Minutes of Cranbrook LGB Meeting on 11 th February 2016 At Cranbrook Education Campus

Transcription

1 Minutes of Cranbrook LGB Meeting on 11 th February 2016 At Cranbrook Education Campus Attendees: Steve Wilkinson (Chair) Rob Bosworth Sarah O Shea Mandy Lane Moira Marder Craig McCrum Stephen Bardwell Megan Snell (Shadowing RB) Minutes: Ellen Chaplin Agenda Item 1. Apologies Apologies were received from Gill Ryall, Mark Cornfield, Tracy de Bernhardt-Dunkin, Julia Evans, Matt Rowett and Alison Kerr. Action Introductions

2 SW welcomed the new parent governor Stephen Bardwell. All attendees introduced themselves and gave a brief background of themselves. RB introduced Megan Snell, who was shadowing him for the day and so would be sitting on the meeting. SW announced that Kevin Jennings has tendered his resignation from the Governing body, and so will not be attending any more meetings. Declarations of Interest SW suggested that building and planning issues may be raised, which may be connected to his role within Midas. 2. Minutes of Meeting The minutes were agreed by all as an accurate record, and signed by SW. 3. Finance & Personnel Update In the absence of the chair of this committee (MC), SW gave the report. The committee discussed the remaining issues with the building and planning permissions. SW reported that there is an issue with putting floodlights in, due to problems with planning issues which prevent Devon County Council taken full ownership of the site. Once this is resolved, DCC will unlock funding for the floodlights. RB questioned whether there is any idea of the timing of this. SW confirmed they had initially said it would be by Christmas, but there have been delays. RB will contact legal team to

3 SW confirmed he has seen no document outlining what planning permissions have been granted and what is still outstanding. MM expressed some concerns that the community are unhappy about the situation, as they have been given mixed messages. SW suggested that this project will have to be thoroughly project managed, perhaps by the original architects. Gina Woodcraft is currently heading this, as well as working through the other outstanding issues with the building. MM confirmed that DCC has set aside money for dealing with the outstanding issues with the school. This will be used to contribute to the installation of grass in the nursery, and possible changes to the baby changing area. 4. Curriculum & Students Committee Update In the absence of the chair (GR), the deputy chair (SO) gave the report. SO reported that the committee had a long discussion about understanding their role within the Trust, and how this relates to the other schools in the Trust. The committee requested basic training in this. SW suggested that RB and the Trust COO (Josie Medforth) can help clarify this. SO commented that the inclusion of the Secondary school representative (LCT) was beneficial for keeping the focus on students. MM confirmed that after Easter the Head of Primary will also join this committee. SO expressed concerns that the committee was tending towards being distracted by finance related discussion, and so GR has started sitting in on the F&P meetings to create a link between the committees. SW suggested the establishment of a Chair s committee to bridge the committees and share information more easily. establish whether they are aware RB will give a short presentation to the LGB about the Trust structure at the next LGB meeting

4 SO reported the committee went through lots of the policies, and approved several. 5. Head Teacher s Report SW requested that in future Governors read through the report before the meeting, and come with comments and questions. SW requested that MM make the authors of the report clear. MM reported that the school finances are healthy. The secondary is almost fully equipped, and all computer, science and technology equipment is fully installed. There needs to be more investment in the primary, which the new Primary Head will help with. MM and EA are now fully aware of the budget for next year, and are clear on nursery and lettings income. The nursery income will balance this year, and start to make a profit next year. MM confirmed the appointment of the new Primary Head, Samantha McCarthy-Patmore who will be joining the school after Easter. MM will work closely with her to develop the primary. MM reported she is in the process of putting together the SEF (Self Evaluation Framework) for the nursery, primary and secondary schools. Within the Secondary, MM and LCT have done learning walks and observed all the classes as well as performed a work scrutiny of a range of abilities and analysed performance and behaviour data. MM reported the quality of education is good, and the behaviour is close to outstanding. The school needs to ensure it can meet the needs of future students with complex behaviour needs, and it can stretch high ability children and support lower ability.

5 MM reported 40% of year 7 are low ability, with very few in the middle and a large top end. The top end of the cohort are in line with the National Average, the bottom end are below the National Average. The progress in the lower end has been fantastic, and MM invited Governors to spend time in student classes to view the progress first hand. MM confirmed she is working on the SEF, and will continue working with AK on the school development plan. MM will send out potential dates for this event. MM suggested the LGB hold a strategic conference, which will involve a day of school tours and class viewings. This will also give the children a chance to give feedback directly to Governors. There will be a chance to discuss the school development and identify priorities. MM reported that the primary has seen slower progress, but there has been more stability following the appointment of Mandy Doherty. The primary needs to work on behaviour management to bring it in line across the phases, which the new Primary Head will work on. MM reported the nursery is growing rapidly, with growing waiting lists. The school has had to appoint several new staff members to meet the need. SO suggested the school needs to strongly consider what the community needs, and decide when to cap numbers in the nursery. RB queried how long the Consultant Primary and Early Years Heads will be maintained. MM confirmed the Consultant Primary Head will

