Agenda and minutes

Deputy Joyce Nash in the Chair

Apologies for absence were received from Sir Michael Snyder.

Ian Seaton declared that he was on the Education Board.

Order of the Common Council of 23 April 2015, appointing the Board and setting out its terms of reference.

The Board received the Order of the Court of Common Council of 23 April 2015, appointing the Board of Governors of the City of London School for 2015/16 and setting out its terms of reference.

To elect a Chairman pursuant to Standing Order No. 29.

The Board proceeded to elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 29.

The Town Clerk read a list of those Governors eligible to stand and Ian Seaton, being the only Governor expressing willingness to serve as Chairman, was duly elected for the ensuing year.

Ian Seaton took the Chair and thanked Governors for their support. The Chairman went on to welcome Christopher Martin following his recent illness and Richard Brookes, the new Senior Deputy to his first meeting of the Board.

To elect a Deputy Chairman pursuant to Standing Order No. 30.

[The immediate past Chairman has indicated that he would like to exercise his right under Standing Order no. 30(3)(a) to stand as Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.]   

The Town Clerk reported that, in accordance with Standing Order No. 30. (3) (a), the immediate past Chairman had chosen to exercise his right to serve as Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

Deputy Dr Giles Shilson was therefore duly appointed as Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

          VOTE OF THANKS TO THE PAST CHAIRMAN

Deputy Joyce Nash paid tribute to Deputy Dr Giles Shilson, the past Chairman of the Board and proposed a Vote of Thanks which was seconded by Edward Lord.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That, at the conclusion of his three year term of office as their Chairman, the Board of Governors of the City of London School wish to extend to:

DEPUTY DR GILES SHILSON

their sincere thanks and appreciation for the manner in which he has presided over their deliberations and the detailed care and interest he has shown in all aspects of the life of the City of London School.

GILES brings his academic pedigree to the role and during his Chairmanship, the School has continued to achieve excellent academic standards, to modernise appropriately and update its curriculum. The School achieved its most successful ‘A’ level results in the Summer of 2012 and Mandarin was introduced as a full curriculum subject in September 2013.

IN his role he has handled the numerous and complex issues surrounding the School with great skill, determination and diplomacy and he had the courage to make difficult decisions when necessary. He has ensured that the School remains in a healthy financial position and appropriate investments in new facilities have been made – such as the highly successful David Levin Playground which was opened in the Autumn of 2013 – while keeping the School’s fees at a competitive level.

UNDER his guidance the School has continued to offer a substantial

To approve the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on25 February 2015.

The public minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2015 were considered and approved as a correct record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Co-opted Governors concerned left the room during consideration of the item.

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk which requested that Governors consider the re-appointment of co-opted Governors of the Board for further three year-terms. The Chairman remarked he was content to support the re-appointments.

In answer to a Member’s question the Town Clerk confirmed that such appointments would usually be reviewed in advance of the conclusion of their terms of office.

A Governor, also the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School, reported that his Board was considering the introduction of a limit of three terms of three years for its co-opted Governors.  

RESOLVED – That Lord Levene, Christopher Martin and Dame Mary Donaldson be re-appointed onto the Board for a further term of three years.

The Cop-opted Governors concerned re-entered the room and were congratulated on their re-appointment.

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 for 2014/15:-

Deputy Dr. Giles Shilson (Chairman)

Ian Seaton (Deputy Chairman)

Deputy Joyce Nash

Sylvia Moys

Deputy the Reverend Stephen Haines

Dame Mary Richardson

Deputy James Thomson

[N.B. The Sub Committee did not meet in 2014/15.]

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 2015/16.

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

Ian Seaton (Chairman)

Deputy Dr. Giles Shilson (Deputy Chairman)

Deputy the Reverend Stephen Haines

Edward Lord

Sylvia Moys

Deputy Joyce Nash

Dame Mary Richardson

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).

Reference Sub Committee 2014/15:-

Deputy Dr Giles Shilson (Chairman)

Ian Seaton (Deputy Chairman)

Deputy Joyce Nash

Sylvia Moys

Deputy the Reverend Stephen Haines

Edward Lord

Deputy James Thomson

[N.B. The Sub Committee did not meet in 2014/15.]

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 2015/16.

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

Ian Seaton (Chairman)

Deputy Dr. Giles Shilson (Deputy Chairman)

Deputy the Reverend Stephen Haines

Edward Lord

Sylvia Moys

Deputy Joyce Nash

Professor Whitehouse

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

Representative in 2014/15:-

Edward Lord

The Board proceeded to appoint their AGBIS representative for 2015/16.

