Agenda and minutes

The Chairman began by welcoming Deputy James Thomson to his first Board of Governors meeting following his appointment in April 2013.

Apologies for absence were received from Ian Seaton (Deputy Chairman), Deputy Billy Dove, Sophie Fernandes, Stuart Fraser (ex-officio), Deputy the Reverend Stephen Haines, Alderman Sir Paul Judge, Dame Mary Richardson (co-opted), Sir Michael Snyder (ex-officio) and Professor Whitehouse (co-opted).

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 16 May 2013 (copy attached)

The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 16 May 2013 were considered and approved as a correct record.

To appoint the Bursary Committee for the year ensuing – to comprise the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Board and up to five other Governors.

            THE BURSARY COMMITTEE IN 2011/12 COMPRISED:

Deputy Dr. Giles Shilson (as Chairman)

Deputy the Reverend Stephen Haines (as Deputy Chairman)

Peter Leck

Deputy Edward Lord

Deputy Joyce Nash

Ian Seaton

Deputy Robin Sherlock

The Town Clerk reminded the Board that the Bursary Committee could comprise the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Board and up to five other Governors.

The Board proceeded to appoint their Bursary Committee for 2013/14.

RESOLVED - that the following Governors be appointed to the Bursary Committee for the ensuing year:

Deputy Dr. Giles Shilson (Chairman)

Ian Seaton (Deputy Chairman)

Deputy the Reverend Stephen Haines

Edward Lord

Deputy Joyce Nash

Dame Mary Richardson

Deputy James Thomson

To appoint a Reference Sub Committee to consider arrears of School fees, sabbatical leave and Estimates (including fee increases and other such matters as the Board may from time to time decide).

THE REFERENCE SUB COMMITTEE IN 2011/2012 COMPRISED:

Deputy Dr. Giles Shilson (as Chairman)

Deputy the Reverend Haines (as Deputy Chairman)

Peter Leck

Deputy Edward Lord

Deputy Joyce Nash

Dame Mary Richardson

The Town Clerk reminded Governors that the Reference Sub Committee could consist of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Board and up to five other Governors.

The Board proceeded to appoint their Reference Sub Committee for 2013/14.

RESOLVED - that the following Governors be appointed to the Reference Sub Committee for the ensuing year:

Deputy Dr. Giles Shilson (Chairman)

Ian Seaton (Deputy Chairman)

Deputy the Reverend Stephen Haines

Edward Lord

Deputy Joyce Nash

Dame Mary Richardson

Deputy James Thomson

To appoint a representative to the Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools for the ensuing year.

The Board proceeded to appoint their AGBIS representative for 2013/14.

RESOLVED – That, Edward Lord be re-appointed as the Board’s AGBIS representative for the ensuing year.

Joint report of the Town Clerk and the Headmaster of the City of London School (copy attached).

The Board considered a joint report of the Town Clerk, the Headmaster of the City of London School and the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls relative to the School’s Child Protection Policy.

The Town Clerk reported that the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls had approved the amended policy at their meeting last week. The Chairman highlighted that the policy was reviewed by the Board annually.

The Second Master reported that he had recently suggested several amendments to the printed and circulated policy which the Town Clerk went on to highlight. The Town Clerk stated that the Policy had now been updated to include 2013 guidance from the Department for Education. He highlighted that the policy made clear that criminal records checks, now carried out by the DBS, were also carried out for all contracted staff in accordance with the views of this Board when the policy was last reviewed.

The Board were informed that the Town Clerk had recently commissioned a review of safeguarding arrangements at the City schools by a consultant called Keith Fossey. The Town Clerk reported that, in accordance with Mr Fossey’s recommendations, the name of the Deputy Child Protection Liaison Officer would also now be included at the end of the document for both the City of London School and the City of London School for Girls. It was also highlighted that Mr Fossey had recommended that each City school should have its own Child Protection Policy. However, the City Corporation had expressed a preference to retain a ‘core policy’ for the City of London School and the City of London School for Girls with each School then able to produce additional annexes to this to reflect their particular needs/practices.

The Town Clerk went on to

Report of the Headmaster of the City of London School (copy attached).

The Board considered a report of the Headmaster of the City of London School relative to various School issues such as Curriculum Matters, September 2013 Admissions and Long Term Medical Conditions.

September 2013 Admissions

The Headmaster reported that the School now seemed to have become a ‘victim of its own success’ in that the pupil population of the School was expected to be higher than ever next year. He added that an ideal figure for the School in the long-term would be around 910 and that approximately 950 pupils were expected in the new academic year following an overwhelming number of acceptances.

