Agenda and minutes

Venue: https://youtu.be/rYm2UH3m6kQ

Contact: Polly Dunn  Email: polly.dunn@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from the Rt Hon the Lord Mayor William Russell. Alderman Sir Peter Estlin and Tim Campbell issued apologies in advance for departing the meeting early.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Members' declarations under the Code of Conduct in respect of items on the agenda

Minutes:

There were no declarations.

 

The Board agreed to take item 4 on the agenda, before returning to item 3.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Election of Chairman

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 29.

 

Subject to the outcome of this election, it may be necessary to conduct an election of Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

Members elected a Chair in accordance with Standing Order 29.

 

RESOLVED, that being the only Member willing to serve, Caroline Haines be

elected as Chair for the ensuing year.

 

As Caroline Haines was previously the Deputy Chair, the Board then moved to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30.

RESOLVED, that – being the only Member willing to serve, Deputy Philip Woodhouse be elected as Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

 

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY, That - at the conclusion of her four-month term of office as their Chair, Members of the Education Board wish to extend to:

 

ANN HOLMES

 

their sincere thanks and appreciation for the manner in which she has presided over their deliberations as Chair and Deputy Chair and the passion and drive she has shown toward the City’s provision of education.

 

In Ann’s time as Chair, she led the Board in the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing the significant impact the virus has had on teaching and learning throughout the City and beyond. Despite the restrictions and barriers to learning in place, Ann has helped to ensure continued delivery of the City’s three fundamental strategies in Education, Cultural and Creative Learning and Skills.

 

Ann has necessarily focussed strategy toward the role of family, parents and carers in children’s learning; with her own passion for the role of music and other creative arts shining through in a lot of the Board’s work.

 

During her time, Ann has helped the City respond to significant changes in the national curriculum within its Family of Schools, not least the transfer to virtual learning platforms. Enabling the re-shaping of lifelong learning and apprenticeships that the City is able to offer its residents, schools, employees and visitors.

 

Ann has performed her role as Chair with great

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Public Minutes

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Minutes:

4a

19 November 2020 pdf icon PDF 141 KB

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 19 November 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4a

Minutes:

RESOLVED, that the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 19 November 2020 were approved as a correct record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4a

4b

30 November 2020 pdf icon PDF 95 KB

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 30 November 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4b

Minutes:

RESOLVED, that the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 30 November 2020 were approved as a correct record.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4b

5.

Various Appointments

The Town Clerk to be heard.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Minutes:

The Town Clerk was heard with respect to the Board’s appointments to its various Sub-Committees and the follow appointments were agreed:

 

Nominations Sub-Committee (1 vacancy)

 

In addition to the Chair and Deputy Chair, who have ex-officio rights to this Sub-Committee, and Tijs Broeke (appointed in July 2020) there were no further expressions of interest. Any Members who were interested in this Sub-Committee could email the clerk ahead of the next meeting.

 

Education Charity Sub-Committee (2 vacancies)

 

In addition to the Chair and Deputy Chairman, who have ex-officio rights to this Sub-Committee, Randall Anderson and Benjamin Murphy were appointed to the Education Charities Sub-Committee.

 

NB: after the meeting concluded it was noted that both Mr Anderson and Mr Murphy had already been appointed to this Sub-Committee by the Community & Children’s Services Committee. Consequently, the vacancies were carried over.

 

 

City of London Academies Trust

The Clerk explained that the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Board may serve as Company Member and as a Trustee of the City of London Academies Trust, (or a representative/nominee of each where the original candidate is not able to serve). The newly elected Chair and Deputy Chair were invited to put to the Board their intentions in this respect.

 

The Chair, Caroline Haines, wished to exercise her right to appointment to the COLAT Board of Trustees and as Company Member.

 

The Deputy Chair, Deputy Philip Woodhouse, noted a conflict of interest given his involvement in the Mossbourne Federation. Given his inability to serve on COLAT either as a Trustee or Company Member, he proposed Alderman Robert Howard as his nominee as Trustee, leaving the Company Member vacancy vacant. The appointment of a Company Member would be brought back to the Board for endorsement at its next meeting.

