Hampshire Governors' Representative Group
Notes of Meeting
Divisional Professional Centre, Winchester
13th June 1995
Present: H Deed NE (Chair) T Tillman NE
P Whitmarsh NE J Rowson CE
G Hawkes SW C Mar-Molinero SW
J Brailsford SE J Bailey SW
V Petherick SE J Watt SW
E Pryke SE C Bishop NE
J Sheriton (Clerk)
ACTION
1. Apologies: J Patterson (CE), J Ashton (CE).
2. Notes of meeting 2/2/95 were agreed.
2a Matters Arising:
Hants Federation of Parents: J Bailey had attended
inaugural meeting.
Mrs Jenkins was representing the Federation on the
Education Committee.
Clerks Manual - Had been positively reviewed by Governor
Training & Support Staff.
Martin Corrick - HD had received no correspondence from
HCC and had taken no further action
Headship Leaflet - JS was asked to check when this was to
be distributed JS
3. Patch Feedback
SE Div - J Brailsford had attended SE SMT meeting to discuss
attendance at patch forums. Current attendance was between
30-50% - non attenders would be targeted in an effort to
increase attendance to 70-80%. JBd
Pecuniary Interests - Majority view from local forums was
that a Register of Interests had no foundation in statute
and was unnecessarily bureaucratic. GB should be reminded
of "withdrawal regulations". Jan Patterson had asked for
the views of Central Division governors to be given to
the meeting - many GBs already had a register and did not
consider it an inappropriate requirement and were happy
to continue.
ACTION
HIASS Reports
The Clerk reported Jan Patterson had indicated that it
was the view of Central Division Forum that there should
be no change from current practice.
Feedback at the meeting from other patches was
overwhelmingly that GBs should have right of access to
HIASS reports. The following resolution was accepted as
representing the view of HGRG.
"As a matter of course all governing bodies should
receive ALL reports on the school including HIASS reports
in their original form. The governing body should decide
in consultation with the headteacher the distribution of
such reports."
SEN Training for Teachers - SEN needed to be a significant
element in initial teacher training (ITT). JS was asked
to write on behalf of HGRG to local ITT providers and JS
establish the current position.
SEN Screening & SEN Audit - There was general agreement that
SEN was best addressed early in schooling. JW raised on
behalf of TW & NF patches, concerns about the current results
of the SEN Audit which gave less money to Infant schools than
the Junior schools to which the same children subsequently
went. JS was asked to pass the data to HCC and ask for the
item to be added to CGF Agenda when officers would be
asked to explain the differences. JS
Proposed changes in SEN funding from September 95-
Difficulties about making in-year adjustments to budgets
were discussed. HGRG would ask at CGF for the proposed
reductions to be postponed to April 96 or ideally
September 96 to allow adjustment time. It was agreed to
put to CGF that:
"As a general principle ways should be sought to phase budget HD
changes which produced impact on school budgets over a
period of time to lessen impact at individual school level".
4. HGRG Constitution - HD spoke to the draft paper. CMM & J
Bailey raised additional matters from their paper of
19/4/95. After amendment it was agreed that:
"the constitution should be adopted as a working document and
reviewed after twelve months in the light of experience".
HD would circulate the amended version with these minutes. HD
5. HGRG Communications - J Bailey and JW introduced the paper.
Following discussion items 1 to 7 were agreed. With regard
to items 8 to 10 it was agreed that an HGRG newsletter
should be circulated with Hampshire Governor from JW
time to time. The communication working group was asked to JS
consider the implementation of items 1 to 7. JBy
6. Budget 96/97 - HD introduced the item and it was agreed "in
view of the serious budget shortfalls being predicted for
96/97 HGRG should encourage GBs:
ACTION
to press for additional funding;
to invite MPs and ministers to visit HCC and identify
savings that could
be made in the budget;
to return the NGC budget survey All
In addition HGRG would ask NGC to explore with Ministers the
possibility of switching funding to the academic year thus
giving 6 months notice and planning time for budget
information at individual school level. PW
7. Education Development Plan 96/7 - J Brailsford introduced this
item. In view of the timescale members were asked to provide
feedback and suggestions to J Brailsford by 9/9/95.