6 remain until Easter, while the Consultant Early Years Head will remain on a day a week to finish the nursery set-up. SO suggested that the nursery would benefit from hiring more Early Years Teachers, to bring the ratio to 1:13. MM agreed that outstanding nurseries put additional teachers in the nursery. SW agreed that quality provision is more important in this case than making a large profit from the nursery. RB suggested the school needs to stop relying so heavily on the consultants. MM confirmed that hiring the consultants was the right decision, but that now the school needs a high quality Early Years Leader to provide staffing continuity. SB suggested that it is essential to get the primary right so this can feed into the secondary. MM reported there are some primary children with severe literacy difficulties who need intervention now rather than waiting until they get to secondary level. MM reported the school has appointed a high quality support staff team, with specialist literacy TAs to start after Easter. MM reported that attendance is tricky in the primary, because one child can have a great impact on the percentage. The school is working with parents to encourage good attendance. MM confirmed that if currently full, the primary would have capacity of 60, and the secondary 120.

7 The secondary will grow more slowly as there are fewer families in Cranbrook with older children. The school is not actively looking to recruit from wider schools, and the priority is Cranbrook residents. MM confirmed there will be 215 students on roll next year. MM expressed the concern that the school may get a reputation for SEN care and working with difficult children, which may discourage other children. MM confirmed next year St James and Isca will provide some secondary teachers. There will be some full time teachers in Maths, English and Science, as well as a part time Languages teacher. There will also be a Head of Maths and a Head of Secondary. MM proposes this role is initially a year secondment, looking to appoint a permanent SLT. MM suggested a cost effective approach would be to have a Deputy and Assistant Head at low salary scales, and more of MM salary be paid out of central Trust fund. MM is keen to invest in people at the beginning of their SLT careers. MM confirmed that Gina Woodcraft is contracted until Easter. Josie Medforth will take over the majority of this after Easter, and take on Project Management roles. She will have a base at Cranbrook. SW reported that the patch of grass outside MM office had originally been reserved for a sixth form centre. There is the potential to make the ground floor of this into a dining area, to alleviate some of the issues with the main dining area. MM confirmed she has been informed that the Trust have complete say in what this is used for, as well as the mothballed areas.

8 RB suggested that these decisions should come from the LGB rather than the Trust. MM suggested the LGB needs to establish the Governor role in recruitment and set a precedent for interviews. She suggested the Governors have input in interview of permanent staff, but not temporary. SO expressed a concern about asking Governors to contribute to shortlisting. MM agreed, and suggested that in future a shortlisting committee be established from the SLT. Comments SO expressed concerns that the nursery was becoming quite large, and that the school should think about capping the number soon. RB commented that the school opening has been delayed, and that the LGB needs to discuss who they would like to perform the opening and when. SW suggested that May might be a suitable time to aim for. This will be a standard agenda item to discuss. RB left the meeting at this point 6. Governor Training MM suggested that Tracy Hannon be invited to give Governor training in her role as Ofsted Officer. This could be done at the Strategic Conference. SW queried Governor safeguarding training and how quickly this should be done by new Governors. SO suggested the Senior

9 Designated Officer (Jo Westney) be invited to do general Governor safeguarding training, and that there be a section at the Strategic Conference about safeguarding. SO queried when the Safeguarding Report will be given to Governors. SO suggested that the school should have a document about the policies that is given to all new Governors. MM confirmed that the school is currently compiling a staff handbook, which can be adapted for Governors. MM will discuss the possibility of this with JW EC to invite JW to next LGB to give this 7. Risk Register SW confirmed the Risk Register still needs work. The committees will create individual Risk Registers to monitor their own concerns. MM confirmed the Health & Safety report is nearly complete, and the site manager Paul Weeks is working on the remaining sections. 8. AOB MM confirmed that the building is ready to be let for three nights a week between The priority will be the community and school when taking bookings. Temporarily, a caretaker will cover this extra time but in the long term more recruiting is necessary. MM reported there will be a sports festival later in the year for the community which will be led by the secondary school. MM circulated the proposed lettings and nursery charges for approval. The lettings charges where approved by all. EC to circulate full nursery

10 The nursery charges were approved with some reservations about some of the prices being too low and others being too high. Concerns were raised about how to costs were established. costings spreadsheet MM reported the secondary will have an activities week on the w/c 11 th July, which will cost 40. Some parents are struggling with this cost, and the school is looking for as much funding as possible. The school is considering asking local businesses to sponsor events, and MM requested the LGB send any suggestions they have to her. Date of next meeting: - TBC (w/c )