The Headmaster went on to report that, in order to address this, it was now proposed that Sixth Form recruitment was reduced with the exception of those receiving bursaries. Each year a few pupils choose to leave the School after their GCSE studies and it was not thought necessary to make certain that these were replaced by new entrants to the Sixth Form. The Board were also reminded of the new, 2 year, screening process for those entering the School at 13+. The Headmaster highlighted that 83 places had been accepted to date but, with the major deposit not having to be paid until September 2014, it was difficult to judge how many would actually want to take up the places.

The Director of Finance highlighted that the uncertainties regarding 13+ recruitment had now been referenced within the School’s Risk Register. He assured the Board that contingency plans were in position if places were either under or oversubscribed. The Director went on to report that, with the School’s pupil population set to reach approximately 950 in the next academic year, this would constitute a ‘windfall’ in terms of resources which he proposed should be retained for future capital

Report of the Headmaster (copy attached).

The Board considered a report of the Headmaster of the City of London School relative to the School’s Risk Register.

The Chairman stated that he felt satisfied that the School was doing all it could to mitigate its notable risks. He added that he felt it was sensible to include reference to the City’s Educational Strategy Working Party within the amended register.

In response to questions around ‘failure to maintain adequate maintenance and cleaning standards in the School’, the Director of Finance highlighted that Cleaning and Repairs and Maintenance were two separate contracts.

Governors requested that the direction of travel of some risks and the ‘traffic light’ system assigned to each risk could be presented more clearly in future versions.

RESOLVED – That, Governors approve the School’s current Risk Register.

The Second Master was heard relative to the School’s Pastoral System.

The Second Master tabled the contents page of the School’s current ‘Pastoral Handbook’ along with an extract from the School’s most recent ISI Inspection Report of 2011.

He began by summarising the current ‘reporting lines’ in terms of pastoral issues and explained that the complete Pastoral Handbook had been circulated to both existing and prospective parents and Governors last term.

The Second Master highlighted that the system functioned most efficiently when pupils, parents and staff worked together to deliver outcomes. He added that the pastoral system was, and would continue to be, at the heart of CLS. Governors were informed that Form Tutors were often at the ‘centre’ of the system and that they then had the ability to ‘report up’ to Heads of Year, the Second Master and, ultimately, the Headmaster.

In response to a question, the Second Master reported that there were 6 Year Heads and that each had a Deputy.

The Second Master went on to outline the scope of pastoral activities within the School and referred to the following:

·        the increasing importance and prevalence of mental health issues and role of counselling in this area;

·        bullying – both verbal and physical (although physical bullying was very rare at CLS)

·        drug and alcohol abuse;

·        pupils struggling academically and/or socially;

·        family problems – family ‘breakups’ etc.;

·        disciplinary matters;

·        the CLS mentoring programme and prefect system – sometimes boys preferred to talk through problems with their peers;

·        Child Protection and Safeguarding;

·        detentions;

·        commendations;

·        complaints from pupils, staff and parents;

·        learning support systems;

·        medical problems and the role of the School Nurse;

·        PSHE programme.

The Chairman stated that he felt that pastoral issues were managed particularly well by the School and that the ISI Inspection report recognised that pupils

There were no questions.

A Governor commented that she had recently attended the School’s production of ‘Great Expectations’ which she described as superb. She wished to place on record her congratulations to all staff and pupils involved in the production.

To consider the resolution excluding the Public in respect of those items containing exempt information:-

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

            Item No                                                           Exemption Paragraph(s)

                14                                                                               1, 3 & 4

                15                                                                               1, 2 & 3

                16                                                                                     -

                17                                                                                     -

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

            Item No                                                           Exemption Paragraph(s)

                14                                                                               1, 3 & 4

                15                                                                               1, 2 & 3

                16                                                                                     -

                17                                                                                     -

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 16 May 2013 (copy attached).

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 16 May 2013 were considered and approved as a correct record.

Non-public report of the Headmaster of the City of London School (copy attached).

The Board considered a report of the Headmaster of the City of London School relevant to various School matters.

There were no questions in the non-public session.

The Board received a late, separately circulated report of the Headmaster of the City of London School. A confidential, Governors Only item was also raised.

The next meeting of the Board of Governors of the City of London School is scheduled for Thursday 3 October 2013.

The Board noted that the