Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Alderman John Garbutt, Christopher Hayward and Richard Sermon (Co-opted Member).

There were no declarations of interest.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 2 December 2016.

The public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 2 December 2016 were considered and approved as a correct record.

Resolution of the Policy and Resources Committee.

The Town Clerk reported that Members, at a recent, informal, Court of Common Council meeting, had now decided that this resolution should be referred back to the Policy and Resources Committee for further clarification and context.

The Board therefore noted that this was the case and that they could expect to receive an update on this and its implications for the Board going forward.

RECEIVED.

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

The Board considered the report of the Headmistress which included items for information concerning the Summer School held last year and further items for decision including a request to expand international school exchanges to the Laurel School, Ohio and various policies for approval.

The Headmistress highlighted that the Policies the Board were being asked to approve today were brought to Governors’ consideration on a three year cycle as previously agreed. She highlighted that there were safeguarding implications for three of the Policies for approval today and reminded Governors that the full review of the School’s stand-alone Safeguarding Policy would feature on the agenda for the next Board meeting in June 2017.

With regard to the proposed International Exchange Programme with the USA, Governors questioned whether the travel ban currently being pursued by the President of the USA would have any implications for CLSG students. The Headmistress stated that she did not feel that this was sufficient reason to not explore this opportunity and undertook to discuss this particular matter with the Principal of the host School. The Headmistress added that this was something staff could consider in greater detail once the profile of those students likely to take part in the exchange was clearer. She confirmed that, at present, no students at the School held Iranian or Syrian passports. Governors stated that, by this stage, the Policy around the proposed travel ban should be clearer and better understood.

In response to a question around the need for host families to provide exchange students with a CLSG school uniform, and whether this was necessary for such a short period, the Headmistress confirmed that the School had a spare supply of these and so it would be at no cost to the host families.

The Chairman commented that the tracked changes highlighted

There were no questions.

Board Membership

The Chairman reported that this would be the last Board meeting for both Dennis Cotgrove and Nigel Challis who would not be seeking re-election at the all-out Common Council elections in March 2017. The Chairman reported that Mr Cotgrove had now served on the Board for 20 years and Mr Challis for 4 years. On behalf of the Board and all at the School, the Chairman thanked both Governors for their interest, efforts and contributions to their work over the years.

Both Governors thanked the Chairman for her kind words and stated that it had been a great pleasure to serve on the Board.

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 2 December 2016.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2016 were considered and approved as a correct record.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Board received a report of the Chamberlain updating Governors on decisions taken at the joint schools working party held on 9 January 2017 regarding the Review of Bursary Guidelines.

The Board were provided with a presentation on the School’s Outreach work delivered by Jenny Singleton, Head of the Junior School and Outreach.

The Board received a presentation from John Dunstan, Senior Advisor at RS Academics aimed at preparing Governors for inspection under the new regime.

Joint report of the Chamberlain, the Headmistress and the City Surveyor.

The Board considered and approved a joint report of the Chamberlain, the Headmistress and the City Surveyor providing an updated projection of the cost of works to be met from the Repairs, Maintenance and Improvements Fund over the next 21 years.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain and a set of survey questions on those charities invested in the City of London Charities Pool.

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

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

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

The Board considered and approved a joint report of the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls and the Head of the City of London School concerning the exploration of the extension of City of London Schools Internationally.

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

There were no additional, urgent items of business for consideration in the non-public session.

To agree the Confidential minutes of the last meeting held on 2 December 2016.

The confidential, Governor only, minutes of the last meeting on 2 December 2016 were considered and approved as a correct record.