Agenda and minutes

The following Members were unable to attend the meeting in person but observed the meeting remotely: Alderman Robert Howard, Ruby Sayed and James Adeleke.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 02 December 2024.

RESOLVED, That the public minutes of the meeting of 02 December 2024 be approved as an accurate record of the proceedings.

To consider the report of the Clerk.

RESOLVED, That the Board agree the Terms of Reference ahead of their submission to the April 2025 meeting of the Court of Common Council.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board noted the report of the Clerk.

-       Supported Employment Programme updates

-       Apprenticeships and work experience

-       Government Youth Guarantee

The Board received a verbal update on supported employment programmes (including for SEND learners), and apprenticeships and work experience.

The following points were made:

- trained work coaches are assigned to support a young person throughout their internship;

- a range of entities have expressed an interest in becoming involved in the employment forum for the City-based programme that is expected to lead to supported internships;

- these are the main criteria for supported internships (currently five young people meet these criteria): age 16-24, hold an Education Health and Care Plan, and live within the City of London Corporation’s Local Authority area in line with Department for Education (DfE) guidelines;

- two apprentice levy amounts are held at the City of London Corporation (CoLC): one is centrally-funded (up to 100 at any one time, level 2 and level 3) with 97 currently on an apprenticeship; and the other is the centrally-funded apprenticeship levy for upskilling existing staff that currently covers 149 staff across the organisation (level 3 to level 7);

- the financial spend for these purposes at CoLC is approximately £800K and no HMRC returns for the levy have taken place since October 2023;

- the CoLC is working hard to improve work experience placements (currently around 15 placements, though none currently for CoLAT students) and increase engagement with schools, including CoLAT schools encompassing children at risk of exclusion; and

- some neurodiversity training at the CoLC is expected to take place to accommodate some work experience students.   

In response to a question on whether any flexibility on the part of the DfE exists around that criteria (particularly with a view to widening its scope to CoLAT students), the meeting heard that the matter has previously been raised with the DfE and will be raised again, noting that the

The Board noted that the mentoring update would take place in the Non-Public session because some of the information could impact the tender process that is currently under way to secure a supplier that will deliver mentoring services to users. Members noted these desired six outcomes:  

1. Mentees will build constructive employment networks. 
2. Mentees feel supported and empowered to apply for aspirational jobs, including those in the City. 
3. Mentees receive tailored guidance that enhances employability skills, self-esteem and key life skills, equipping them with the confidence to pursue aspirational jobs. 
4. Mentees build positive, long-lasting relationships that encourage professional and personal development. 
5. Mentees develop key life skills such as trust-building, boundary-setting, and forming positive professional networks to navigate barriers to employment and independent living. 
6. Mentees benefit from a consistent mentoring schedule with a minimum of monthly interactions, providing structure and continuity in their mentoring relationships. 

Verbal update on London Careers Festival (03 – 14 February 2025)

The Board heard an update on the London Careers Festival running from 01 to 13 February 2025.

The Board heard that there are currently 6044 bookings for in-person sessions, and that the year-on-year increase is thanks to enhancements to the offering and developments in partnership work and business relationships, noting also the significant improvement in the SEND-specific and SEND-inclusive offering for which there is high demand.

A Member commented on the potential for dedicated SEND days in future years.

To receive the report of the Interim Managing Director of City Bridge Foundation

The Board noted the report of the Interim Managing Director of City Bridge Foundation, noting in particular the updates relating to the full-length Primary Arts programme funded by the City Educational Trust Fund (CETF).

A Member asked how the executive could be confident in whether value for money is achieved.  The Board heard that evaluation is undertaken on a continuous basis and assessments take place that centre on value for money, quality of delivery and salary points.

A Member asked whether Aldgate School is included in the programme. The meeting heard that the City of London Corporation is a trustee of the CETF and the charity’s objectives are such that there can be no cross-benefit with the City of London’s capacity as a Local Authority. While the programme has been circulated to schools in the City of London and across London it is down to the schools themselves to engage with the programme (and some schools are signed up to the platform without having yet made a booking), and the programme does not prioritise one school over any other.   

Members were reminded of the opportunities circulated to Board members to visit any of the programme’s events.

Members asked for more information on these elements: how the programme’s impact is measured; whether deprived children are targeted in any way; the evidence base that it makes a difference; and the evaluation approach generally, noting the summary of the tools set out on p.33 of the agenda. The executive agreed to share an evaluation framework (see action point) and pointed out that impact metrics are being closely examined. The meeting also noted that previous reports on the programme have set out the programme’s rationale, and that selection criteria are applied to schools taking part in the programme that include Pupil Premium numbers.    

