Hampshire Governors' Representative Group
Notes of Meeting
3rd February 1997
Present: Hugh Deed (Chairman) (NE); John Bailey (SW);
Steve Pease (SW); John Brailsford (items 5 & 15 - SE);
Eileen Bishop (NE); Ian Stemp (SE);
Brian Bailey (CE); Terry Tillman (NE);
Janet Sheriton (Clerk)
1. Apologies: Peter Whitmarsh (NE); Peter High (CE); Vernon
Petherick (SE).
Members agreed to take Agenda items 5 & 15 first whilst
John Brailsford was present.
5. HGRG Constitution: There had been no comments received
from headteachers and patch fora had generally received
the revisions with little discussion. Eileen Bishop
reported some concern from Area 1 in the NE with regard
to para 13 which some were interpreting as HGRG limiting
access to other bodies. This was not the case, and it
was re-emphasised that any issue commanding the support
of a local forum could be placed on the Agenda of County
Governors' Forum directly. Members felt that the lack of
understanding at local level demonstrated a need for HGRG
to further address communications and the relationship
between the various representative structures.
There had been discussion in the Schools Directorate
about support for governors fora in the new departmental
structure. The LEA is keen to establish common
entitlements and practice across the authority whilst
being sensitive to existing arrangements and local needs.
Area Education Officers are discussing with Patch Fora
arrangements for the future ideally based upon termly
meetings in each Area serviced by Governor Services staff
and attended by the AEO. The LEA would like to review
and evaluate arrangements after a year.
The revised HGRG constitution as circulated was adopted
and would be available on Hantsnet (copy attached).
15. Treasurer's Items. Spending was currently just over
£3500 with a further £460 owing for 2 places at the
Ofsted/DfEE Annual Governors Conference.
HGRG had been asked by the LEA to send a delegate to the
CLEA conference on 26/2/97. If no other members were
able to attend John Brailsford would represent HGRG at
the event.
AOB item raised while John Brailsford present.
Secondary Sector bench marking publication from Roger
Zebedee had been received by John
Brailsford and Hugh Deed and had been sent to all
secondary schools. John Brailsford also reminded members
of the Primary Admin study
Questions were raised about the distribution of both.
The Secondary publication had been sent to all Heads with
a copy for them to pass to the Chairman of Governors.
The Clerk was asked to check the LEA arrangements for
sending mail to Chairman of Governors as it was
understood that the practice of doing so via the Head had
been abandoned some time ago.
JS
The Clerk was also asked to check with RZ the
availability of the Primary Admin Study and distribute
copies to HGRG.
JS
The Chairman reported on a whole governing body training
session delivered to his governing body on the whole area
of assessment/benchmarking/ and information available to
governors, which has been very useful and worthwhile.
John Brailsford left the meeting.
2. Notes of 22/10/96 and 10/12/96 were agreed as a correct
record.
3. Matters Arising
Andrew Smith (County Architects Dept) had offered to
attend a future meeting. Clerk to invite him to attend
next HGRG meeting 11/6/97.
John Clarke (Chief Inspector) had agreed to attend HGRG
meeting 11/6/97.
Hugh Deed reported back on the Education Committee Budget
consultation meeting and tabled the document to which the
HGRG representatives had spoken.
JS
HGRGs letter to MPs had received replies from David
Willetts and Sir Patrick McNair-Wilson and
acknowledgements from others. The DfEE response had
indicated that the extra money had been made available
and it was up to LEAs and schools to make spending
decisions appropriately. A Chair of Governors in the NE
had written to HD expressing his concern about the tone
of the HGRG letter. He had raised the matter at the
local patch forum but his concerns did not appear to have
been shared more widely. No concerns were reported from
elsewhere and HGRG members supported letter.
(NOTE: Since the meeting a letter has been received from
Robin Squires via Sir Julian Critchley MP - copies of
this letter and others received are attached. County
will be asked to comment on Robin Squire's letter at
County Governor Forum).
4. Budget 97/8 - Update. Members discussed the paper from
the Assistant
Director Resources updating the position following the
Education Committee meeting in January. HGRG still hoped
that Policy & Resources Committee meeting might still
find some way of lessening the severity of cuts to the
Education Budget.
5. See above
6. New Opportunities for Using Hantsnet - The Chairman
referred to Mike Winchester's papers aimed at general
users who had access to the Internet
and providing information on how to access Hantsnet via
the Internet. The Hants Web internet site is
http://www.hants.gov.uk. Steve Pease reported trying
unsuccessfully to gain such access. Hugh Deed reported
that he had successfully used the internet to HCC.
The Clerk to ask IT services to provide a short user
friendly piece for the next Hampshire Governor including
relevant e.mail addresses.
