Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed Mr Day to his first Board meeting following his appointment by the Court of Common Council in January 2013.

Apologies for absence were received from Professor John Betteridge (co-opted), Dr Stephanie Ellington (co-opted), Caroline Garnham (co-opted), Clare James and Henrika Priest.

The Chairman welcomed Mr Martin Day to his first Board meeting since being appointed at the Court of Common Council in January.

Apologies for absence were received from Professor John Betteridge (co-opted), Dr. Stephanie Ellington (co-opted), Caroline Garnham (co-opted), Clare James and Henrika Priest.

There were no declarations.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 16 November 2012 (copy attached).

The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 16 November 2012 were approved and agreed as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING

Criminal Record Bureau Checks for Members (page 2) – The Chairman reported that Corporate HR had carried out further checks subsequent to this Board’s last meeting and had now confirmed that enhanced checks with the Department for Education would still be required for Chairmen.

In accordance with the Order of the Court of 6 December 2012, the Board are invited to review their terms of reference prior to their submission to the Court at its meeting in April 2013 (copy attached).

The Board took the opportunity to review their terms of reference prior to their submission to the Court of Common Council at its meeting in April 2013.

RESOLVED – That, the Board approve their existing Terms of Reference for submission to the Court of Common Council in April 2013.

Order of the Court of 6 December 2012 (copy attached), concerning the Post-implementation review of the Governance Arrangements. Please see the second page of the Order for the matter of relevance to this Board.

The Board received an Order of the Court of Common Council of 6 December 2012, concerning the Post-implementation review of the Governance Arrangements, particularly those matters which were of direct relevance to them.

The Board noted that it had been decided that no action was to be taken to limit the number of Governors who can serve on each Board. The Town Clerk reported that the acting Chairman of this Board, Mrs Moys, was now the first Governor to be appointed on to more than one City School Board following her successful election to the Board of Governors of the City of London School at last month’s Court of Common Council meeting.

A Governor expressed concern that no compromise had been reached on this matter in terms of limiting the number of Governors who might be able to serve on more than one City School Board at any given time. He stated that his main concern was that this move was now ‘paving the way’ for the re-introduction of just one Board of Governors to oversee the work of all three City Schools.  Another Governor reminded the Board that this matter had been fully discussed by the Policy and Resources Committee and that all Common Councilmen had also been given the opportunity to comment on this further at an informal meeting ahead of the reports formal submission to the Court of Common Council. He stated that at no point had he heard any suggestions regarding the re-introduction of just one Board to oversee the three City Schools.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Town Clerk relative to the re-appointment of two co-opted Governors (copy attached).

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk asking Governors to consider the re-appointment of Caroline Garnham and Richard Sermon as co-opted Governors of the Board for further three year terms.

Mr Sermon stated that his attendance had been adversely affected during his Shrieval year but that he hoped to continue to serve as a co-opted Governor for a further term.

** MR SERMON WITHDREW FROM THE MEETING WHILST THIS ITEM WAS CONSIDERED **

The Town Clerk reported that, since the time of writing this report, Ms Garnham had indicated that she would not now be standing for re-appointment and would therefore be stepping down from the Board.

A Governor referred the Board to agenda Item 4 which also detailed their current constitution. He referred specifically to the wording on co-opted, non-corporation Governors which stated that these individuals should have ‘relevant experience of education’. On this basis, he suggested that Mr Sermon’s co-opted membership be extended by a few meetings only in order to allow the Board’s new Chairman and Deputy Chairman to review this matter in totality.

Another Governor stated that, whilst he was broadly in agreement with this point, he felt that Mr Sermon was a good candidate who was well connected and had the City at heart. He stated that he therefore felt that he should be appointed for another full term with a full review of all co-opted Governors carried out in due course.

The Chairman referred to Mr Sermon’s work with ‘London Youth’ and stated that this was of particular relevance to the School in terms of outreach. She went on to report that Mr Sermon had also played an important role at the School Leavers Service during his year as Sheriff.

The Deputy Chairman stated that he felt that the Board could also

Report of the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls (copy attached).

The Board received a report of the Headmistress relative to various School matters including Forthcoming Events, Educational Visits, Health and Safety and Lettings.

Lettings

Governors congratulated the School on recent lettings. The Bursar commented that the School’s Premises Manager had done a lot of work around increasing lettings and, consequently, income.

Clean City Awards Scheme

The Headmistress reported that the School’s Premises Manager had also been instrumental in the School being awarded a gold award in the Clean City Awards Scheme for the fourth consecutive year.

RECEIVED.

There were no questions.

There were no additional, urgent items of business for consideration.

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)

                11                                                                                    3

                12                                                                                    3

                13                                                                                 1 & 3

                14                                                                                    2

                15                                                                                2, 3 & 4

                16                                                                                2, 3 & 4

                17                                                                                     -

                18                                                                                     -

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)

                11                                                                                    3

                12                                                                                    3

                13                                                                                 1 & 3

                14                                                                                    2

                15                                                                                2, 3 & 4

                16                                                                                2, 3 & 4

                17                                                                                     -

                18                                                                                     -

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2012 (copy attached).

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2012 were approved and agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor (copy attached).

The Board received a report of the Comptroller and City Solicitor summarising the advice of the Charity Commission regarding awards to persons connected with members of the Board of Governors of the relevant School and made from the City of London’s independent Schools’ Bursary Fund charities and, in relation to the City of London School for Girls, their Scholarships and Prizes Fund charities.

Report of the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls (copy attached).

The Board considered and approved a report of the Headmistress relative to various School issues including Admissions, Staffing Matters and a Sabbatical Leave Application.

The Deputy Head to brief Governors.

The Deputy Head gave a presentation covering the ‘Headlines’ of Child Protection Arrangements at the School.

Report of the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls (copy attached).

The Board considered and approved a report of the Headmistress relative to the proposed reorganisation of the School’s English and Drama departments.

Report of the Director of HR (copy attached).

The Board considered a report of the Director of Human Resources relative to this year’s Pay Claim for Teaching Staff.

There were no questions raised in the non-public session.

The Chairman raised issues relating to a recent School leaver, a current pupil and the resignation of a Board member.