Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from the Rt Hon. Lord Mayor Peter Estlin, Alderman William Russell and Ruby Sayed. Deputy Keith Bottomley, Tim Campbell and Veronica Wadley expressed apologies for needing to depart the meeting early.

Henry Colthurst declaired himself as a trustee of “Governors for Schools” in respect of item 23, Governors for Schools Employability Project Progress Update.

To receive the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 25 April 2019 appointing the Committee and setting its Terms of Reference.

The Order of the Court of common Council dated 25 April 2019 appointing the Board for the ensuing year was received.

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

An election of Chairman was conducted in line with Standing Order 29. Henry Colthurst, being the only Member indicating a willingness to serve, was elected for the ensuing year

The Chairman gave thanks to outgoing Members, Stuart Fraser for their hard work and support and welcomed a new Member, Benjamin Murphy for their first meeting.

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

An election of Deputy Chairman was conducted in line with Standing Order 30. Ann Holmes, being the only Member indicating a willngness to serve, was elected Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 10 January 2019.

The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 10 January 2019 were approved as a correct record.

To receive the public minutes of the Nominations Sub-Committee meeting held 12 April 2019.

Public minutes of the Nominaitons Sub-Committee, held on 9 April 2019.

RECEIVED.

The Chairman to be heard.

NB – Members may refer to item 30, the non-public minutes of the Nominations Sub-Committee meeting held on 12 April 2019.

The Town Clerk referred the Board to the non-public minute of the Nominations Sub-Committee meeting held on 12 April 2019.

The Chairman proposed the appointment of Rachel Bower for a term starting immediately, concluding in April 2023, to ensure continued staggering of co-optee terms.

RESOLVED, that Rachel Bower be appointed to the Education Board for a term expiring in April 2023.

Rachel Bower joined the meeting and introduced herself to the Board.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members considered a report of the Town Clerk on the appointment of Sub Committees for 2019/20.

RESOLVED, that Members:-

·         Approve the terms of reference and composition of both the Nominations Sub Committee and Education Charity Sub Committee.

·         Appoint Caroline Haines and Tijs Broeke to the Nominations Sub Committee.

·         Appoint Philip Woodhouse to the Education Charity Sub Committee.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members received a report of the Town Clerk. The following matters were raised:

·         5/2019/P – an update would come to the July 2019 Board.

·         6/2019/P – the Summer Enrichment Programme has been booked and an impact assessment would be submitted to the Board in January 2020.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members received a report of the Town Clerk on action taken between meetings.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Town Clerk tabled an amendment to paragraph 4 of the report, clarifying the Comptroller & City Solicitor’s advice.

Members considered a report of the Town Clerk regarding the revised Education Board Terms of Reference.

RESOLVED, that Members approve:

·         The revised terms of reference of the Board, as set out at Appendix 1, subject to any comments, for submission to the Policy & Resources Committee and onward approval at the Court of Common Council.

·         That any further changes required be delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members considered a report of the Town Clerk on the proposed review of the City’s education grant funding. The Town Clerk tabled a proposed composition which read as follows:

·         The Chair and Deputy Chair of Policy & Resources Committee

·         The Chair and Deputy Chair of the Education Board

·         Two further Members of the Policy & Resources Committee

·         Two further Members of the Education Board

Members were content with proposals for the scope of review and composition of its Working Party and discussed possible membership. They agreed that a combination of the following individuals be agreed in consultation with the Policy & Resources Committee:

·         Henry Colthurst (Chair – Education Board)

·         Ann Holmes (Deputy Chair – Education Board)

·         Catherine McGuinness (Chair – Policy & Resources Committee)

·         A Deputy of the Policy & Resources Committee

Two of the following as representatives of the Education Board, with the request that the third be considered as one of the Policy & Resources representatives:

·         Randall Anderson (Member of the Education Board, Policy & Resources Committee and Chair of Community & Children’s Services)