JS
7. Proposed termly meeting with Heads Conference Executives.
HGRG welcomed the approach from Ken Shorey on behalf of
Heads. After discussion the 24th March 1997 was
identified as the most convenient date and 6.00 p.m. in
Winchester as the preferred time and venue. Hugh Deed,
Eileen Bishop, Brian Bailey and Terry Tillman indicated
they would be willing to attend. The Clerk to contact
Ken Shorey and make the necessary arrangements.
JS
8. Management NVQ Level 4 Qualification. The Clerk outlined
the background to this item. Governor Training had
traditionally been "luke warm" on the issue of
qualifications for governance fearing that it would have
a limiting impact on the involvement of members of the
broader community and might distort the training
programme. However, governors did acquire much
experience whilst discharging their responsibilities and
NVQ - level 4 might be a way of accrediting that
experience. HGRG discussed the issues and indicated
their support in principle. When priorities allowed they
would welcome a paper providing further information. It
would however need to be presented carefully to ensure it
was not seen as a qualification to be a governor, as
opposed to what it is ... a national qualification that
can be achieved through governor activities.
9. HGRG Initiatives
Governor Recruitment. There are 134 LEA vacancies in the
county but still 198 parent and 378 co-opted governor
vacancies. So from 834 total vacancies (about 10%) 70%
of them are for parent and co-opted governors. HGRG
would welcome the opportunity to discuss recruitment
arrangements in the future.
Disabled Governors. In the current education budget
climate it had not proved possible to set aside a
dedicated budget for this purpose. A limited amount of
support might be possible for governors with physical or
sensory impairment if other budget pressures allowed.
Certificates for Governors.
267 long service certificates have been awarded
68 outstanding service certificates have been awarded.
Governors are reminded that the Outstanding Service
certificates are for governors at the end of their
service with the governing body.
10. Patch Items
Havant. Vernon Petherick had asked the Clerk to raise
the need expressed in his patch 'for official guidance on
payments to staff for time off as a result of their child
being sick; attending funerals or for leave during term
time'. Members felt that some guidance was available in
the Manual of Personnel Practice and that these matters
were largely left to management discretion. This
resulted in a variation in practice between schools.
Janet Sheriton to check with Vernon if any aspect had
been omitted from the Manual and required further
clarification.
JS
North East - Hart - There had been concern at the patch
meeting that the Improving Schools paper had not gone to
Heads and clarification over its distribution was sought.
The Clerk said that copies of the paper had been sent to
heads when Forum papers had been distributed to governing
bodies. Feedback from heads was welcome either through
Heads Conference arrangements or otherwise.
11. County Governor Forum - Draft Agenda
Item 4 - Induction and Development of Headteachers.
Whilst the model was seen as sensible concern was
expressed that there was insufficient reference to the
governing body which bore the overarching responsibility
for many of the matters covered.
Item 7 - Attached Inspectors & SLS. What is proposed was
broadly supported although HGRG would like the first
bullet point to read
'knowing each school sufficiently to report on its
effectiveness to the governing body annually'.
For information item - Nursery Vouchers. HGRG expressed
their alarm over the amount of additional admin work
required in school of already overburdened admin
officers. They would welcome a report in the summer term
of the aggregated school level admin costs as far as the
LEA was able to determine them and wished the LEA to
alert them if there was anyway
in which HGRG could help.
12. Chairman's Items - This was the last meeting of HGRG in
its current form. The meeting of HGRG next term on
11/6/97 was very important and full attendance was
sought. If patch representatives were unable to attend
they were urged to see that their patch was represented
by an alternative rep. As well as invited guests John
Clarke and Andrew Smith HGRG would need to debate and
seek nominations for:
a representative to Education Committee
a representative of HGRG to the National Governors
Council
and for HGRG Officers
Hugh Deed would not continue as Chair in September.
The Clerk to draft a letter to all HGRG members alerting
them to the importance of the summer term meeting.
13. National Governors' Council - In the absence of Peter
Whitmarsh there was no report.
14. Education Committee Items - Ian Stemp reported back on
the 2 meetings of the Education Committee he had
attended. Items of note had been "School Performance
Measures", the Monitoring of Inspection Panel; the
Budget; School Places; and the debate concerning Foxbury
Special School which had been attended by a deputation
from the governing body. The CEO had made reference to
the content of the oral feedback of the Ofsted Inspection
Report and Ian had expressed his concern about this use
of
information which was confidential until the full
Report was published. The recommendations concerning the
school were carried and the governing body is now seeking
GM status.
15. See above
16. Review of matters to communicate - in the absence of Jim
Watt this item was not taken.
17. Any Other Business. John Bailey gave his apologies for
the next meeting of County Governors' Forum and thus this
was his last meeting. He thanked colleagues for their
support and for the standard of debate and expressed his
best wishes to the new HCC and HGRG.
Hugh Deed thanked all colleagues from the cities for
their support for HGRG over the years and extended his
best wishes to both cities and their governors fora.
John Rowson has resigned through changed business
circumstances.
The meeting closed at 9.20 p.m.
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