Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Deputy John Bennett and Mr Philip Woodhouse.

Members of the Education Board made the following declarations under the code of conduct in respect items on the agenda:

Deputy John Bennett

Board of Governors City of London Freemen’s School

Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Henry Colthurst

The Worshipful Company of Grocers

Revd Dr Martin Dudley

Board of Governors City of London School for Girls

Alderman Peter Estlin

Treasurer, Bridewell Royal Hospital - King Edward's School, Witley

Alderman Jeffrey Evans

Board of Governors City of London Academy – Islington

Stuart Fraser

Board of Governors City of London Freemen’s School

Board of Governors City of London School for Girls

Board of Governors City of London School

Deputy Catherine McGuinness

Board of Governors City of London Academy – Hackney

Castle Baynard Educational Foundation & Alderman Samuel Wilson Fund

United Westminster Schools Foundation

Board of Governors Christ's Hospital

Virginia Rounding

Board of Governors City of London School for Girls

Board of Governors City of London Academy – Hackney

Alderman William Russell

Board of Governors City of London School for Girls

Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Board of Governors Knightsbridge Schools International

Ian Seaton

Board of Governors City of London School

Board of Governors Bridewell Royal Hospital

Board of Governors Christ's Hospital

To receive the Education Board terms of reference.

The Education Board received a report of the Town Clerk outlining its terms of reference.

RESOLVED – That, the Education Board note its terms of reference.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Education Board received a report of the Town Clerk regarding the appointment of external representatives to the Education Board. Amended recommendations were tabled at the meeting.

The Board reviewed the expressions of interest statements, experience and skill set of three external candidates. As all three candidates were previous members of the Education Strategy Working Party, after extensive debate Board Members agreed all three candidates should be appointed on a short term basis to provide a level of consistency at the early stages of the Education Boards implementation of the strategy.

With regards to the skill set of the Education Board, Members discussed the requirement of an Education Board skills audit. Members agreed that an investigation of the Boards skill set was required to assess adequately what extra skills should be provided by external representatives going forward, and that a proper analysis take place before December when the temporary appointments would cease.

RESOLVED – That,

·        David Taylor, Roy Blackwell and David Chin be appointed to the Education Board as External Representatives for terms of 6 months.

·        An Education Board skills audit be conducted to inform the appointment of future external representatives.

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29.

The Board 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 Deputy Catherine McGuinness, being the only Member expressing willingness to serve as Chairman, was duly elected.

RESOLVED - That Deputy Catherine McGuinness be duly elected as Chairman for the ensuing year.

To elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance in Standing Order 30.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30. A list of Members eligible to stand was read, and Dr Martin Dudley and Mr Henry Colthurst declared their willingness to serve, if elected.

A ballot having been taken, votes were cast as follows:-

Dr Martin Dudley                           6 votes

Mr Henry Colthurst                        6 votes

As both Members received an equal number of votes under Standing Order 29(c) the Chairman, with the consent of the candidates and the Board, took the decision by lot. Mr Henry Colthurst was picked from the two candidates and therefore duly elected Deputy Chairman.

RESOLVED - That Mr Henry Colthurst be duly elected as Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Education Board received a report of the Town Clerk which provided Members with background information on the City of London Corporation Education Strategy and how it is to be implemented by the Education Board.

The Board were asked to note the details of the Strategy and to note that as Members of the Board their role would involve working on all 5 strands of the Strategy, which included;

·        promoting and supporting excellent education and access to higher education;

·        striving for excellence in the City schools;

·        inspiring children through an enriched education and outreach opportunities;

·        promoting an effective transition from education to employment;

·        exploring opportunities to expand the City’s education portfolio and influence in education throughout London.

RESOLVED – That, the Board note the contents of the report.

Report of the Town Clerk.

 The Board received a report of the Town Clerk regarding Governor appointments to The City Academy, Hackney, City of London Academy Southwark and Prior Weston Primary School.

The report provided the supporting statements of two external candidates for governor vacancies at the City of London Academy Southwark, as well as details regarding the appointment of Nigel Challis CC to The City Academy, Hackney.

The Board were asked to delegate authority to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, to find and recommend a candidate for the vacancy of an external governor to The City Academy, Hackney.  The Board were also asked to delegate authority to find and recommend a candidate for the Member vacancy to the Board of Governors for Prior Weston Primary School. The recommendations would go to the Court of Common Council for appointment in September.

