Agenda item

To elect a Chairman in line with Standing Order 29.

An election for Chairman was held in line with Standing Order 29. Deputy James Thomson, being the only Governor willing to serve, was elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

A Vote of Thanks, moved by Deputy Edward Lord and seconded by Sylvia Moys, was read.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That, at the conclusion of his three-year term of office as their Chairman, the Board of Governors of the City of London School wish to extend to:

IAN SEATON

their sincere thanks and appreciation for the way in which he has presided over the work of the Board, and the detailed care and interest he has shown in all aspects of the life at the City of London School.

During Ian’s Chairmanship, the School has continued to exemplify academic excellence – City of London Boys continue to achieve strong examination results and progress to leading universities around the globe. In 2016/17 the School secured a record number of offers from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

In his role he has handled the numerous and complex issues surrounding the School with great skill, determination and tact, and he had the courage to make difficult decisions when necessary. He has ensured that the School remains in a healthy financial position and appropriate investments in new facilities have been made, including the creation of the Levene Learning Centre which provides Boys with a state-of-the-art library and learning centre.

Ian has been committed to a School which reflects the diversity of the whole of London – both the City and beyond. He has overseen a transition from scholarships awarded on merit alone to a more inclusive focus on means-tested awards of financial support. In the coming years, this new approach will transform the educational opportunities of Boys who would otherwise not have the opportunity to join the School.

As Chairman, Ian has provided significant support to successive Heads in particular the former head, Sarah Fletcher, and helped her navigate a significant number of challenges.  Ian was instrumental in recruiting Alan Bird as Head in 2017, Charles Griffiths as Bursar in 2016 and Dr Richard Brookes as Senior Deputy Head in XXXX. He has supported the strengthening of the Development Office including the current recruitment of a Director of Development. Ian has been constant in providing a relentless focus on safeguarding and pupil welfare, which has involved not just a significant modernisation in the School’s policies and procedures, but also substantial investment in security improvements, and a challenging works programme to undertake important works to the School’s estate reflecting the evolving needs for a prestigious school in the heart of the City of London. During Ian’s time the governance structure has also been significantly strengthened with the formation of the Academic & Governance, Finance & Estates and Governance Sub-Committees.  Ian’s commitment was recognised when the School secured a successful Independent Schools Inspectorate Regulatory Compliance Inspection in May 2017.

Ian has supported the continued development of musical life within the School, most obviously through the institution of a new arrangement with Buckingham Palace through which the School has taken on the operation of the Choir of the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, and through the use of the School as the new home for the London Youth Choir.

In closing, the Governors wish to thank him for his dedication to supporting the School through a transformational period, one that has required a very significant time commitment and also for generous hospitality during his years in office and to convey to him, their good wishes for his future health and happiness.