Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Dame Mary Richardson (co-opted) and Professor Whitehouse (co-opted).

Chairman’s Announcements

The Chairman began by thanking Mr Peter Leck for his 14 years of service to the Board. Governors were informed that Mr Leck had been unsuccessful in the City elections held yesterday. He went on to also thank Mr William Hunt who had served on the Board for the past four years but had decided not to seek re-election to the Court of Common Council.

Finally, the Chairman welcomed Mrs Moys as a new Governor on the Board in her own right. He added that she would also, for the time being, continue to act as an ex-officio Governor given that she was still the acting Chairman of the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 14 November 2012 (copy attached).

The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 14 November 2012 were considered and approved as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING

CCF (page 3) – The Chairman reported that the CCF’s Annual Inspection had recently taken place and that the Deputy Chairman had attended this in his absence.

The Deputy Chairman reported that the event had been very successful and enjoyable for all who had attended.

In accordance with the Order of the Court of 6 December 2012, the Board are invited to review their terms of reference prior to their submission to the Court at its meeting in April 2013 (copy attached).

The Board took the opportunity to review their terms of reference prior to their submission to the Court of Common Council at its meeting in April 2013.

A Governor, also the acting Chairman of the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls, highlighted that her Board had questioned the wording under the heading ‘constitution’. The Girls School Board had requested that the wording relating to co-opted Governors be changed to state that those with ‘experience relevant to the Board’ should be appointed as opposed to those with ‘relevant experience of education’ only. The Board noted the Girls School’s position on this and agreed that it was a sensible amendment which they too would like to adopt.

It was also highlighted, under 4. (c) of the School’s current Terms of Reference, that the City of London School had a Director of Finance as opposed to a Bursar and that the wording here should be amended to reflect this.

RESOLVED – That,

·        the wording of the Board’s constitution be amended to state that ‘up to five co-opted, non-City of London Corporation Governors with experience relevant to the Board’ may be appointed and;

·        the Board approve their existing Terms of Reference for submission to the Court of Common Council in April 2013 subject to replacing the word ‘bursar’ with ‘Director of Finance’ at 4. (c).

Order of the Court of 6 December 2012 (copy attached), concerning the Post-implementation review of the Governance Arrangements. Please see the second page of the Order for the matter of relevance to this Board.

The Board received an Order of the Court of Common Council of 6 December 2012, concerning the Post-implementation review of the Governance Arrangements, particularly those matters which were of direct relevance to them.

The Board noted that it had been decided that no action was to be taken to limit the number of Governors who can serve on each Board. The Town Clerk reported that Mrs Moys was now the first Governor to be appointed on to more than one City School Board following her successful election to the Board of Governors of the City of London School.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Headmaster of the City of London School (copy attached).

The Board received a report of the Headmaster of the City of London School relative to various School matters including Oxbridge results, Outside Speakers, Learning Support and School Signage.

Oxford and Cambridge Results

The Headmaster reported that he was extremely pleased by the number of offers secured from Oxford and Cambridge for this year’s cohort. He went on, however, to state that there had recently been a worrying increase in the number of non-EU applications to Cambridge, particularly for subjects such as Engineering and Science which were traditionally popular subjects for CLS boys. He stated that this was now a concern for many and that the HMC would be making representations on this in the near future.

A Governor reported that he had recently attended a concert at which the student now offered a 2013 place at Christ Church, Oxford to study Music had played. He commented on the ‘phenomenal’ talent of the pupil and thanked all those involved, particularly the School’s Head of Music, Mr Harrison. Other Governors who had also attended the concert asked that their thanks and congratulations be passed to all involved.

Outside Speakers 2013

In response to questions, the Headmaster reported that this was a much shortened list of those speakers who had visited the School this term.

The Second Master added that, on average, an outside speaker visited the School each week and recent talks had been given by journalists, broadcasters, businessmen/women and engineers.

The Headmaster stated that he would be happy to circulate a full list of Outside speakers to all Governors who wished to see this information.

Sponsored Award (Bursary) Campaign

The Director of Finance reported that 5 sponsored awards had been offered and accepted at 11+ and that these pupils would be joining the School in September 2013.

He went on

Report of the Headmaster (copy attached).

The Board received a report of the Headmaster setting out the main sources of the School’s funding for bursaries and scholarships and detailing the respective levels of funding provided for the 2012/13 academic year.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Headmaster (copy attached).

The Board considered a report of the Headmaster relative to the School’s updated policy on school lettings.

In response to a question, the Second Master reported that the School was licenced for the sale of alcohol at specified events including wedding receptions. However, such receptions tended not to be widely promoted beyond former pupils and their relatives. He added that the School did not, however, have a marriage licence.

RESOLVED – That, Governors note the rationale for the School’s revised lettings policy and authorise the Headmaster to decide on future lettings and the charging rates for each letting.

There were no questions.

Terrence Heard MBE

The Board wished to place on record their sincere congratulations to Mr. Terrence Heard,

retired Maths Master and school archivist at the City of London School, who had been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2013 New Year’s Honours List.

Water Polo

The Chairman reported that the City of London School were now the under 18’s Water Polo Champions.

To consider the resolution excluding the Public in respect of those items containing exempt information:-

That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

            Item No                                                           Exemption Paragraph(s)

                12                                                                            1, 2, 3 & 4

                13                                                                                    3

                14                                                                                    3

                15                                                                                 3 & 4

                16                                                                               2, 3 & 4

                17                                                                                    -

                18                                                                                     -

RESOLVED: That, under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

            Item No                                                           Exemption Paragraph(s)

                12                                                                            1, 2, 3 & 4

                13                                                                                    3

                14                                                                                    3

                15                                                                                 3 & 4

                16                                                                               2, 3 & 4

                17                                                                                    -

                18                                                                                    -

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2012 (copy attached).

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2012 were approved and agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Comptroller & City Solicitor (copy attached).

The Board received a report of the Comptroller & City Solicitor summarising the advice of the Charity Commission regarding awards to persons connected with members of the Board of Governors of the City of London School and made from the Schools’ Bursary Fund charities and also the School’s Scholarships and Prizes Fund.

Report of the Headmaster (copy attached).

The Board received a report of the Headmaster providing Governors with a brief summary of (i) the financial support which the School receives from the City of London Corporation (ii) the ways in which the School currently contributes to the City’s Strategic aims and (iii) its plans for future additional outreach work.

Report of the Headmaster (copy attached).

The Board will also be addressed by Mr. Marcus Reoch – the Founder and Managing Director of Dragons in Europe – a specialist in the teaching of Mandarin.

The Board considered and agreed a report of the Headmaster relative to the Introduction of Mandarin Chinese at the City of London School commencing in September 2013 for all Year 7 boys.

Report of the Director of HR (copy attached).

The Board considered and approved a report of the Director of Human Resources relative to this year’s Pay Claim for Teaching Staff.

There were no questions raised in the non-public session.

There were no additional, urgent items of business for consideration in the non-public session.