8. Financial Reporting - The paper from NE Division Forum was
considered and HGRG endorsed the need for improvements to
FMS reports whilst acknowledging the reply from County
Treasurer was a step in the right direction. Item to be
added to CGF Agenda. HD
JS
9. There was recognition that HGRG needed to move towards a
more pro-active position in the identification review and
dissemination of issues. Agreed that JS should request
conference minutes from secondary, primary and special
heads and circulate with HGRG papers.
JS
10. County Forum Agenda Items
Item 4 - Budget 96/7 - Any further reduction in budget is
unacceptable. HGRG will continue to lobby for adequate funding. All
Item 7 - LEA Gov Appointments - The democratic merits of
individual councillor versus electoral college appointment of LEA
governors were discussed. While most believed that the LEA
appointments are mostly non-political, it was felt that it was a
shame that the Electoral College approach did not seem to work
as it clearly allows for greater political sensitivity to be
overtly in the process. The short timescale for HGRG response
was regretted when the document had been so long in coming.
There was support for the content of the new document and
guidelines which were seen as an improvement.
Item 8 - No further comment
11. Treasurer's Matters - Budget for the year was £10k. No other
matters.
12. NGC Matters - AGM had taken place on 18/3/95. Survey on School
Funding was underway. Digest of results would be published.
Considerable national coverage of NGC matters had been achieved
and the budget survey was expected to attract more attention.
NGC papers to be circulated with these minutes
ACTION
letter 5/6/95
AGM minutes 18/3/95
School Funding System Notes
Comparative Budget Figures
13. Education Committee Reps Items - There was nothing to report.
14. Chairman's Items - HD had been involved in the preparation of a
governor recruitment leaflet.
Hantsnet Index for Governors was now in place and its updating
costs would be funded from HGRG budget.
Members were asked to consider the Chairmanship of HGRG from the
Autumn as HD preferred not to stand for another year. All
15. Any Other Business:-
a) SEN Audit - covered under Item 3
b) Governor Training Service Review Group - report to Education
Committee approved
c) Governors Code of Practice - A draft Hampshire code to be
prepared by Governor Training Service for next HGRG meeting. JS
d) Inspection Action Plan - Update on Progress. - JS agreed to
present a report at the next meeting. JS
16). Meeting Timetable - The dates were agreed.
The meeting closed at 10.30 p.m.
Meeting Timetable
HGRG Business CGF
Agreed Thurs 19/10/95 Dev Plan/Forward Budget Thurs 2/11/95¦¦
Agreed Weds 13/12/95 Budget Submission -----------------
Agreed Mon 29/1/96 Tues 13/2/96
Agreed Tues 11/6/96 Weds 26/6/96
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27 July 1995
To: All HGRG Members
As those of you at the last meeting know, and as reflected in
the minutes, I have decided that I would prefer to stand down
as Chairman from our next meeting.
I am confident that from our members there is someone willing
and able to take on the role and he/she will ideally have more
time than I do to give to it.
I should say that I would be prepared to continue if no one
else comes forward as I feel strongly that HGRG has a major
role to play over the next few years. However it is exactly
because of that role that I feel someone with more time than I
will have available over the next 12 months needs to take
over.
I plan to continue to be a representative on the Group.
As regards election of a successor I suggest the following
process as both fair and democratic.
1. Anyone who feels they are both able and have the time
should send a note to Janet Sheriton stating that they
are prepared to stand and giving a few facts about
themselves - by 1st October.
2. This brief statement will be sent out with the agenda
notification for our meeting on 19th October.
3. At our meeting on 19th October the candidates will be
invited to add any other comments and then a secret
ballot will take place.
4. To win a candidate must get over 50% of the votes of
those voting. Should we have more than 2 candidates then
several ballots will take place with the candidate with
least votes dropping out at the end of each ballot. In
the event of a tie the existing Chairman will have a
second and casting vote.
5. Any member unable to attend the meeting may have a postal
vote by making their wishes known to Janet Sheriton.
This vote will be recast while the candidate remains in
the contest. The Clerk will be the Returning Officer.
I hope the above process is acceptable, if anyone has a major
objection then please let me know. We did not define the
process as part of the constitution, we simply said we would
elect and, of course, if there is only one candidate (or 2)
then the process is easy.
HUGH DEED
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