Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from the Rt. Hon the Lord Mayor William Russell, Alderman Peter Estlin, Alderman Nicholas Lyons, Ruby Sayed, Rachel Bower and Tim Campbell.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 12 September 2019.

The Prefect’s Dinner as referred to at item 8 within the minutes was due to take place on 2 December 2019, not the 12 December 2019 as previously reported.

RESOLVED, that the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 12 September 2019 be approved as a correct record.

Following a proposal by the Chairman, Members agreed to take the following agenda items before returning to item 4, Public Outstanding Actions:

            Item 14 – Culture Mile Presentation

            Item 15 – Culture Mile Learning Case for Investment 2020/23

Item 13 – The City of London Corporation’s Draft Sport and Physical Activity Strategy for 2020-25

            Item 12 – Social Mobility Strategy 2018-28 – Annual Report

            Item 16 – Digital Skills Strategy 2018-23 – Annual Report

The remaining items on the agenda would then be taken in order.

The Town Clerk to be heard.

Members received a presentation from the Culture Mile Manager which focussed on the overall vision for Culture Mile, comparative cultural districts in the United Kingdom, achievements of Culture Mile to date and the programme’s ambitions for the future.

Across the globe there is increasing appetite for culture in urban spaces plus greater understanding of how rich cultural offers can really benefit a city and its economy. It was noted that Culture Mile had a reasonably small budget in comparison to some of the global cultural districts (e.g. approximately 40% of the Times Square Alliance) but much had been achieved with the resources available.

Nine workstreams have been established between different organisations within the Square Mile of the City of London including the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Museum of London, the Barbican Centre, Public Realm Team intended to provide an exciting and unique opportunity to deliver on the Culture Mile’s Five Unifying Principles: Connectivity, Ancient & Modern, Everyday Creativity, Social Mobility, and the Spine (a concept of a unifying central way finder and look and feel).

09.55 – Randall Anderson left the meeting.

Looking to the future, Culture Mile plan to review the City’s night-time economy and consider how it might be developed whilst being respectful of the City’s residents. It was hoped that creative volunteering at its events would inspire a similar level of energy and engagement experienced at the London 2012 Olympics through its Games Makers. Members felt that more could be done to market the ongoing work of the City and Culture Mile. Work was well underway for the forthcoming Fusion Prize which promoted the use of Fusion Skills to prepare individuals better or employment. The next big deliverable would be the relocation of the Museum of London in 2024. 

Members enquired as to whether

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding the Culture Mile Learning (CML) case for investment 2020/23. The Director of the Museum of London was invited to address the Board as the lead for CML.

CML represents an ambitious programme which contributes significantly to the Education Board’s Cultural and Creative Learning Strategy.  The programme includes the School Visits Fund (SVF), originally established by the Education Board and benefitting children from the poorest backgrounds by using a targeted approach towards schools with high numbers of pupils in receipt of Pupil Premium.

Members watched a video showcasing the end product of an animation workshop undertaken by pupils in Key Stage 2 highlighting how the various projects run by CML promoted the concept and development of Fusion Skills.

Alongside its four co-partners and 26 additional partners, CML coordinated more than 3000 hours of volunteer time to an approximate value of £134,000 regarded as exceptional value for money given the small cost per child. The request for funding from the Education Board for the 2020-23 programme featured a 10% reduction from the previous year. This reduction had come as a result of sufficient additional support being generated from these other organisations that had joined as CML partners.

In response to a Member’s question about measurement and reporting of impact, CML officers responded that developing the impact framework around Fusion Skills was an area for continued improvement and was being addressed collaboratively across the partnership.

In light of possible ramifications of the Fundamental Review, the Board was being asked to endorse the proposed three-year programme, but only commit to the first year of funding for 2020/21. The Board would then consider the release any additional amounts subject to the annual impact assessments and the Fundamental Review.

RESOLVED, that Members

·         Endorse

Report of the Head of Corporate Strategy and Performance.

Members received a report of the Head of Corporate Strategy and Performance regarding the City of London Corporation’s draft Sport and Physical Activity Strategy for 2020-2025.

Members expressed a number of concerns:

·         The document does not have a clear scope and purpose. Also, while it occasionally mentions schools, buildings, students and pupils, it does not make any connections between sport and physical activity and learning.

·         Role, if any, of the Education Board was unclear in the development and oversight of the strategy coupled with no clarity on lead committee and departments. Members were supportive of the idea of a Working Group but requested reporting clarity.

Members agreed that the strategy should not prevent the work of the Education Board relating to delivery of Sport and Physical Activity but felt it important to ensure that such strategy is aligned with the Education Board’s three core objectives.

Members recommended that the Corporate Strategy and Performance Team consult directly with the Education Unit to discuss how education and learning may be better represented within the Strategy.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

Report of the Director of City Bridge Trust and Chief Grants Officer.

Members received a report of the Director of City Bridge Trust and Chief Grants Officer regarding the City of London Corporation’s Social Mobility Strategy 2018-2028 annual report. The following matters were raised:

·         There was a view amongst Members that whilst the report delivered an excellent overview, some aspects of the City’s achievements were undersold, including the work delivered in the Family of Schools (including the academic achievement for pupils in receipt of Pupil Premium) and the commitment of the City to work-related learning and apprenticeships.

