Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Alderman Sir Peter Estlin and Benjamin Murphy (Mr Murphy joined the meeting virtually).

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 2 December 2022.

RESOLVED - The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 2 December 2022 were approved as a correct record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board received a report of the Town Clerk setting out the Board’s outstanding actions list.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Director of Community and Children’s Services to be heard.

The Board received a verbal update from the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services on the Education Board’s annual strategy report.

The Board was informed that there was a delay in the production of the report due to the Strategic Education & Skills Director being new in post. It was advised that the written report would be available for its consideration at the next meeting.

The Board was informed that away days for 2023 would be focused on developing a strategy.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

Director of Community and Children’s Services to be heard.

The Board received a verbal update on the Education Board dinner. Members were informed that they should advise either the Chair or Vasima Patel by the end of the month if they wish to add guests to the guestlist.

RESOLVED – That the updated be noted.

Chief Executive Officer of the City of London Academies Trust (CoLAT) to be heard.

The Board received a verbal update from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the City of London Academies Trust (CoLAT) and the Chair of CoLAT’s Board of Trustees about suspensions at the academies.

In response to a query from a Member, the Board was informed that during a pupil’s suspension, the priority is ensuring that they complete academic work. After five days of suspension, most pupils will attend another school site where they receive more therapeutic attention to help re-engage them back into their own school.

Members were informed that CoLAT has found it effective to offer apprenticeships to Key Stage 4 pupils who have engaged in serious misconduct when appropriate. It was noted that this is not an option for Key Stage 3 pupils.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

Director of Community and Children’s Services to be heard.

The Board received a verbal update from the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services on the City Premium grant evaluations report.

The Board was informed that there was a delay in the production of the report due to the Strategic Education & Skills Director being new in post. It was advised that the written report would be available for its consideration at the next meeting.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

Director of Community and Children’s Services to be heard.

The Board received a verbal update from the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services on the pupil number and place planning report.

The Board was informed that this item had been removed from the agenda so that the Education Strategy Unit could explore how to support rather than lead in this area.

The CEO of CoLAT requested that Officers send him the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) data on pupil projection numbers.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

Director of Community and Children’s Services to be heard.

The Board received a verbal update from the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services on the parental engagement roundtable.

Members were informed that the City Corporation was co-producing a parental toolkit with the children’s charity Parenting Circle and that this would be available for Members to review at the next Education Board meeting.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

Director of Community and Children’s services.

The Board received a report of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services providing an update on governor appointments within the City Corporation’s family of schools.

The Board noted the importance of succession planning and ensuring that governors on the same board do not conclude their terms of office simultaneously.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Board received a report of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services updating Members on recent events and activities delivered across the three strategies overseen by the Education Board.

The Chair reminded the Board that in order for pupils to gain access to the Commonwealth Service in Westminster Abbey they must enter the Queen’s Essay Prize and the Youth Challenge.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Board received a report of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services updating Members on the work being done to plan and prepare for the 2023 LCF.

Members were informed that the dates for the LCF had been agreed as:

·       3 July 2023 (primary day)

·       4 July 2023 (secondary day)

·       5 July 2023 (post-16)

Members were asked to assist with the LCF day for the post-16s by connecting the City Corporation with organisations interested in running stalls at the event. Members were also asked to assist by connecting the City Corporation with organisations who would be willing to offer visits to their workplace on 6 July 2023.

In response to a query from a Member, the Board was informed that logistics companies were under-represented at the previous LCF. Additionally, Members were informed that a significant number of children were interested in employment in the sports industry and legal profession.

Officers agreed to circulate a list of sectors that were not currently adequately represented at the LCF to Members.

RESOLVED, that Members –

·       Note the report

·       Note the actions being undertaken in preparation for the 2023 festival.

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

The Board received a report of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services updating Members on the progress of the Connecting Communities programme.

The Board received a verbal update on the media coverage of Connecting Communities, including a news release to the relevant London Boroughs and the advertising of the programme in City Matters and social media.

The Chair informed the Board that the programme would conclude with a conference on 18 May, that invitations would be circulated to Members in due course and that the former Strategic Education and Skills Director was managing this piece of work.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Board received a report of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services updating Members on the current position regarding environmental and outdoor learning.

The Board also received a presentation on climate change and sustainability from pupils of the City of London School for Girls (CLSG). The Board welcomed CLSG’s focus on climate change and its sustainability initiatives. Members were impressed by the Green Shoots magazine and asked the Town Clerk to circulate this to the Board.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

There were no questions.

The following items of urgent business were raised –

·         The Chair requested that the new Strategic Education & Skills Director provide Members with an updated list of the roles and responsibilities of staff within the Education Strategy Unit and also requested that the CEO of CoLAT provide Members with an organigram.

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:-

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2022.

RESOLVED - The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2022 were approved as a correct record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board received a report of the Town Clerk setting out the Board’s non-public outstanding actions list.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

At this point of the meeting, the Board become inquorate. The Members present agreed to continue the meeting informally.

The Chairs of the CJS, CoLAT, CLSF, CLS and CLSG to be heard.

Members received verbal updates in relation to the City Junior School (CJS), City of London School (CLS), City of London Freemen's School (CLFS), CoLAT and CLSG.

Report of the Chief Officer and Headmistress and the Bursar of the City of London School for Girls (CLSG).

Members received a report of the Chief Officer and Headmistress and the Bursar of the CLSG. The Chair of the Board clarified that the paper was for discussion rather than decision.

Report of the Managing Director of Bridge House Estates.

Members considered a report of the Managing Director of Bridge House Estate detailing a funding assessment of a proposal from Goldsmiths University for the Combined Education Charity (CEC).

As the meeting was not quorate Members agreed that this report should be dealt with by urgency under Standing Order 41(a).

Report of the Managing Director of Bridge House Estates.

Members received a report of the Managing Director of Bridge House Estate setting out the Charities’ Risk Management Protocol.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.

To agree the confidential note of the inquorate meeting held on 2 December 2022.

Members received the confidential note of the inquorate meeting held on 2 December 2022.