Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Deputy John Bennett, Reverend Dr Martin Dudley, Stuart Fraser and Alderman William Russell.

Henry Colthurst

Board of Governors, Mossbourne Community Academy

Board of Mossbourne Federation

Member of Court of the Worshipful Company of Grocers

Alderman Peter Estlin

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

Christopher Hayward

Member of the Court of Governors – Christ’s Hospital

Governor – Bridewell Royal Hospital

Governor – City of London School for Girls

Member of the Court of The Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers

Deputy Catherine McGuinness

Board of Governors of The City Academy, Hackney

Castle Baynard Educational Foundation & Alderman Samuel Wilson Fund

United Westminster Schools Foundation

Board of School Governors and Council of Almoners, Christ's Hospital

Barbican Centre Board

Guildhall School Development Fund

Alderman The Lord Mountevans

Board of Governors of the City of London Academy Islington

Virginia Rounding

Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls

Board of Governors of The City Academy Hackney

Ian Seaton

Board of Governors City of London School

Board of Governors Bridewell Royal Hospital

Donation Governor Christ's Hospital

Philip Woodhouse

Board of Governors of the City of London Freemen’s School

Board of Mossbourne Federation

Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy, Hackney

Chairman of Governors of Wellesley House School

Member of the Court of Worshipful Company of Grocers

To note the Order of the Common Council of 23 April 2015 appointing the Board and approving its terms of reference.

The Board received the Order of Court of Common Council dated 23 April 2015 appointing the Board and providing its terms of reference. The Town Clerk noted that Mr Blackwell’s term expired in April 2017 and Mr Taylor’s term in April 2016, as per the resolution of the Board in December 2014.

RECEIVED

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 29.

The Board elected a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29. Deputy Catherine McGuinness, being the only member expressing a willingness to serve, was duly elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

To elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30.

The Board elected a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30. Henry Colthurst, being the only member expressing a willingness to serve, was duly elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

The Town Clerk took the opportunity to brief the Board on its role for the coming year, noting its direct responsibility for the existing and forthcoming City Academies, across areas such as governance, appointment of governors and the City of London Corporation’s reputation as sponsor. In other areas the Board’s responsibility was by way of scrutiny and would be more indirect  – through use of means such as committee resolutions - in questioning the City of London Corporation’s approach in areas such as employability and the performance of the independent schools.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 23 April 2015, and receive a list of outstanding actions.

The public minutes of the meeting held on 23 April 2015 were approved as a correct record.

Matters Arising

Free School Applications

The Chairman noted that the Education Board’s responsibility for the free school application at Galleywall Road in Southwark – and over other applications - needed to be asserted to prevent confusion over ‘ownership’ of the application. At present there was a risk that other bodies such as existing academy governing bodies would regard themselves as responsible for what were ultimately City of London Corporation applications.   This situation reflected deficiencies in the way in which the City’s academies were now constituted, which needed addressing.

School Governor Training

In response to a question from a member, the Education Policy Officer noted that the first year of training had focused on existing City of London Corporation governors. Now this had been completed, the programme would be expanded to other City of London Corporation members with a view to creating a pool of trained governors.

Employability

In response to a question from a member, the [David Pack job title] agreed to circulate the Economic Development Office’s employability mapping to the Board.

The Remembrancer to be heard.

The Board heard an update of the Remembrancer on the implications to education policy of the recent General Election. It was noted that guidance for schools wishing to convert to academies had been published on 15 May 2015. The guidance reflected the emphasis on academies in the Conservative manifesto, which promised efforts to convert failing and coasting schools into academies. Lastly, the government had committed to there being 500 free schools by 2020, as well as to clamp down on satellite London campuses of provincial universities.

The Chairman noted that whilst there was a commitment to deal with coasting schools, it was not clear what was proposed for coasting academies. Members then discussed the issue of academy funding, noting first that any national formula would arguably have a detrimental impact on the money available to London, second that academies like other schools were already feeling the impact of reductions in funding, particularly at over 16, and thirdly that no deficit plan was in place for academies despite the fact some would arguably enter financial difficulties during 2015/16.

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

The Board received an education strategy update report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

RECEIVED

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk regarding the implementation of the Education Strategy 2013-15.  Members noted that overall the report could be more concise, and discussed the potential to combine strands one and two of the strategy from 2016, and agreed that emerging priorities such as criteria for academy expansion, establishment of a clear over-arching governance structure, creation of a pool of governors including employees of City firms and/or members of Livery Companies, and clarifying where the Education Board could influence the City of London Corporation’s approach to employability were due further consideration later in 2015. 

RESOLVED, that

·         The report, subject to changes made under delegated authority by the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, be agreed and submitted to the Court of Common Council.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk on the potential to create Special Interest Areas for the Board. Given members supported the proposal, the Town Clerk undertook to canvass the Board outside of the meeting to establish members’ preferred areas of interest ideally with the view to appointing at least one elected member and one external co-opt to an area where they felt that they could add value.

RESOLVED, that

·         The Education Board adopt a Special Interest Area Scheme.

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

The Board considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services on a quality assurance and accountability framework for the City academies. Members supported the proposal, and it was noted that the City of London Corporation should exercise a degree of tact when implementing the proposal in its joint-sponsor academies.

RESOLVED, that

·         The proposed quality assurance and accountability framework be approved.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk on the Livery Education Review 2015 and the proposed creation of a Livery Education and Training Office (LETO). Members were supportive of the proposals, although noted that it had yet to be seen whether individual livery companies would be willing to pay a subscription to support the enhanced LETO proposal. They also noted that some livery companies had expressed concerns during the review of the potential for interference by the City of London Corporation. The Chairman noted that she would be writing to the report author to thank her for her hard work and commitment to the review.

RECEIVED

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

The Board considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services setting out a process with which academy expansion opportunities would be considered and prioritised.   The Chairman noted that this process would need more consideration when the wider questions of academy governance, and the revision of the education strategy, were considered, but that some basis for considering requests was needed immediately.

RESOLVED, that

·         The proposed prioritisation process for the City of London Corporation to assess requests to act as an academy sponsor be adopted as an interim measure pending the expected review of strategic priorities for the ensuing year.

There were no questions.

New City of London Primary Academy (Southwark)

The Education and Early Years Manager briefed members that the new City of London Primary Academy in Southwark would incorporate Galleywall into its name. This would resonate with the local community given it was the name of the longstanding school that stood on the site. In addition, the name referred the longer history of the site given it dated from a temporary fortification constructed in the area during the 11^th century.

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 Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED – 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 Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act as follows:-

·         Item(s) 17-20

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 23 April 2015.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 23 April 2015 were approved as a correct record.

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

The Board considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services on projected examination results for 2015.

RECEIVED

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.