DODDINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL
MINUTES OF THE GOVERNORS MEETING HELD ON THE 23rd NOVEMBER, 2005.
Present Mr. T. Limby (Chair) Mrs. J. Harris (Headteacher)
Mrs. M. Darvill Mr. I. Gardner-Curr
Mrs. W. Gaze Mrs. S. Jones
Mr. S. Mallett Mr. L. Roberts
Mrs. J. Tuckey Dr. I. McMullen
l. Apologies were received from Mrs. Anning and Mr.Spencer.
2. Clerk’s Resignation
The Chairman announced the Clerk’s resignation and welcomed Debbie to the meeting as her replacement.
3. Minutes of the Meeting held on the 21st September.
a) The minutes were signed as a true record of the meeting.
Matters arising:
With regard to the matter of supervision of children before school and the proposed breakfast club Mrs. Harris told the Governors that there would be a meeting to discuss funding. It is not a viable project without external funding and a decision on whether this is available would be known soon. It is necessary to find out the number of people who would make use of the scheme before it progresses further. There was a minor objection to the fact that the only before school supervision would be via the breakfast club, but the Chairman said it was essential that this matter is settled and the Headteacher agreed that as soon as the problem of funding was agreed the breakfast club could start.
Referring to the matter of security the Governors heard that three quotes
had been received for CCTV and a choice of system would be made. Dr. McMullen and Mr. Limby would look at the choices with Mrs. Harris. A report would be presented at the next meeting.
4. Membership of Committees and Introduction of Link Subject Governors
The composition of the Governing Body Committees was discussed and the Governors were assigned to the Committees to which they felt most suited. The new document would be produced and distributed by the Clerk,
The Chairman had circulated copies of the roles of various Governors and there followed a discussion regarding the delegation of these roles and the extent to which the Governors could become involved. Most Governors agreed that it was a difficult situation as they were not the experts, the Headteacher and her staff were, and therefore they were the only people qualified to make any decisions or interventions. Mr. Limby would look further into this.
5. Annual Parent Governor Meeting/Newsletter
The Chairman has been asked by a parent about the procedure now that it is not necessary by law to hold an Annual Meeting. After discussion the majority of Governors
were keen to reinstate a meeting but supported by a newsletter rather than an Annual Report. It was also agreed that it would be a good idea to follow the idea of a Parent Forum so that questions could be asked in advance and answered in detail at a meeting. Mr. Limby intends to prepare a draft newsletter. A provisional date has already been set for this for the 3rd March, 2006 but this date is flexible if it is found that a large number of Governors will not be available on that date.
6. Building Update
A meeting was held on the 17th October between Robin Colyer, Bruce McQuarrie, Simon Mallett, Ian Gardner-Curr and Janet Harris. It was agreed that in place of the new build, which had been abandoned, the School would consider a two class mobile with water and improved access. It is hoped that the ground can be excavated to provide a level area and the idea of a covered walkway was put forward. KCC planners have no objections and if this proposal goes ahead and meets with the approval of Swale Borough Council the new accommodation could be in place by February, 2006.
It would appear that there may be no necessity for a contribution from our Capital Fund towards any new building if it is not regarded as ‘permanent’.
7. Headteacher’s Report
The report had been previously circulated to enable Governors to read it before the meeting. Mrs. Harris said the roll was up by 1 pupil – in Y4. Open afternoon had been well attended, with 12 visitors. There were no complaints about the teaching in Voyager and homework is now being set regularly.
8. Target Setting
The School Improvement officer had been in to look at next year’s Y6 targets for SATs (there will only be 3 children), he looked at data from previous years and agreed with the Headteacher’s judgements. At Mrs. Jones request Mrs. Harris agreed to look at optional SAT scores for each year group and work out the percentage of children who had met their predicted targets.
9. Reports from Committees
Finance: The minutes of the meeting had been circulated. Mrs. Gaze wondered whether the £18,850 available now the permanent build was not going ahead could be used for other projects, e.g. if the KCC did not pay for the covered walkway to the mobile could this sum fund this? It was hoped that interactive white boards could also be funded together with security gates.
10. Workforce Reform/Staffing Structure
Teaching and Learning Responsibilities: The Personnel Committee have met and agreed to adopt the proposal to replace Management points with Recruitment and Retention Points. This will have no effect on the budget.
It was agreed that this policy be reviewed in 2 years. It was then ratified by the Chairman.
12. Governor Visits
There have been two visits, one by Mr. Limby who was with Beacon class on the 6th October with the intention of seeing how the Kirklees Writing Project was progessing. He was impressed with the class and enjoyed his visit.
Mrs. Jones came in to school on the 14th November to discuss the Target Tracker Programme with Mrs. Harris and then visited each of the classrooms.
Mrs. Harris said that the School Improvement Partner has visited and is delighted with the standard of teaching – Mrs. Jones said this should be included in the next newsletter.
13. Resolution to adopt standing orders for the Procedural Workings of the Governing Body
This is an integral part of the process of Reconstitution and was adopted by the
Governing Body and signed by the Chairman.
14. Correspondence
The Chairman said that he had received two letters which he felt had some very valid points and which deserved an answer. He proposed to take the letters to the Marketing Committee where they could be discussed in depth. Findings would be brought to the next meeting. Mr. Roberts felt that after discussion there should be a meeting with the writer of the letters so they were aware that their concerns were not being ignored.
15. Any other urgent business
Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Gaze have attended a course dealing with 3 year budget planning. This has to be presented to the LEA by 13.l.06 but can be ratified by the Finance Committee with the Chairman of Governors signatures if the Governing Body agree to delegate this. This was agreed – a meeting will be arranged for next term.
The Chairman reminded the Governors that meetings were confidential and until Minutes were published for public inspection all information must be considered confidential.
16. Confidentiality of Proceedings
The Governors decided that no part of this meeting was confidential.
17. Publication of Minutes
The Governors agreed that no items should be excluded from the minutes to be made available for public inspection.
The meeting closed at 7.40 p.m.
The next meeting will be held on the 8th February. 2006.
Signed…………………………………. Date………………………………..