Archived decisions

Appendix 1a

Meeting on the proposed amalgamation of Barncroft Infant and Barncroft Junior

Governors

At Barncroft Infant School on 12 May 2009 at 6:30pm

Present: Sam Jenkins Chair of Governors BJS

    Angela Williams Headteacher BJS

    Governors BJS

    Sandy Higginbottom Chair of Governors BIS

    Liz Blake Headteacher BIS

      Governors BIS

      Governors total 21

      Peter Colenutt HCC

      Julie Wilding HCC

      Bob West Governors HCC

      Jo Pryce-Jones Governors HCC

      Martin Hughes Governors HCC

Liz Blake welcomed all to the school and introduced the officers from Hampshire County Council.

HCC officers delivered a brief presentation on the reasons for the proposed amalgamation, the processes and the timescales. The procedures for the appointment of the temporary governing body were outlined and the timeline for the governors was explained.

The following questions were asked by the governors.

    1. Will the temporary governing body be made up by members of the existing governing bodies?

    2. Are the Local Authority governors not likely to obtain a place on the temporary governing body?

    3. Funding for the building is a very attractive proposition. Is the funding guaranteed and how confident are the Local Authority about the money?

    4. Will the building be completed at the same time as the amalgamation?

    5. When will you know which building will be used?

    6. What other facilities will be provided in the new building?

    7. Are you intending to keep the pre-school?

    8. Is this school the priority for financing or have other schools got a call on this money?

    9. Can we see some of the work that the architect who is designing our building has done?

    10. There will be an application to the Secretary of State to waive the competition for the new school. How confident are you that he will agree?

    11. Has the Leigh Park Community Improvement Partnership been approached for its view?

    12. Some local residents will probably ask if any land will be sold off. What will your response be?

    13. Part of the site will be sold off. I don't think any should be sold. We need to develop the site in response to changes in the curriculum - we will need a library, art, music room. At what point could this be raised with the architect?

    14. If the governing bodies don't agree or change their mind what will happen?

    15. What reassurance can you provide to both staffs that heir jobs will be retained?

    16. When does the temporary governing body end and how are the permanent governing body selected?

    17. Does the temporary governing body feed back to the two existing governing bodies?

    18. Has the Local Authority got a policy on communicating with staff and governors?

Officers addressed each of these questions in turn.

The meeting closed at 8:00pm