 

RESOLVED, that the Deputy Chairman’s nomination of Alderman

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Public Outstanding Actions pdf icon PDF 117 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Town Clerk regarding the Board’s outstanding actions:

 

  • 7/2020/P – Following necessary approvals at the meeting, the Tomlinson Working Party would be called to learn more about the bursary arrangements at the City of London’s independent schools.
  • 8/2020/P – Some the City of London Primary Academy Islington (CoLPAI) project had experienced difficulties due to COVID-19. The current planned completion date would enable the School to move into the new build for the autumn 2021 term.
  • 11/2020/P – The matter had moved. There was increased pressure to prioritise the protection of key workers against the risks of COVID-19.
  • 15/2020/P – The Education Services Company considerations had been shared with the Livery Committee.

 

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Annual Review of Terms of Reference pdf icon PDF 114 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Town Clerk relative to the annual review of the Board’s Terms of Reference.

 

RESOLVED, that Members –

 

·         Approve, subject to any comments, the terms of reference of the Board to be submitted to both to the Policy & Resources Committee and the Court of Common Council, as set out at Appendix 1, and that any further changes required in the lead up to the Court’s appointment of Committees be delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chair.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

COVID-19 Update

The Director of Community and Children’s Services to be heard.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Minutes:

The Director of Community & Children’s Services was heard relative to the COVID-19 update. The following points were noted:

 

  • The Prime Minister stated that the date of 8 March is the earliest that it is sensible to set for schools to go back and it is the hope that all schools will go back, but this date will depend on a continued fall in the incidence of the disease. This means that the current state of lockdown operations in schools and our Further Education provision will continue.
  • The lockdown has resulted in significantly less confirmed covid 19 cases amongst staff and pupils.
  • In person attendance at school has been higher on average than in the other lockdown periods, including a higher proportion of disadvantaged pupils attending.
  • Schools are offering a comprehensive online and remote learning offer with a combination of live, timetabled teaching and learning and remote learning packs (both online and in hard copies where this is appropriate for the families.
  • Schools remain under considerable pressure as they create both high-quality in person education and equal quality online learning.
  • Continued investment and deployment of laptops, tablets and dongles and/or enhanced data packages means that most if not all pupils are able to fully access online learning.
  • CML is working with schools to develop innovative learning packages support (both hard copy play packs and virtual resources) to support teachers’ planning.
  • Lateral Flow Testing has been paused for pupils but is continuing for staff. It is currently being rolled out for staff in primary schools as well.
  • An Ofqual consultation underway regarding the shape and nature of any formal assessments and exams for GCSE and A-Levels.
  • Ofsted have also announced that from 25th January they are re-starting section 8 inspections remotely. Ofsted’s longstanding powers to respond to specific concerns where needed.

 

The

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Tackling Racism Taskforce

The Town Clerk to be heard.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Minutes:

The Town Clerk was heard with respect to the Tackling Racism Taskforce (TRT). It was noted that the TRT went to Policy & Resources Committee last week and the recommendations were approved. The recommendations would soon filter through working practices either directly through officers or through committees in instances where Member approval was required. Progress would be monitored from an Education Board perspective, and a detailed follow-up would be brought to the next Board meeting. A copy of the report could be sent to Board Members on request.

 

RESOLVED, that the update be received.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Tomlinson Review Update pdf icon PDF 179 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Minutes:

Members considered a report of the Town Clerk with respect to the Tomlinson Review Update. The Town Clerk explained some proposed changes to the drafted composition, as proposed and agreed by the Policy & Resources Committee.

 

The new composition was suggested as:

 

Composition

·         The Chair and Deputy Chair of the Education Board

·         The Chair of the Policy & Resources Committee

·         Up to two further Members of the Policy & Resources Committee

·         Up to two further Members of the Education Board

·         One Member of the Finance Committee

·         Up to two Co-Opted Members (to be appointed by the Education Board and Policy & Resources Committee)

The Chair of the Education Board will act as Chair of the Working Party

The Chair of the Working Party will have the authority to invite Members and Officers to Working Party meetings in a consultative capacity.

 

It was noted that Policy & Resources Committee had agreed the co-opted appointment of Henry Colthurst and Alderman Alistair King to the Working Party. This was supported by the Board.

 

The Board wished to encourage the Finance Committee’s re-appointment of Jamie Ingham-Clark.

 

RESOLVED, that Members –

·         note the progress made to date by the Working Party and relevant departments;

 

·         endorse seeking approval for the reconstitution of the Working Party, noting that the Policy & Resources Committee prescribed a 3-month delivery time;

 

·         agree the refreshed Terms of References and Membership of the Working Party, as amended by the Policy & Resources Committee.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Education Cultural and Creative Learning and Skills 2019/20 Annual Report pdf icon PDF 169 KB

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

 

To be read in conjuction with a non-public appendix.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services relative to the Education Cultural and Creative Learning and Skills 2019/20 Annual Report.