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

Report of the Board’s AGBIS representative.

The Board considered a report of their AGBIS representative providing information on the AGBIS AGM and Conference which took place on 10 March 2015 and also details of a breakout session on governance which had been particularly interesting and had resulted in a suggestion to undertake a review of governance at the School to ensure that the Board was following best practice.

Members discussed the advantages and disadvantages of appointing a group to undertake a review of governance.

RESOLVED – That

1) the report be noted; and

2) a Governance Working Party be appointed, to be led by Edward Lord, the AGBIS representative and comprising the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, the Head and the Senior Deputy to review the current governance of the School, considering the possible appointment of Committees together with any skill sets which the Board would benefit from; with as much as possible of the information to be considered via email with a view to the submission of a Strategy paper to the October meeting of the Board.  

Report of the Director Human Resources.

The Board considered a report of the Director Human Resources informing them of the recent pay discussions that took place on behalf of the Board regarding the Staff Side and Common Room pay claim for September 2015.

RESOLVED – That the:-

1) report be noted;

2) continuation of the Teachers’ Pay Panel be agreed in relation to any pay claim made on behalf of the Staff Side and Common Rooms for the academic year commencing in September 2016; and

3) Terms of Reference of the Teachers’ Pay Panel, attached to the report, be endorsed.

Report of the Head of the City of London School.

The Board received a report of the Head of the City of London School relative to various School issues such as means tested sponsored awards, the renewal of HSBC financial support, health and safety matters and the building works planned for the summer of 2015.

Report of the Remembrancer.

Governors received a report of the Remembrancer concerning the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 which placed two new duties on the Board. Firstly the Board now had a need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism and secondly the y would need to co-operate with panel put into place by local authorities to identify and provide support to those who were vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.

During a detailed discussion of the report it was noted that the Corporation was looking at its departments working together in order to identify particular risks e.g. educational establishments and venue hire and to suggest ways forward. It was noted that children could be radicalised in their own homes via the computer and Governors discussed various ways of engaging with parents and the community on this matter and it was particularly noted that good practice encouraged self-help groups for parents and there were good leaflets available. It was agreed that an update be provided at each meeting of the Board, if appropriate.

RESOLVED – That the report and the duties placed on the Board as set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 of the report, be noted.

DBS Checks

In  answer to a question from the Chairman, the Town Clerk reported that one Governor was still to apply for their DBS check and the Member reported that she would be applying for her check to be undertaken that afternoon.

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 Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

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 Nos.                                                         Exemption Paragraphs

                18                                                                               3

                19                                                                               1,2 & 3

                20                                                                               3

                21                                                                               1, 2 & 3

                22                                                                               1, 2 & 3

                23 - 29                                                                        3

                30                                                                               1, 2 & 3

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2015.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2015 were considered and approved as a correct record.

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Report of the Head of the City of London School.

The Board considered a report of the Head of the City of London School concerning the Education Strategy.

Report of the Head of the City of London School.

The Board considered a report of the Head of the City of London School concerning various School matters.

Report of the Head of the City of London School.

The Board received a report of the Head of the City of London School concerning School fees and the Service Based Review.

Report of the Head of the City of London School.

The Board received a report of the Head of the City of London School concerning Scholarships and Bursaries and the Service Based Review.

Report of the Head of the City of London School.

The Board received a report of the Head of the City of London School concerning security issues and the Town Clerk reported action taken using urgency procedures approving certain security works.

Report of the Head of the City of London School.

The Board considered a report of the Head of the City of London School concerning applications for sabbatical leave.

Report of the Head (To Follow).

The Board noted that a report of the Head of the City of London School concerning the risk register would be submitted to the next meeting of the Board.

Report of the Head.

The Board received a report of the Head of the City of London School concerning the waiver of procurement regulations to purchase a Management Information System.

Report of the Head.

The Board received the annual report of the Head of the City of London School concerning child protection issues.

Herbert Henry Asquith

In answer to a question from a Governor, the Head reported that the School was commissioning a piece of string music to mark the centenary of the end of, former City of London School pupil Herbert Henry Asquith’s, service as Prime Minister.

There were no items of urgent business.

To agree the Governors only minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2015.

The Governors Only minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2014 were considered and approved as a correct record.