Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Alderman Robert Howard, Deputy Shravan Joshi, James Adeleke, Bolu Faseun, Steve Goodman and Mary Robey.

Ruby Sayed and Catherine McGuinness observed the meeting remotely.

The Chair thanked Mandeep Thandi for his contributions to the Board following his resignation from the Board, and welcomed Luis Tilleria to the meeting in anticipation of his formal appointment to the Board at the Court of Common Council meeting of 07 December 2023.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 17 October 2023.

RESOLVED, That the public minutes of the meeting of 17 October 2023 be approved as a correct record.

The meeting noted that Sir Alan Wood CBE has been asked by the Town Clerk & Chief Executive to work with the City of London Corporation (CoLC) on a consultancy basis (one day a week for approximately 12 months) to ensure that the CoLC’s interests and investments in education across the Corporation as a vehicle for social mobility is delivered as effectively as possible. 

Report of the Clerk.

The meeting heard an update on Member Development from the Clerk.

To receive the report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Board received the report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services that included an update on Governors at the City Family of Schools.

The meeting heard that governor training on finance was recently delivered and well received. 

To consider the report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services and the Chamberlain.

The Board considered the report of the Director of Community & Children's Services.

Members noted that some realignment might be needed once a strategy was finalised in early 2024.

Referencing the £49K increase shown in the table 1 summary and the maternity leave figures set out in paragraph 9 of the report, a Member asked whether that was an acceptable position given the current inflation figures. The meeting heard that the same position was being faced across the CoLC, noting that efficiencies were being sought in order to maintain the CoLC’s service provision.  

RESOLVED, That the provisional revenue budget for 2024/25 be approved for subsequent submission to the Finance Committee, recognising that further revisions may arise from the necessary realignment of funds resulting from decisions at Policy & Resources Committee.

To receive the report of the Managing Director of Bridge House Estates.

The Board received the report of the Managing Director of Bridge House Estates updating the Board on A New Direction for the City Educational Trust Fund (CETF) (290840) for which the Board acts as Trustee on behalf of the City of London Corporation. The update follows the decision to award A New Direction £650,000 across 14 months to deliver a pilot phase to build a cultural arts programme within London’s primary schools to enhance the teaching and education of cultural arts.

The Education Board recalled the agreement in July 2021 to Corporate Charities Review Recommendations that the CETF’s funds would be spent out on a high impact grant programme over a 3–5-year period and then be closed.

The meeting viewed a presentation from A New Direction, noting that the programme comprised four main strands working with teachers and students: cultural education leadership, touring, masterclasses, and ‘Go and See’, with 22 schools confirmed onto the programme and 6 learning sessions planned.

In response to a Member question, the meeting heard that primary schools in the wider City family of schools (aside from CoLAT schools) would be invited to be involved in the project and that further vacancies for pilot schools were available.

The meeting noted (in response to a Member question) that the project’s sustainability and impacts were carefully measured, noting that further evaluation details would be submitted to the Board alongside other updates to enable the Board to track the spend-out.

A Member commented that there was merit in working alongside other City of London entities including Destination City and the Natural Environment Board for some areas of the work.

CoLAT primary schools are welcome to join the programme and A New Direction will reach out to them.   

To receive the update of the Strategic Education & Skills Director

The Board heard an update on Equity Diversity & Inclusion at Christ’s Hospital School, noting in particular its support for children from under-resourced backgrounds noting that 678 children (of about 900 in total) are on means-tested bursaries, and that the school has an extensive community and outreach programme.

The Board congratulated Christ’s Hospital on their commitment and dedication to EDI.

A Member suggested there might be a role within the Corporation to ensure consistency across the City’s schools and organisations, noting that a need for renewed focus on EDI would be beneficial across the Corporation. 

To consider the report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

The Board considered the report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services that included a summary of outcomes and learnings relating to projects funded by City Premium Grant (CPG) in the 2022/23 academic year, noting in particular:

- key statistics across the 78 CPG funded projects that ran in 2022/23;

- highlights of the most popular themes and areas of focus across projects;

- highlights from a selection of projects; 

- observations on the new process’s first year of operation; and

- key learnings.

The Board noted that ImpactEd reports would be shared across the City family of schools, noting also that parental engagement work would be coming online in 2024. 

Members noted the significant benefit to schools of the partnership co-ordinator role at CoLAT recently approved for funding and recruitment, noting that the role would be expected to ensure that primary schools (which have a lower participation rate) are more greatly involved in programmes.

A Member asked whether any bids were rejected, and asked whether data collection was built into the bid process. The meeting heard that not all schools had sufficient resources to roll out an appropriate bid mechanism, though the new partnerships role was expected to mitigate that. The Board noted that three bids were unsuccessful within the last year, and that these were from one school whose bids focussed heavily on overseas trips, noting that other overseas trips were undertaken by that school in any case. Some schools had been asked to scale down their bid in order to deliver a wider spread of projects. 

The Board noted that the volume and type of data being collected was being examined (noting the benefits of asking schools to focus on outcomes) and that lessons were being learned from the application process on an ongoing basis.  

RESOLVED, That

To receive the report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

The Board noted the report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services that included an overview of outcomes from the Education, Cultural and Creative Learning and Skills Strategies for 2019-2023.

The Board noted the significant levels of support provided during a particularly challenging period of time (mainly due to the pandemic and lockdown).

On paragraphs 75 and 76, a Member asked whether the CoLC could be doing more to promote and invest in apprenticeships. The Board noted that wider apprenticeship and skills activity was to be mapped and co-ordinated by the Education Strategy Unit.

Referencing paragraphs 42-44, the Board noted that a report was expecting to be submitted to the Board in early 2024 on cultural partners.

To receive an update on the 2024-29 strategy

The Board noted that consultation activities are currently under way including external education and potential education opportunities, and a wide range of stakeholders and pupils have been engaged in a consultation exercise, from which the main themes identified have been wellbeing, EDI, and parental engagement.

To receive an update on the outdoor learning strategy

The Board received an update on environmental learning activity.

Update on the LCF

The Board received an update on the London Careers Festival and confirmed the revised timeframe: 26 February 2024 to 08 March 2024, noting also that all London schools were welcome to attend.

Members heard that a pre-launch awareness campaign has been run (particularly in view of the earlier date), and bookings for the first week have been launched, with 2041 students booked so far (compared to a total of 2900 for 2023). The online week (the second week) has received 17K school registrations (a gain on the total figures for 2023). Further industry partners have been added including sports and engineering entities, noting the popularity of business start-up sessions.  The Board noted that the delivery partner is Pathway CTM.  

Report of the Strategic Education & Skills Director.

The Board noted the report of the Strategic Director, Education & Skills summarising the contribution of City’s Apprentice Ambassadors to the City of London Careers Festival. 

The Board heard from an apprentice ambassador who detailed the significant benefits of the London Careers Festival.

There were no questions.

The Board noted that a proposal was expected to be submitted to the Corporation imminently to the effect that experience of care be confirmed as a protected characteristic. The Board was supportive of the initiative.

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 subsequent 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 17 October 2023.

The Board considered the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 17 October 2023.

To consider the report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Board considered the report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

The Board heard an update on the sponsorship agreement.

To receive the report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Board received the report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

To receive an update on the Independent schools.

The Board received an update from the independent schools.