·         It was noted that the 2019 London Careers Festival (LCF) featured prominently in the Corporation’s delivery of this strategy. Itwas felt that identifying more opportunities for work experience through LCF 2020 and beyond was key to even greater success.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

Joint report of the Director of Innovation and Growth and the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a joint report of the Director of Innovation and Growth and the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding the City of London Corporation’s Digital Skills Strategy 2018-23.

It was commended that the Education Unit had been the major delivery partner to date on the reported outcomes, and digital continues to be a priority through the Fusion and Skills initiatives.

It was noted by the Board that the area of Digital Skills must continue to be stretched and advanced in order to ensure that the City remained competitive.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members received a report of the Town Clerk regarding the Board’s public outstanding actions. The following matters were raised:

·         Items 6/2019/P and 8/2019/P would be reported in in January 2020.

·         10/2019/P and 11/2019/P - The City’s three independent schools and the Guildhall School for Music and Drama had agreed to present their partnership reports to the Education Board annually in March.

·         11/2019/P - At a recent Headteachers’ Forum the Education Unit had encouraged schools to approach their contractors. Brexit contingency plans for contractors were reported to be appropriate.

·         Exact figures in relation to 12/2019/P were not available as the necessary data had not been collected. The matter was closed.

·         13/2019/P - The LCF 2019 evaluation report, including media summary, would be circulated after the meeting.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding an update on the City of London Family of Schools governor appointments. Various amendments were noted.

Following the Education Board’s endorsement of its governance review recommendations on 18 July 2019, CoLAT have requested a paper to be submitted to the next Board of Trustees meeting on 12 December 2019. It was noted that the Education Unit were developing the requested paper and the Chairman of the Education Board requested a sight of the paper before it is submitted to CoLAT.

It was noted that appointments made by governing bodies were not reported to the Education Board until prior ratification by the CoLAT Board of Trustees.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members considered a report of the Town Clerk regarding the reappointment of a Sponsor Trustee to the City of London Academies Trust.

It was noted that two further COLAT Trustees’ terms were due to come to an end in January 2020 and that proposed replacement nominations would be reported to the Education Board’s next meeting.

RESOLVED, that Roy Blackwell be appointed as a Sponsor Trustee of the City of London Academies Trust Board of Trustees for a further four-year term commencing 14 January 2020.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding an update of the City of London Corporation’s Education Activities. The following matters were raised:

·         The Prefects’ Dinner would take place on 2 December 2019.

·         Attendance at the recent safeguarding training on 31 October 2019 had increased particularly for the advanced safeguarding course. It was stressed that it was the responsibility of individual governors to notify the clerk of their Board of Governors as to any training undertaken.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

NB – this item has a non-public appendix.

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding the annual report of the Education, Cultural and Creative Learning and Skills strategies.

The Board thanked officers for the report and for their work. It was felt that achievements within this first year had exceeded expectations in both quality and impact as a result of extensive collaboration with industry and cultural partners.

The City’s Apprenticeships pathway had led to a number of candidates attaining an ‘Outstanding’ award; there had also been an increase in work experience opportunities and apprentice numbers. Although there had been a slight reduction in the number both of adult learners and education courses, the reduction reflected  a deliberate recalibration of course offers in line with London-wide changes in adult education.

Members discussed the value of inviting pupils to formal City dinners.  Although these events generally benefitted a comparatively small number of pupils, the Board felt that these opportunities did have a significant impact on those pupils who attended. It was suggested that other Committees might also wish to invite pupils from the Family of Schools to their annual dinners as well as encourage Members to use their guest spaces at other City events to invite young people. Although welcomed, it was acknowledged that such invitations would require appropriate preparation of pupils and the following of safeguarding protocols.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Community and Children’s services regarding the Education Board’s revenue budgets 2020/21.

It was noted that the 2020/21 budget had not been impacted by the Fundamental Review, however future budgets from 2021/22 could be affected.

It was noted that a detailed budget plan for 2020/21would be presented at the next meeting.

RESOLVED, that

·         The provisional 2020/21 revenue budget be approved for submission to the Finance Committee; and

·         The Chamberlain be authorised to revise these budgets to allow for further implications arising from the agreement by this Board of specific allocations of funding to Academies and Central Support Services.

11.26 – The Board agreed to extend the meeting by 30 under Standing Order 40.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

NB – the appendix to this item has been submitted within the non-public section of the agenda.

Members of the Education Board received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding the evaluation of City Premium Grant funded projects delivered over the 2018/19 academic year.

Members focussed on the interventions where impact had been hard to measure, particularly in the area of staff continued professional development (CPD). It was noted that training often required school staff to spend time away from their school duties which was an unattractive option for already overstretched staffing. It was suggested that this was one likely cause for the low investment in staff CPD. The Education Board felt that consideration might be given to increased provision of good CPD and senior leadership development opportunities.

The Board expressed its appreciation for the comprehensiveness of the report.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.

MOTION - That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act

RESOLVED – That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2019.

RESOLVED, that the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2019 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members received a report of the Town Clerk regarding the Board’s non-public outstanding actions.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding the City of London Academy Schools Scrutiny Meetings.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding exclusions within the Family of Schools.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members heard an update from the Chairman regarding the Tomlinson Review.

This is a non-public appendix to the public report at item X.

Members received the non-public appendix to the Education, Cultural and Creative Learning and Skills Annual Report at item 8.

This is a non-public appendix to the public report at item X.

Members received the non-public appendix to the Evaluation of City Premium Grant Funded Projects over the 2018/19 academic year report at item 11.

There were no questions.

There was one item of urgent business.