·         Tijs Broeke (Policy & Resources representative on the Education Board)

·         Philip Woodhouse (Member of the Education Board, Policy & Resources Committee and running for Chair of the City of London Freemen’s School)

That the following name be considered as one of the Policy & Resources representatives:

·         Andrew McMurtrie (Member of Policy & Resources Committee and Chair of the City of London Academies Trust)

RESOLVED, that Members:

·         Agree the scope of the independent review of City Education Grant Funding;

·         Agree the Terms of Reference of the Joint Working Party;

·         Agree to appoint two of three proposed Members as described; and

·         Approve that any further changes to the terms of reference of the Working Party be delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chair of both the Education Board and Policy & Resources

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

Members considered a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding a Governor appointments update.

RESOLVED, that Members:

·         Approve the appointment of Natasha Lloyd-Owen as a City Corporation sponsor governor at the City of London Academy Islington.

·         Note that Virginia Rounding has resigned as a company member of The City Academy Hackney.

·         Note that the City of London Academies Trust have appointed Edward Benzecry as a co-opted trustee.

·         Note an updated list of governing body membership across the Family of Schools included in Appendix 1.

Report of the Head of Corporate Strategy & Performance.

The Chairman moved to take item 21, The City of London Corporation’s Sport and Physical Activity Strategy for 2019-23, at this point in the agenda.

Members received a report of the Head of Corporate Strategy & Performance regarding the City of London Corporation’s Sport and Physical Activity Strategy for 2019-2023. The Head of Corporate Strategy updated Members, informing them that, in light of Members comments at other Committees, a briefing breakfast was being scheduled before the strategy is submitted to Policy & Resources Committee. In addition, Members heard that the report was also due to go to Planning & Transportation Committee for information.

The following matters were raised:

·         There was a call from Members for one coherent central strategy, rather than several interlinking ones.

·         Members felt that the report needed to clearly outline which Committee(s) owned the strategy.

·         Members suggested that officers consider what the strategy was trying to achieve. The answer needed to form the foundation of the strategy.

RECEIVED.

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

The Chairman moved to take item 22, Creative Enterprise and Innovation Research, at this point in the agenda.

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding the Culture Mile Creative Enterprises and Innovation Research. Sian Bird, Partnerships Manager (Culture Mile) introduced her report to the Board and provided Members with a booklet featuring the recommendations that came out of the research.

10.33 – Deputy Keith Bottomley left the meeting.

It was noted that the Education Board was playing its part in the work of the Culture Mile and was pleased to see work coming to fruition, as per its action plan.

A Member raised confusion over the numbering of some of the recommendations, which was unclear and different in different parts of the report and booklet hand-out.

A Member expressed concern over the disparity of what is taught in schools and what creative/fusion skills are being sought by employers. It was the role of the Education Board to continue to help address this.

10.52 – Tim Campbell left the meeting.

RECEIVED.

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

The agenda returned to item 15, Education Activities Update.

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding Education Activities Update.

Members received a verbal update on the progress of the Careers Festival and Cities event, both of which were looking promising with high levels of interest from schools, students and businesses. Members were invited to join the event for all or some of the day’s proceedings. The Board requested that a poster for the Careers Festival be hung in the Member’s Room in order to encourage Member attendance.

RECEIVED.

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

Members received a report of the Chamberlain and Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding the Education Board Budget Update on the revenue outturn 2018/19.

Members noted the revenue outturn report 2018/19; and noted the proposal of the Director of Community & Children’s Services proposal to cary forward £46,000 Local Risk Budget to 2019/20.

RECEIVED.

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

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding the City of London Family of Schools Results Update.

Members noted the progress rate of Highbury Grove and discussed the possible causes for lower progression in other schools. These included the possible effect on students in receipt of non-conditional university offers and the difference of teaching style between GCSE, which was more prescriptive, and A Level which required more independent study. There was also evidence to suggest that too-small class sizes were having an impact. Solutions to class sizes and alternative pedagogy was being considered for possible solutions.

