Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding an update on Governor appointments. The following matters were raised:-

·         The Chair of Governors at Sir John Cass Foundation Primary School submitted an Instrument of Government to the City Corporation which was approved by the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Community and Children’s Services Committee, under urgency procedure on 29 July 2019. The reason for urgency was due to a deadline imposed by the Department for Education, the details of which were to be reported at the Community and Children’s Services Committee on 13 September 2019.  The governance of the school is now compliant with the School Governance Regulations 2012.

·         It was noted that Richard Bannister was no longer the Principal of City of London Academy, Southwark and therefore no longer formed part of the LGB as an ex-officio governor.

·         The matter of longstanding vacancies on governing bodies was highlighted as being an area of significant concern for Members of the Board. It was felt that there should be greater succession planning when it came to turnover of governors and that the issue needed to be addressed as a matter of priority. A query was raised by a Member in respect of being unable to fill certain ex-officio vacancies on a board of governors where a governing bodies’ terms of reference specify this. It was suggested that, where necessary, changes to the Governing Body’s terms of reference be proposed to the City of London Academies Trust for their approval in order to ensure long-term vacancies are avoided.

·         Safeguarding compliance was also raised to ensure new governors promptly complete the necessary documentation to receive their DBS certificate.

·         Following a question, Members discussed how the Governance Review reported at the July 2019 Education Board informs the City of London’s forthcoming broader governance review.

RESOLVED, that

·         The appointment of Darren Thompson as a City Corporation Sponsor Trustee to the City Academy Hackney, for a four-year term; and

·         The current governing body membership of the City Family of Schools attached at Appendix 2, be noted, subject to the described corrections.