Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy Sir Michael Snyder, Bob Duffield, Deputy the Reverend Stephen Haines (ex-officio), Professor John Betteridge (co-opted) and Dr. Stephanie Ellington (co-opted).

There were no declarations.

Order of the Common Council of 19 April 2012, appointing, the Board and setting its terms of reference (to follow).

Governors received the Order of the Court of Common Council, 19 April 2012, appointing the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls for 2012/13 and setting its Terms of Reference.

RECEIVED.

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

The Committee 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 Alderman John White, being the only Governor expressing a willingness to serve as Chairman, was duly elected for the ensuing year and took the Chair.

Alderman White thanked the Board for their support in electing him as Chairman and went on to welcome Alderman Graves to his first meeting of the Board.

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

The Committee proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30. 

The Town Clerk reported that, in accordance with Standing Order No. 30. (2) (a), the immediate past Chairman had chosen to exercise her right to serve as Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

Mrs Moys was therefore duly appointed as Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

         VOTE OF THANKS TO THE PAST CHAIRMAN

Deputy Stella Currie paid tribute to Mrs Moys, the past Chairman.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: 

THAT at the conclusion of her three year term of office as their Chairman, the Members of this Board wish to extend to

 SYLVIA DOREEN MOYS

their sincere thanks and appreciation for the manner in which she has presided over their deliberations and the detailed care and interest that she has shown in all aspects of the life of the City of London School for Girls, which has continued to go from strength to strength during this time.

HER unfailing support of the School at various functions and events, including musical productions, debates and sporting activities have been very much appreciated by the Headmistress, staff and pupils alike.  The frequency with which she has visited the School and represented its interests and achievements within other contexts has been second to none. The Chairman's frequent one day visits to the school to attend lessons and shadow groups of pupils has meant that she has had very detailed insight into the day to day running of the school and pupils' experience of teaching and learning. She has become a very well known figure, especially in the Prep Department. Equally significant has been her very proactive approach to getting to know parents, talking to them at school events and getting a real understanding of their perspective.

ACADEMICALLY, the School has

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 24 February 2012 (copy attached).

The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 24 February 2012 were approved and agreed as a correct record.

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 IN 2011/2012 COMPRISED:

Sylvia Moys (as Chairman)

Alderman John White (as Deputy Chairman)

Deputy Dennis Cotgrove

Revd. Dr. Martin Dudley

Clare James

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 2012/13.

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

Alderman John White (as Chairman)

Sylvia Moys (as Deputy Chairman)

Deputy Dennis Cotgrove

Revd. Dr. Martin Dudley

Clare James

Deputy Richard Regan

        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).

THE REFERENCE SUB COMMITTEE IN 2011/2012 COMPRISED:

Sylvia Moys (as Chairman)

Alderman John White (as Deputy Chairman)

Dennis Cotgrove

Revd. Dr. Martin Dudley

Clare James

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 2012/13.

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

Alderman John White (as Chairman)

Sylvia Moys (as Deputy Chairman)

Dennis Cotgrove

Revd. Dr. Martin Dudley

Tom Hoffman

Clare James

Deputy Richard Regan

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

The Board proceeded to appoint their AGBIS representative for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED – That, as the only Governor expressing an interest in serving in this capacity, Dennis Cotgrove be appointed as the Board’s AGBIS representative for the ensuing year.

Report of the Town Clerk (copy attached).

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk relative to the re-appointment of Mary Robey as a co-opted Governor of the Board for a further three year term.

The Town Clerk highlighted that details of co-opted Governors attendance at Board meetings had now been included within this report at the request of Governors.

A Governor questioned when the Board’s co-opted Governors would be reviewed as a whole given that a vacancy still remained in the room of Professor Heffernan. The Chairman stated that he, the Deputy Chairman and the Headmistress had recently had discussions around this and, ideally, would like to target someone from within secondary education to fill the vacancy. He also asked that if Governors had any personal suggestions they alert him to these.

A Governor suggested that suitable candidates could be identified from the Headmistress’ contacts or from AGBIS and other such associations.

The Town Clerk reminded the Board that, whilst it was permitted to appoint up to six co-opted Governors it was not a requirement to have this many serving at any given time.

Given the personal information contained within these reports it was suggested that, in future, the appointment of a Co-opted Governor be a public item with a non-public or tabled appendix featuring the applicants CV and any other relevant personal information.

RESOLVED – That, Governors approve the re-appointment of Mary Robey for a further three year term as a co-opted Governor on the Board.

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

The Board considered a report of the Headmistress relative to various issues including Forthcoming Events, Governors’ Visiting Days, Health & Safety and Staff Training.

Forthcoming Events

In response to a question, the Headmistress reported that the Year Group Breakfasts had been introduced when she had first joined the School and were intended as an opportunity for parents to meet one another and their daughters’ tutors informally and to strengthen their relationship with the School.

Meeting with Barbican Residents

The Headmistress reported that residents had raised an issue with the blue netting currently surrounding the All Weather Playing Surface and that the School were now looking to change the colour of this and to make it more subtle whilst still blocking the view of the area as intended.

In response to a question regarding the plastic bins containing PE equipment in the area adjacent to the All Weather Playing Surface, the Headmistress stressed that the equipment needed to be readily available and easily accessible during term time but was moved from this area at all other times. The Deputy Head added that the bins had now, in fact, been relocated and moved out of the sight of Mountjoy House residents as requested.

RESOLVED – That the Board approve the ‘School Staff Development and Induction Policy’.

There were no questions.

REVIEW OF THE GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS IMPLEMENTED IN 2011

The Board considered a late, separately circulated report of the Town Clerk (on behalf of the Post Implementation Governance Review Working Party) relative to the Board’s comments on the governance arrangements introduced last year and the impact that they may have had on the operation of the Board.

The Town Clerk highlighted that Governors were only requested to comment on those changes that had affected this Board and that Court of Common Council Governors would be written to individually and given a separate opportunity to comment on the governance review as a whole.

The Town Clerk went on to report that, as recommended under the governance review, the three City School Boards had now established a Working Party comprising key members from each Board (the Chairman and Deputy Chairman) to discuss important issues of common interest. He stated that this appeared to have been a success with a recent example of this being the meeting between all three Heads and three Chairmen to discuss the Teaching Staff Pay Claim.

A Governor commented on the newly introduced rule whereby the restriction on Members serving on more than one Board of Governors had been lifted. The Governor commented that he was disappointed that this had not been presented to this Board as a whole to agree before being introduced. He went on to state that he had previously written to the then Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee to express his concern at the introduction of this rule which he felt would pose a clear conflict of interest for Members. He therefore proposed that paragraph ‘J8’ of the governance review paper be deleted.

Another Member stated that she had some sympathy with this view and that, to date, no Member had put this

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)

                15                                                                            1, 2, 3 & 4

                16                                                                                  2

                17                                                                               1 & 3

                18                                                                                  -

                19                                                                                 -

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)

                15                                                                            1, 2, 3 & 4

                16                                                                                  2

                17                                                                               1 & 3

                18                                                                                  -

                19                                                                                 -

SUMMARY OF MATTERS CONSIDERED

WHILST THE PUBLIC WERE EXCLUDED