Agenda and minutes

Alderman Emma Edhem was in the Chair.

Apologies for absence were received from Professor Anna Sapir Abulafia, Tijs Broeke, Deputy Clare James, Deputy Robert Merrett, Sir Michael Snyder and Deputy James Thomson.

There were no declarations.

Order of the Court of Common Council, 25 April 2019, appointing the Board and approving the Terms of Reference.

RESOLVED - That the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 25 April 2019 appointing the Board of Governors for 2019/20 and setting out its terms of reference be received.

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 29.

In accordance with Standing Order 29, the Town Clerk read a list of names of Governors eligible to take the Chair.  Nicholas Bensted-Smith, being the only Governor indicating his willingness to serve, was elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

The Chairman welcomed Peter Bennett and Alderman Prem Goyal to the Board of Governors and thanked Tijs Broeke who was standing down from the Board in July 2019. 

The Chairman also thanked outgoing Chairman, Deputy Clare James for her excellent work in leading the Board over the past three years.  Deputy Richard Regan moved that a vote of thanks for the outgoing Chairman be heard at the next meeting of the Board of Governors on 7 October 2019, a motion that was seconded and agreed unanimously.

To elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30.

In accordance with Standing Order 30, Deputy Clare James exercised her right as immediate past Chairman and was appointed Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 4 March 2019.

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2019 be approved as a correct record.

To receive the public minutes and non-public summary of the Reference Sub-Committee meeting held on 22 May 2019.

RESOLVED - That the public minutes and non-public summary of the Reference Sub-Committee meeting held on 22 May 2019 be received.

To receive the public minutes and non-public summary of the Reference Sub-Committee meeting held on 14 March 2019.

RESOLVED - That the public minutes and non-public summary of the Reference Sub-Committee meeting held on 14 March 2019 be received.

To receive the public minutes and non-public summary of the Bursary Committee meeting held on 1 March 2019.

RESOLVED - That the public minutes and non-public summary of the Bursary Committee meeting held on 1 March 2019 be received.

To receive the public minutes and non-public summary of the Reference Sub-Committee meeting held on 11 February 2019.

RESOLVED - That the public minutes and non-public summary of the Reference Sub-Committee meeting held on 11 February 2019 be received.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members agreed to vary the order of items on the agenda so that Item 9 was considered next. The Board therefore considered a report of the Town Clerk outlining a proposal to convene a Finance Sub-Committee for the 2019-20 academic year and the following points were made.

·         The Chairman noted that he would chair the Finance Sub-Committee in the interim period before a dedicated Finance Chairman was appointed at the October 2019 Board of Governors meeting.

·         The composition of the Finance-Sub Committee should be expanded by one to allow all interested Governors to serve.

RESOLVED - That:

·         The Finance (City of London School for Girls) Sub-Committee be convened for the 2019-20 academic year.

·         The terms of reference and composition of the Finance (City of London School for Girls) Sub-Committee be approved, subject to the comments made.

·         The following appointments be made to the Finance (City of London School for Girls) Sub-Committee:

o   Nicholas Bensted-Smith (Chairman)

o   Deputy Clare James

o   Randall Anderson

o   Peter Bennett

o   Alderman Emma Edhem

o   Alderman Prem Goyal

o   Deputy Richard Regan

o   Sir Michael Snyder

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk regarding the appointment of Sub-Committees and Working Parties, Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools Representative and Governors’ Designated Roles for the 2019-20 academic year.

RESOLVED - That:

·         Nick Bensted-Smith be appointed the School’s representative to the Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools for the 2019-20 academic year;

·         That Governor’s Designated Roles for the 2019-20 academic year be agreed as follows:

·         The terms of reference of the Committees and Working Parties of the Board be approved, and the terms of reference and composition of the Teachers’ Pay Panel be noted.

