other recent documents are biased
to the problems in cities and urban areas.
Ideas which might resolve problems in these
areas should not be imposed on the whole
country and all schools where city type
problems do not exist. One size documents
does not fit all.
No further primary legislation is needed at
this time.
Specific questions in the response pro-forma
were discussed and the draft HGRG response
is attached to these notes.
The meeting closed at 9 pm.
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