A

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

The Board noted the report of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services setting out the Key Stage 4 (KS4) results for the six sole-sponsored secondary academies within the City of London Academies Trust (CoLAT) operating across three Local Authority areas within Inner London, noting the insights into pupil attainment and achievement at school, local authority and national levels.

The Board congratulated the schools on their achievements, particularly the Trust schools of Southwark and Shoreditch Park. In response to a question on next steps, the meeting heard that all schools have targets that would place them in at least the top 20% of schools nationally and the drive towards ongoing improvement is sustained and proactive.

A Member asked what measures were taken to achieve the improvements shown. The Board heard that some difficult decisions were taken, and that a strong improvement model is embedded across the Trust that encompasses high behavioural expectations and rigorous assessments, with timely interventions taking place that are tailored to pupils’ learning gaps and particular needs.  

A Member commented on the merits of implementing a system that tracks CoLAT students after they finish their compulsory education.  

To consider the report of the Strategic Education & Skills Director.

The Board considered the report of the Strategic Education & Skills Director.

A Member asked for more information on the reason for the existence of two rounds of applications. The meeting heard that the second round was to allocate resources remaining from the first round of applications.

A Member asked for more information on the criteria and impacts, commenting on the importance of ensuring that children have good speech and language (S&L) skills noting the significant shortfalls in S&L services. The meeting noted that a key element of the City Premium Grant (CPG) is additionality, as set out in section 3 of the report, and that S&L are deemed to be elements of the school’s core offering. 

A Member asked for more information on the costs involved in running the programme. The meeting noted that synergies are always sought and efficiencies are achieved with the centralisation of some of the functions as per the Corporation’s Tomlinson Report recommendations.

A Member asked whether there are any issues in carrying bids over to the next year. The meeting heard that the issue is to be discussed with the relevant schools.

RESOLVED, That the Board delegate authority to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chair and the Strategic Director of Education and Skills to distribute Round 2 awards from the City Premium Grant: Disadvantaged Pupils Grant, the City Premium Grant: Partnerships Grant, and the City Premium Grant: Strategic Grant to the schools.

To receive an update on partnership work at City of London School for Girls and City of London School.

The Board viewed a presentation delivered by the Director of Partnerships at City Schools (City of London School, and City of London School for Girls including City Junior School) that included the following details of partnership work during 2024, noting also that some partnership information is available on the websites of the schools:

•       4140 hours of partnership enrichment was generated for partner students

•       State partner school pupils were beneficiaries of 60% of that provision

•       Staff at CLS and CLSG dedicated 256 hours to partnership projects and events (equivalent to approximately 48 full teaching days)

•       New Science opportunities for pupils were launched (Maire Fondazione partnership, CitySPARC, Primary Masterclasses)

•       New careers and work experience opportunities were made available

•       There is a continuing focus on climate and sustainability

•       A dynamic inspiring conference on Re-Imagining Our Future took place

•       Primary Summer School sessions took place

•       Events held included sessions on poetry, oracy, music, debating, mentoring, leadership skills, a Dragon’s Den Sustainability Challenge, and sixth form readiness

•       Conference themes included Theology, Divestment Conference at Schroders, and InterClimate Conference (Mock COP)

There were no questions.

The Board heard an update on the research and parental engagement work of the Education Strategy Unit and noted the following three points:

- Parental engagement (initiated in 2022): a range of events have taken place including round table events and reports have been published

- SEND: Three Education Professors are engaged on their SEND-first approach, the outcomes are expected to be of interest at central Government level as part of a curriculum review among other things

- Music education research: working with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, a researcher has been appointed

The Board heard that the findings are expected to be reported by Autumn 2025. 

The Board also heard an update on the project Bloomberg Finance Fundamentals that supports the development of fundamental financial skills, and heard that 20 students from the City’s family of schools have signed up, and that the feedback is positive.

The Board thanked the Business Administration & Events Apprentice Georgie Stewart-Smith for her valuable contributions to the work of the Board at her final meeting. 

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 02 December 2024.

The Board considered the non-public minutes of the meeting of 02 December 2024.

To consider the report of the City Bridge Foundation & Charities Interim Finance Director (representing the Chamberlain).

The Board considered the report of the City Bridge Foundation & Charities Interim Finance Director (representing the Chamberlain).

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

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

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

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

The Board heard an update on the impact of changes to legislation relating to VAT on independent school fees.