Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual meeting. The meeting can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/V7nQafhZOFw

Contact: Kerry Nicholls  Email: kerry.nicholls@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Tim Levene.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Members' Declarations under the Code of Conduct in respect of items on the agenda

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 176 KB

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 9 March 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

In considering Minute 9: Compliance Update, the Bursar confirmed that work to close outstanding audit recommendations remained on track and was anticipated to be completed in early Autumn 2020.  Work to ensure the School was compliant in the areas of health and safety and fire safety was ongoing and a written update would be circulated to the Board of Governors at the end of June 2020.

 

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Outstanding Actions pdf icon PDF 61 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Minutes:

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk outlining Outstanding Actions.

 

It had not been possible to arrange visits to the School during the Summer 2020 Term due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Governors were requested to make arrangements for Autumn 2020 Term visits with the Assistant Head, Teaching, Learning and Research.  The detailed Risk Register incorporating a new risk around Tier 2 and Tier 4 visa applications would be circulated to the Board of Governors following the meeting.

 

RESOLVED That the Outstanding Actions report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Appointment of Co-opted Governors

The Chairman to be heard.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Minutes:

The Board heard the Chairman requesting consideration be given to the appointment of two Co-opted Governors.

 

RESOLVED – That Dr. Stephanie Ellington and Elizabeth Phillips be reappointed to the Board for further four-year terms expiring 1 July 2024.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Report of the Headmistress pdf icon PDF 196 KB

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

Minutes:

The Board considered the report of the Headmistress who provided an update on forthcoming events, including Governors’ visiting days, lettings, repairs and maintenance works, staff training and partnerships and outreach with other schools and the following points were made:

 

·         A series of events were planned for the Autumn 2020 Term but a number of these might be delivered virtually if social distancing restrictions remained in place.  Lettings on the school site were similarly limited by social distancing restrictions and whilst repairs to the swimming pool had been completed, it could not be put back in use until Government restrictions had been lifted.

 

·         20 out of 24 Year 6 pupils had now returned to the School and were grouped in protective bubbles.  The majority of pupils arrived between 10.00-10.45am to avoid peak travel times on public transport; however, wraparound care was in place for pupils arriving earlier, including vulnerable pupils and those whose parents were key workers.  Work was underway to explore how the School would operate on-site and virtual learning in parallel to all pupils from the start of the 2020/21 academic year as it would be impossible to accommodate all pupils on the School site with current social distancing measures in place.  In response to a question from a Governor, the Headmistress advised that of the four Year 6 pupils who had chosen not to return to the School for the remainder of the Summer 2020 Term, three were moving onto other schools and one was currently living abroad.

 

·         A Governor queried whether support was in place for pupils reporting any health concerns or safeguarding issues whilst learning was being delivered virtually.  The Headmistress confirmed that a full range of support was in place for any pupil for whom concerns were identified and that this included the resources of

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Questions on matters relating to the work of the Board

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Any other business that the Chairman considers urgent

Minutes:

There were two items of urgent business.

 

The Headmistress advised Governors that a number of pupils and alumni had approached the School regarding the recent Black Lives Matters protests.  The School had written to pupils, parents, alumni and staff to reassure them of the School’s commitment to equality and a copy of the letters sent would be provided to Governors following the meeting.  The Pastoral Team was developing a survey in partnership with pupils that would gather the feelings, experiences and thoughts of the whole school community on this key issue.  A virtual open door had been introduced via which pupils could discuss their concerns with the Headmistress at any time.  A Governor was pleased to note the involvement of pupils in developing the survey and emphasised the need for the School’s response to be shaped by its student body. 

 

Governors were advised that meeting dates of the Board of Governors for the forthcoming academic year were scheduled as follows:

 

11.00am, Monday 5 October 2020

11.00am, Monday 7 December 2020

11.00am, Thursday 11 March 2021

11.00am, Thursday 10 June 2021

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Exclusion of the Public

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.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Minutes:

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.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Non-Public Minutes

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Minutes:

RESOLVED That the non-public minutes of the previous meeting be approved as an accurate record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Non-Public Outstanding Actions

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Minutes:

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk outlining non-public Outstanding Actions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Report of the Headmistress

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Annual Safeguarding Report

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

 

Governors are asked to note a confidential appendix at Agenda Item 20.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

Minutes:

The Board considered a report of the Headmistress presenting the annual safeguarding report of the School.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

Financial Information Dashboard

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 14.

Minutes:

The Board considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Bursar on the Financial Information Dashboard.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

Cash available in the School's charity: The City of London School for Girls Bursary Fund Incorporating the City of London School for Girls Scholarships and Prizes Fund

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

Minutes:

The Board considered a report of the Chamberlain on the Cash available in the School’s charity: The City of London School for Girls Bursary Fund Incorporating the City of London School for Girls Scholarships and Prizes Fund.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

Report on Action Taken

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 16.

Minutes:

The Board received a report of the Town Clerk regarding action taken under urgent or delegated authority since the last meeting.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

Non-Public Questions on matters relating to the work of the Board

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

Any other business that the Chairman considers urgent and which the Board Agrees should be Considered whilst the Public are Excluded

Minutes:

There was one item of urgent business.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

18a

CLSG Detailed Risk Register

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 18a

Minutes:

The Board considered a report of the Bursar presenting the CLSG Detailed Risk Register.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 18a

19.

Confidential Minutes

To agree the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 19.

Minutes:

RESOLVED That the confidential minutes of the previous meeting be approved as an accurate record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

20.

Annual Safeguarding Report - Extract from Non-Public Report

Confidential information to be read in conjunction with Agenda Item 13.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 20.

Minutes:

The Board considered confidential appendices of the report of the Headmistress.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

IT Operations Report

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 21.

Minutes:

The Board considered a confidential joint report of the Headmistress and the Head of the City of London School on IT Operations.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.