Agenda and minutes

CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME

The Chairman, on behalf of the Board, welcomed the new Town Clerk and Chief Executive of the City of London, John Barradell, to his first CLS Board meeting. He went on to welcome Alderman John White to his first meeting in his new, ex-officio, capacity as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls.

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy John Bennett (ex-officio), Alderman Sir Paul Judge, Christopher Martin (co-opted), Lord Levene of Portsoken (co-opted) and Peter Leck.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 19 June 2012 (copy attached)

The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 19 June 2012 were approved and agreed as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING

Headmaster as Chair of the Local Governing Body of ARK Bentworth Primary Academy (page 7) – The Chairman reported that the Headmaster had now taken over as the Chairman of the Bentworth Primary Academy and would report on this in greater detail later on in the meeting.

School Cleaning (page 9) – In response to questions, the Second Master was pleased to report that cleaning standards were continuing to improve following weekly meetings with the Supervisor. He went on to state that there was, however, an on-going concern as to the number of cleaners who came into work each day with 3-4 often absent.

The Director of Finance reported that 24 cleaners were deemed adequate for the School but only 20 were reporting for work most days. This caused extra work for the day cleaners who were having to catch up on the deficiencies from the previous evening shift.

In response to further questions, Governors were informed that both CLS and CLSG were on a shared contract for cleaning services.

Resolution of the Policy and Resources Committee (5 July 2012) (copy attached).

The Board considered a resolution of the Policy & Resources Committee of 5 July 2012 concerning proposed enhancements to the Millennium Bridge area and a suggestion that there had been a decision by the Projects Sub Committee to refer this matter back to the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee. The resolution stated that this had not been the case and that the project had, instead, been referred back to Officers for further information.

A Governor, also a member of the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee, reported that the project had now been presented to the Sub Committee for a second time and separated into part A and part B. She reported that the riverside works now covered under ‘Part A’ had been approved but that the works on the walkway area (Part B) were presenting an issue. Members of the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee had been presented with two options on the walkway, one being to re-use and relay the current pavement at a cost of £350,000 and one being a ‘clean up’ and repair of the current area. Whilst Streets And Walkways Sub had been supportive of relaying the paving in this area, the Projects Sub Committee had since decided that a trial ‘clean up’ of the area should take place and be monitored.

A Governor reiterated his comments made at the last Board meeting as to the ‘mission drift’ of the Project Sub Committee but recognised that this issue was no longer of concern to the School unless the works were to present issues in terms of noise and disruption.

In response to a question, Governors were informed that, whilst planting was proposed for the riverside area, it was intended that the walkway from the Millennium Bridge towards St Paul’s would be kept as a ‘clean line’ in

Report of the Chamberlain (copy attached).

The Board received a report of the Chamberlain providing Governors with a copy of the 2011/12 report and Financial Statements for the City of London School Bursary Fund incorporating the City of London School Scholarships & Prizes Fund.

Governors were informed that this was the first year that these accounts had been amalgamated following the Charities Review.

The Chairman drew Governors’ attention to the charities combined cash holding of £660,000 as at 31 March 2012. He went on to state that, with annual expenditure in the order of £100,000, it would seem sensible to invest £500,000 of this in the City Corporation’s Charities Pool which should generate a higher return. Governors agreed unanimously with this proposal.

RESOLVED – That, the Board recommend to the Chamberlain that £500,000 of the cash ‘at bank and in hand’ from the City of London School Bursary Fund incorporating the City of London School Scholarships & Prizes Fund be invested in the Corporation’s Charities Pool.

Report of the Chamberlain (copy attached).

The Board received a report of the Chamberlain providing Governors with a copy of the 2011/12 report and Financial Statements for the City of London School Education Trust (charity number: 1118571).

The Chairman explained that the Fund currently held the residue of the Winterflood donation to construct the School’s theatre. The Director of Finance, CLS, reported that the remainder of the fund was now being spent on items for the theatre and confirmed that Mr Winterflood was being kept informed of this.

Governors were informed that it had been agreed with the Charity Commission that the School’s Education Fund would be held open in order to receive any future donations of this kind.

RECEIVED.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Headmaster of the City of London School (copy attached).

The Board received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Headmaster of the City of London School comparing the 2011/12 revenue outturn for the City of London School with the final agreed budget for the year.

The Chamberlain summarised by reporting that this year had seen an increase in net income of £40,000 (due, in the main, to an increase in registration fee income) and that overall expenditure had been as budgeted.

A Governor commented that the accounts presented to the Board were not easy to read and it was suggested that, in future, they be presented in City’s Cash format with income detailed first followed by expenditure.

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 Public Examination Results, University Places for Leavers, The School Roll and the 2011-12 Charity Appeal.

Public Examination Results

The Headmaster was pleased to report that this year’s A/AS results had been the best the School had ever received.

Governors wished to place in record their congratulations to all staff and students on this enormous success.

The Headmaster reported that this year’s cohort were not expected to perform on the same level given that they were a smaller year group and of a lower ability range.

University Places for Leavers 2012

The Headmaster reported that over 90% of leavers were expected to enter Russell Group Universities. Governors were informed that 29 students had gained Oxbridge places (a School record) and 8 were due to join Medical Schools.

In response to a question, the Headmaster stated that, generally speaking, many more school leavers in the country as a whole were now choosing to undertake ‘in-house training’ or apprenticeship schemes following the increase in University tuition fees. He highlighted that many accountancy firms had now ‘stepped up’ their School Leavers programmes.

In response to a second question, the Headmaster stated that, whilst the School had considered the IB programme, they had decided against its introduction as it was felt that it did not allow pupils to go into sufficient depth in certain subjects. Governors were also informed that ‘Further Maths’ was not an option at IB.

Finally, the Headmaster reported that overseas Universities were increasingly targeting Independent School pupils who did not achieve the ‘AAB’ results required by many of the Russell Group Universities.

Scholarships awarded

In response to a question, the Headmaster reported that, in terms of Bursaries, most seemed to

There were no questions.

Lord Mayor’s Show

A Governor wished to place on record his thanks to the School for providing a band to play in this year’s Lord Mayor’s Show. He reported that 25 musicians in full CCF uniform would be playing this year.

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                                                                                        -

                15                                                                                        -

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                                                                                        -

                15                                                                                        -

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 19 June 2012 (copy attached).

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 19 June 2012 were approved and agreed as a correct record.

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

The Board considered and approved a report of the Headmaster of the City of London School providing Governors with an Outline Options Appraisal for improvements to the School’s Upper Playground.

There were no questions in the non-public session.

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