Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Dennis Cotgrove, Stuart Fraser, Alderman John Garbutt, Deputy Richard Regan, Mary Robey, Ian Seaton and Richard Sermon.

Ann Holmes and Nick Bensted-Smith declared non-pecuniary interests as members of the Board of Governors of the City of London Corporation Primary Academy, Islington

Alderman William Russell declared non-pecuniary interests as a member of the Board of Governors of Knightsbridge Schools International, a member of the Board of Governors Knightsbridge School, a member of the Court of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers and a Trustee of Place2Be.

Christopher Hayward declared a non-pecuniary interest as a member of the Court of The Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 22 June 2015.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting are approved as an accurate record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk which requested the Board to consider the appointment of Professor Anna Sapir Abulafia as a co-opted Governor of the Board for a three-year term.

RESOLVED – That the Board agrees to appoint Professor Anna Sapir Abulafia as a co-opted Governor of the Board for a three-year term.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services. This report was referred to the Board of Governors by the Community and Children’s Services Committee, as per the resolution attached to the report.

The Board considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services which provided Governors with information about the Local Authorities Designated Officer (LADO) activity for the period of April 2014 to March 2015.

The Chairman noted that the report suggested that multi-agency training on Safeguarding may be appropriate, but noted that the Board of Governors had received a training presentation on Safeguarding at the last Board meeting, and felt that Safeguarding was an issue which was taken extremely seriously by all Governors.

The Headmistress explained that she updated the Lead Governor for Safeguarding (Alderman Russell) on a bi-weekly basis regarding any issues of concern regarding pupils. The Headmistress also noted that she and her staff regularly called the LADO to discuss issues on an informal basis.

RESOLVED – That the Board notes the report.

Report of the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls.

The Board considered the report of the Headmistress which provided information regarding forthcoming events, educational visits, visiting days, lettings, health and safety, 2015 leavers, 2015 gap years and building projects. The Headmistress also provided the Board with a verbal update regarding the current school trip to Guatemala.

Governors asked questions about the proportion of girls with medical conditions compared to national averages and about the percentage of students who took gap years before university.

RESOLVED – That the Board notes the report.

Report of the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls.

The Board considered a report of the Headmistress which requested approval for the purchase of a new Steinway Grand Piano and for the use of income from lettings and an anticipated donation from the Friends of the City of London School for Girls for this purchase.

The Board discussed the proposal and, while all Governors were broadly in favour of the proposal, agreed that further information should be provided regarding the direct financial benefit of purchasing the new piano.

RESOLVED – That the Board:

a)    Delegates to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, to agree the purchase of a new Steinway Grand Piano; and

b)    Delegates to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, to authorise the use £72,000 of profit from School lettings to pay the balance after a donation (in the region of £10,000) from the Friends of the City of London School for Girls is made

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls.

The Board considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and Headmistress which provided the School’s Revenue Outturn for 2014/15.

RESOLVED – That the Board notes the report.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Board considered a report of the Chamberlain which provided with the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2015 of The City of London School for Girls Bursary Fund incorporating The City of London School for Girls Scholarships & Prizes Fund for information. The report also requested that the Board consider whether part of the cash balance of £269,705 as at 31 March 2015 should be invested in the City of London Charities Pool.

RESOLVED – That the Board:

a)    Notes the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2015; and

b)    confirms that no further cash balance be invested in the City of London Charities Pool for either charity at this time.

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 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.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 2015.

The non-public minutes of the previous meeting were approved as an accurate record.

Presentation of the Director of Studies concerning the School’s academic results and use of research in the School. Details of the exam results are provided with this agenda, and the Director of Studies will present a detailed analysis at the meeting.

The Board received a presentation from the Deputy Head, Academic concerning the School’s academic results.

Report of the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls.

The Board considered and approved a report of the Headmistress which provided information on non-public matters in relation to the School.

Report of the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls.

The Board considered and approved a report of the Headmistress to progress proposals for the refurbishment of the School.

Report of the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls.

The Board considered and approved a report of the Headmistress which provided options for the potential expansion of the School.

Extension of the meeting

At this point, the time limit for Committee meetings as set out in Standing Order No 40 had been reached, but there being a two-thirds majority of the Committee present who voted in favour of an extension, the Committee agreed to continue the meeting.

Report of the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls.

The Board considered and approved a report of the Headmistress which sought Members’ views regarding the School’s risk register.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.

Report of the Director of Human Resources.

The Board considered and approved a report of the Director of Human Resources regarding incremental progression for the Headmistress.