Members were informed by the Policy Officer that the supporting statement from Lucas Green for the appointment to the City of London Academy Southwark had been withdrawn. The Board were therefore asked to endorse only Simon Atkinson’s candidacy to the Court of Common Council.

RESOLVED – That the Board:

·        Endorse the proposed arrangement whereby the five City of London Corporation Governors at The City Academy, Hackney be composed of at least one member of the Court of Common Council, and any four additional members.

·        Recommend that the Court of Common Council approve the appointment of Nigel Challis CC as a Governor at The City Academy, Hackney.

·        Grant delegated authority to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman to submit a candidate for the fifth governor vacancy at The City Academy, Hackney to the Court of Common Council.

·        Recommend that the Court of Common Council appoint Simon Atkinson as a Governor of the City of

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

TheBoardreceiveda report of the DirectorofCommunityand Children’s Servicesfor decision. The reportprovided theBoardwithan updateon theprogressmadein implementing the EducationStrategy.

TheEducationStrategy Advisorintroduced theworkof the EducationUnitand theestablishment of the Headteachers’ ForumandChairsof Governors’ Forum. The EducationStrategy AdvisoraskedtheBoardtonotethat paragraph8 shouldbe amended to readthat, “accountabilityto theEducationBoard th

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Chairman welcomed Mr Fraser Swift, Head of Learning at Museum of London to the meeting. Mr Swift introduced the report of the Town Clerk regarding Outreach Forum proposals. The Board heard the Outreach Forum had been meeting since autumn 2013, the meetings were positive and productive and involved collaboration across a number of sectors. Mr Swift informed the Board that the Forum had focused on assessing the collective strength of all parties involved, to find methods by which they could work together to benefit schools across London.

The four proposed initiatives of the Outreach Forum were:

• A three year school visits fund to provide schools with grants of up to £300 to help them visit the City; a fund which would involve a simple and quick application process.
• A teacher training programme with the working title ‘Hard Education’ to help teachers tackle difficult subjects such as homophobia, racism and gang culture.
• The creation of a new website to mark the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London (to be launched September 2016).
• A Headteachers event to promote the other three initiatives.

Mr Swift explained that the Forum was requesting from the Board support and financial assistance in implementing the initiatives. The Chairman explained that the Outreach Forum and its initiatives were appropriate to be funded by the Education Board and expressed her support; other Members of the Board also expressed their support for the proposals. The Chairman informed Mr Swift that the Education Board was not capable of contributing to the initiatives immediately, but would support an application to the Policy Initiative Fund for funding the proposals.

RESOLVED – That, the Education Board

• note the contents of the report,
• endorse the proposals for the development of coordinated programmes as outlined in the proposal section of the report,
• endorse

Report of Town Clerk.

The Education Board received for information a report of the Town Clerk regarding the City University Maths Project. The Board reviewed an annual evaluation report of the projects progress with the City of London Academy Islington. The report was for the approval of year 2 funding. Chairman informed the Board that the Finance Committee had approved the release of the year 2 funding and the responsibility for funding Year 3 of the Project had passed to the Education Board.

A Member queried why the evaluation report did not mention whether or not the pupils grades in mathematics had improved. The Education Strategy Advisor informed the Board that the pupil’s test results had been sent by the City of London Academy Islington and future evaluation reports would include test scores as part of the outcomes of the project.

RESOLVED – That the Education Board note the contents of the City University Maths Project report.

The Board are asked to decide how often and when the Education Board will meet in 2014/2015.

The Members discussed the frequency of which Education Board meetings should take place. The Chairman informed the Board that the Education Board Court report suggested the Board meet six times per year. The Chairman also advised that a meeting in July would not be possible for the present year.

A Member suggested that the Board met more frequently than 6 times per year in the first year, as there would be an increased amount of work involved to establish the Education Board. The rest of the Education Board agreed and it was decided that possible meeting dates would be investigated; a proposed meeting schedule would then be circulated to Members by email.

RESOLVED – That the Town Clerks Department would circulate a proposed 2014/15 Education Board meeting schedule.

There were no questions relating to the work of the Board.

There was no urgent business.

There were no non-public questions.

There was no non-public urgent business.