 

Very few events had been cancelled in response to COVID-19, as the majority were delivered virtually. There has been increased attendance at some events and school engagement Forums which proved to be successful. Overall, the City had been progressing well in terms of activity and impact against its three strategies.

 

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Education Board Budget Update 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 235 KB

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services relative to the Education Board Update 2020/21.

 

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Revenue Budgets 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 272 KB

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

Minutes:

Members considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Community & Children’s Services relative to the Revenue Budgets 2021/22.

 

RESOLVED, that Members

 

·         review the provisional 2021/22 revenue budgets to ensure that it reflects the Committee’s objectives, and if so, approve the budget for submission to the Finance Committee;

 

·         authorise the Chamberlain to revise these budgets to allow for further implications arising from the agreement by this Committee of specific allocations of funding to Academies and Central Support Services; and

 

·         agree that minor amendments for 2020/21 and 2021/22 budgets arising during budget setting be delegated to the Chamberlain.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

Education Activities Update pdf icon PDF 161 KB

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 14.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services relative to an Educational Activities Update.

 

As the Board was halfway through the delivery of its strategies, it was a good time to connect with the City’s various partners to highlight best practice and identify areas for improvement. In this vein, a mid-term strategy review had been commissioned and would be reported to the Education Board in due course. An invitation was extended to Members of the Board to contact Daniel McGrady, should they wish to be interviewed or to provide comments to contribute towards the findings of the review.

 

Members were invited to the annual chess tournament and debating competition.

 

For certain events that had arguably proven more successful over a virtual platform, the Education Unit would consider hosting these virtually after the impacts of the COVID19 pandemic had subsided.

 

A Member requested for some oversight of markets schemes, e.g. apprenticeships, cooking schools etc, to ensure the City was working strategically with them. Work in these areas held exciting prospects.

 

RESOLVED, that Members

 

·         note the update on events and activities delivered since the last meeting; and

 

·         note the calendar of forums and events over the 2020/21 academic year in Appendix 1.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

Education Media Plan pdf icon PDF 187 KB

Report of the Director of Communications.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services relative to the Education Media Plan. Members were informed that the media plan was a step-by-step process on how the corporate media team supported the Family of Schools, and how the media team asks schools to share proactive stories of effective practice.

 

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

Cultural and Creative Learning Strategy Update pdf icon PDF 106 KB

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 16.

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services relative to the Cultural and Creative Learning Strategy Update. A presentation was heard with respect to the strategy for 2020/21.

 

Members commended the initiatives underway and the work to create effective partnerships between the Family of Schools and with cultural venues in supporting pupils to engage in cultural and creative learning.

 

RESOLVED, that the report and presentation be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

Parental engagement in learning pdf icon PDF 105 KB

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and presentation from Achievement for All.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 17.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services relative to Parental Engagement and Learning.

 

A presentation on Achievement for All was heard from the organisation’s Founder and CEO. Achievement for All was rooted in the Lamb Enquiry and addressed the needs of the most vulnerable children. The Chair explained that the City would draw on a number of examples of practice in this strategic area to inform its own initiatives and programmes..

 

RESOLVED, that the report and presentation be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

Evaluation from the City of London Academies Trust on the Head Start Summer Catch-up Project pdf icon PDF 103 KB

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

 

To be read in conjunction with a non-public appendix.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 18.

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services relative to the Evaluation from the City of London Academies Trust on the Head Start Summer Catch-up Project.

 

Thanks were issued by Education Board Member and Chairman of the COLAT Board of Trustees, to the Corporation for enabling this project to happen. Learnings from the project would be shared.

 

RESOLVED, that Members note the evaluation report submitted by COLAT on the Head Start Summer catch-up programme funded from the City Corporation’s COVID-19 Contingency Fund.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

19.

Virtual School for looked after children - annual report for 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 263 KB

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 19.