·         The following appointments be made to the Committees and Working Parties of the Board:

Bursary Committee

Nicholas Bensted-Smith

Deputy Clare James

Randall Anderson

Deputy Richard Regan

            Reference Sub-Committee

Nicholas Bensted-Smith (Chairman)

Deputy Clare James

Randall Anderson

Peter Bennett

Alderman Emma Edhem

Alderman Prem Goyal

Deputy Richard Regan

Sir Michael Snyder

125^th Anniversary Working Party

Nicholas Bensted-Smith

Deputy Clare James

Soha Gawaly

Academic Working Party

Elizabeth Phillips (Chairman)

Nick Bensted-Smith

Alderman Emma Edhem

Dr Stephanie Ellington

Mary Ireland

Deputy Clare James

Headmistress

Deputy Head (Academic)

Deputy Head (Pastoral)

Deputy Head (Staff)

Report of the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls.

The Board considered the report of the Headmistress which discussed forthcoming events, educational visits, Governors’ visiting days, lettings and an update on the expansion project.  The report also gave a summary of staff training during the 2018-19 academic year including safeguarding and individual training courses and outlined future continuous professional development provision. The following points were made.

Governor Visits

·         The Headmistress encouraged Governors to visit the School to observe a specific subject or shadow a year group.

Partnerships and Outreach with Other Schools

·         The Headmistress noted that a report on Partnerships and Outreach would be submitted to the December 2019 meeting of the Board and agreed to circulate the most recent Partnerships report.

Expansion Project - Update

·         The Bursar noted that 280 persons had attended recent public exhibitions, the majority of whom have been Barbican Estate residents.

·         In response to a comment from a Governor noting that the expansion timeline looked optimistic, the Bursar noted that any delay to the project would push the project back by one calendar year, given that the programme was scheduled to minimise academic disruption.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Bursar of the City of London School for Girls.

The Board considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Bursar of the City of London School for Girls providing the Risk Register 2018-19 for the City of London School for Girls Bursary Fund incorporating the City of London School for Girls Scholarships and Prizes Fund. In response to a comment, the Bursar noted that he would keep Risk 5 (Funding from the City may be reduced) under review.

RESOLVED - That the Board confirmed the register satisfactorily set out the risks facing the charity and that appropriate measures were in place to mitigate those risks.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.

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 Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

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.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2019

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2019 be approved as an accurate record.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2019.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2019 be approved as an accurate record.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Academic Working Party meeting held on 24 May 2019.

RESOLVED - That the non-public minutes of the Academic Working Party meeting held on 24 May 2019 be received.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Reference Sub-Committee meeting held on 22 May 2019.

RESOLVED - That the non-public minutes of the Reference Sub-Committee meeting held on 22 May 2019 be received.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Reference Sub-Committee meeting held on 14 March 2019.

RESOLVED - That the non-public minutes of the Reference Sub-Committee meeting held on 14 March 2019 be received.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Bursary Committee meeting held on 1 March 2019.

RESOLVED - That the non-public minutes of the Bursary Committee meeting held on 1 March 2019 be received.

To receive the non-public minutes of the Reference Sub-Committee meeting held on 11 February 2019.

RESOLVED - That the non-public minutes of the Reference Sub-Committee meeting held on 11 February 2019 be received.

Report of the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls.

The Board considered the report of the Headmistress which provided information of non-public matters in relation to the School.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Deputy Head (Pastoral) of the City of London School for Girls to be heard.

The Board heard a presentation of the Deputy Head (Pastoral) on safeguarding.

RESOLVED – That the presentation be noted.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and Bursar.

The Board considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Bursar of the City of London School for Girls on the Financial Information Dashboard.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Board considered a report of the Chamberlain providing an update on cash available in the School’s charity: The City of London School for Girls Bursary Fund incorporating the City of London School for Girls Scholarships and Prizes Fund.

Report of the City Surveyor

The Board considered a report of the City Surveyor requesting delegated authority be granted to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman to agree roof remediation works at the City of London School for Girls during the Summer holidays 2019.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board received a report of the Town Clerk regarding action taken under urgent or delegated authority since the last meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

There was one non-public question.

There was one item of other business.

To agree the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2019.

RESOLVED – That the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2019 be approved as an accurate record.

The Board considered a confidential report of the Bursar regarding refurbishment works.