Members noted that the City’s independent schools provided the data pertaining to their results.

RECEIVED.

A joint report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services and the Chamberlain.

Members considered a report of the Director of Community & Children’s services regarding the City Premium Grant 2019/20 funding round.

Members heard that the requests for Galleywall and Shoreditch Park would be presented to them at their meeting in July 2019, however, in future years all applications should be received in time for the Board to consider them at its May meeting. Schools have been provided with an annual schedule of what they will be asked for, this will assist schools in  their preparations for next year’s applications.

Members requested that, in future, the report include the maximum amount each school could have bid for against what they have qualified to receive through their application.

Members requested that the Board closely monitor what differences their grants for additionality make and use this data to lobby central government with an argument for the value of increased education spending.

RESOLVED, that Members:

·         Approve the release of City Premium Grant funding to City academies for academic year 2019/20 as per Schedule 1 of the report.

·         Note that the proposal for funding to City of London Academy Southwark (CoLAS) will be submitted for approval to the July 2019 Education Board. This is because the application deadline was extended for CoLAS noting the recent recruitment of the academy’s new Principal.

·         Note that a second proposal for funding to City of London Academy Shoreditch Park up to the maximum total allocation of £140k, and a proposal from Galleywall Primary up to maximum allocation of £60k, will be submitted to the July 2019 Education Board for approval. This is because officers have requested additional information on the academies’ applications which could not be obtained before submission to the May 2019 Education Board meeting.

·         Note that the Education Board will receive evaluations of the impact of City

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

This item was moved and a report would be considered in non-public session under item 34, Any other business that the chairman considers urgent and which the committee agree should be considered whilst the public are excluded.

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

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding the City of London Academies Trust, Academies Development Programme Update.

Members heard that Galleywall Primary would suffer a delay of 4 weeks, but that the work has been well received.

The Board were also given an update on the City of London Primary Academy Islington, which had encountered further delays which have delayed the expected completion date. The City of London Corporation had commissioned independent advice on the ground conditions and there was due to be an update in the forthcoming weeks. A Chair’s meeting with Chief Officers was due to take place in June in order to consider the status of the project.

The Board noted that the occasion may arise that the necessary classroom space is not built in time, but there was no possibility for the school to remain in the current temporary accommodation.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Community and Childrens Services.

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding the Governors for Schools Employability Project progress update.

The Board considered the impact of the work and officers noted that there needed to be further work to truly assess the impact of the project beyond the total number of hits to the website. In addition, Officers informed Members that Governors on the Skills Forum have been asked to use the resources and report back at the forum’s next meeting.  

RECEIVED.

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

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services regarding the Adult Skills, Education and Apprenticeship Service Update.

RECEIVED.

There were no questions.

There was one item of urgent business regarding a possible event proposed by the Chief Commoner. The Chief Commoner had discussed with the Chairman and Town Clerk the possibility of holding a forum for sixth form students at which officers of the City of London Corporation could explain how the Corporation runs and what career opportunities it offers.

Members felt that this may also be a good opportunity to expose young people to democracy and may help in encouraging interest in the City Corporation amongst, promoting the future diversity of the Court of Common Council.

It was suggested that this may work well as part of the Prefect’s Dinner, but there was no budget for a stand-alone event. The forum would need to be clearly aligned with a part of its strategy. The Board wished to receive an update on the event before it was able to endorse it fully.

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.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 10 January 2019 were approved as a correct record.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Nominations Sub-Committee meeting held on 12 April 2019.

Non-public minutes of the meeting held on 12 April 2019.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members received a report of the Town Clerk regarding Non-Public outstanding actions.

This was a non-public appendix to item 18, City Premium Grant 2019/20 allocations to academies.

This was a non-public appendix to item 20, City of London Academies Trust – Academies Development Programme Update.

There were no questions.

There was one item of urgent business.