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding the Virtual School for Looked After Children Annual Report for 2019/20. The following points were noted:

 

·         the cohort was looked-after young people, many refugee young people with almost no English language ability, and therefore a key focus was ensuring the students’ language abilities were at a suitable level to engage with the curriculum;

 

·         the shift to virtual learning due to COVID-19 was challenging as many students had minimal IT skills or experience with laptops. Making sure students were engaged on a daily basis was challenging;

 

·         lockdown had an impact on the mental health of the cohort, particularly due to worries about family abroad and limited access to communication with family;

 

·         the Quorum project helped children with sleep patterns, and this was beginning to show some impact but there was not much detail.

 

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

20.

Governor Appointments Update pdf icon PDF 118 KB

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 20.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services relative to the Governor Appointments Update.

 

It was noted that some appointments had terminated terms and that a request had been made to CoLAT to provide up to date information on the governing body membership of its Local Governing Bodies. Where terms of office had expired and terms would not be renewed, the Education Unit would continue to provide support in governor recruitment. Concern was raised in relation to the deputy chair vacancy at The City Academy Hackney. Members were asked to advertise this vacancy amongst other Members and their own networks.

 

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

Joint Annual Report for Social Mobility and Digital Skills Strategies, Social Mobility Employer Index rating and strategic focus for 2020-21 pdf icon PDF 142 KB

Joint report of the Chief Grants Officer & Director of City Bridge Trust, Director of Innovation and Growth, and Director of Community and Children’s Services.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 21.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received a joint report of the Chief Grants Officer & Director of City Bridge Trust, Director of Innovation & Growth, and the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding the Joint Annual Report for Social Mobility and Digital Skills Strategies, Social Mobility Employer Index Rating and Strategic Focus for 2020-21.

 

It was noted that the Education Board had delivered on some key successes of these joint strategies, notably the Culture Mile Learning School Visits Fund, COVID19 Play Packs and Virtual London Careers Festival.

 

RESOLVED, that Members

 

·         note the progress made in the delivery of both strategies in 2019/20;

·         note the City Corporation’s rating on Social Mobility Employer Index; and

·         note the proposed future direction of the strategies.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

22.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Board

Minutes:

There was one question.

 

Members expressed concern regarding the amount of screen-time children had with teachers, as it appeared that a lot of school work was independent, and requested statistics be provided going forward. Officers noted that this varied between schools, with differing opinions amongst the parental bodies.

 

The CEO of COLAT explained that whilst at times the virtual teaching delivery had not been perfect, there had been a steep learning curve with continued improvements. The City’s academies had developed a protocol which involved live teaching, with time for pupils to take work away, complete it and come back to the screen.

 

In the first lockdown, engagement was at 40-50%, this had increased to 70-80%. Each school was going through a process of remote learning monitoring, to assess the quality of what is being delivered and that each child is getting the best possible experience. Extra efforts were being made with those pupils who were not engaging.

 

Whilst 1500 devices had been distributed across the academies, it was considered that there was less of an issue of access to IT, more issue with engagement with the child and their family.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

23.

Any Other Business that the Chairman Considers Urgent

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

24.

Exclusion of the Public

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

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 24.

Minutes:

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.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

25.

Non-Public Minutes

Minutes:

25a

19 November 2020

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 25a

Minutes:

RESOLVED, that the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2020 be approved as a correct record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 25a

25b

30 November 2020

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 25b

Minutes:

RESOLVED, that the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2020 be approved as a correct record.</AI4><AI5>

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 25b

26.

Non-Public Outstanding Actions

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 26.

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

27.

Proposed Itemised Education Board Budget for the 2021/22 Financial Year

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 27.

Minutes:

Members considered a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

28.

City Premium Grant 2020/21 January Funding Round

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 28.

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

29.

City of London Academies Trust Sixth Form Strategy and Business Case

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 29.

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

30.

Non-Public Appendix - Education, Cultural and Creative Learning and Skills 2019/20

Non-Public Appendix to be read in conjunction with item 11 on the agenda.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 30.

Minutes:

The non-public appendix was received in conjunction with the report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services at item 11.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

31.

Non-Public Appendix - Evaluation from the City of London Academies Trust on the Head Start Summer Catch up Project

Non-Public Appendix to be read in conjunction with item 18.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 31.

Minutes:

The non-public appendix was received in conjunction with the report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services at item 18.

 

Members resolved to suspend SO40 and extend the meeting by 10 minutes.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

32.

Non Public Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Board

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

33.

Any Other Business that the Chairman Considers Urgent and which the Committee Agree Should be Considered Whilst the Public are Excluded

Minutes:

There was one item of urgent business.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.