Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Alderman Emma Edhem, Soha Gawaly, Tim Levene and Sylvia Moys.

The Chairman observed that Soha Gawaly’s term as Co-opted Governor would end on 7 December 2020 and led the Board in thanking her for her excellent contribution to the Board of Governors as well as for her ongoing support of the School.

There were no declarations of interest.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 5 October 2020.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting be approved as an accurate record.

To receive the draft minutes of the Finance and Estates Sub-Committee held on 13 November 2020.

RESOLVED - That the public minutes and non-public summary of the Finance and Estates Sub-Committee meeting held on 13 November 2020 be received.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk outlining Outstanding Actions and the following point was made:

·         The Headmistress had asked the Head of Music to liaise with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama on the possibility of a collaboration around the streaming technology it used to deliver integrated music events.

RESOLVED – That the Outstanding Actions report be noted.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk presenting updated terms of reference of the Academic Working Party for approval.

It was proposed that the terms of reference be updated to state: “To oversee all matters pertaining to academic strategy and performance at the School, including safeguarding, school trips, Special Educational Needs, International links, Admissions, Staffing and Compliance.”

RESOLVED - That the updated terms of reference of the Academic Working Party be approved.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk presenting a proposal to convene a Governance Committee of the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls and the following point was noted:

• The Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls currently considered the appointment of Co-opted Governors directly; however, it had been identified that, in line with recommendations by the Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools, formal sub-committees were in place at the City of London School and City of London Freemen’s School to source, interview and recommend the appointment of Co-opted Governors to the Board of Governors, as well as advise on the skills needed by the Board of Governors to support the selection of new Common Council Governors.

RESOLVED – That:

• A Governance Committee of the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls be convened for the 2020/21 academic year;

• The proposed composition and terms of reference of the Governance Committee of the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls be approved;

• The following appointments be made to the Governance Committee:

Nicholas Bensted-Smith (Chairman)

Peter Bennett (Deputy Chairman)

Randall Anderson

Mary Ireland

Deputy Clare James

Elizabeth Phillips

• A meeting of the Governance Committee be arranged for the Spring 2021 Term.

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

The Board considered the report of the Headmistress who gave an update on upcoming events, examinations and partnership and development and the following points were made:

• A small token of seasonal recognition would be provided to School staff in place of the annual drinks’ reception to mark their outstanding effort during the COVID-19 pandemic.  There continued to be a significant pressure on School staff as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic with a number of staff members recently required to self-isolate, and short-term measures had been put in place to ensure the full School timetable was delivered.  It had been decided to end the Autumn 2020 Term slightly earlier than planned on 10 December 2020, but students would still have the opportunity to participate in festive activities.   

• Work was underway to establish a yearly series of ‘City at Six’ lectures at the School, some of which would be dedicated to the former Deputy Head (Pastoral) who had recently passed away.   The lectures would cover a wide range of subjects.

• In response to a question from a Governor, the Headmistress confirmed that it was anticipated that students would be able to sit GCSE and A Level exams in Summer 2021 and that students who sat at least half of their exams in any one subject would be graded using a robust modelling process.  If students were unable to sit their exams, they would be assessed on their mock exam performance and the School was supporting this by offering two sets of mock exams and ensuring stringent data collection for every subject.

UPDATE: Following the meeting the Department for Education confirmed that GCSE and A-Level candidates would have advance information about exam topics.  Supporting materials would remove the need for rote learning and provision would be made to ensure that candidates

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

The policies for approval (Appendices 1 – 10) can be viewed in the separate appendices pack.

Governors considered a report of the Headmistress setting out a number of school policies for approval.

RESOLVED – That the following policies be approved:

• Accessibility Plan;
• Attendance Policy;
• Behaviour Policy;
• Complaints Policy;
• Exclusions Policy;
• Physical Contact and Restraint Policy;
• Pupil Equal Opportunities Policy;
• Recruitment Policy;
• Risk Assessment Guidance; and,
• Security Access Control Workplace Safety and Lone Working Policy.

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

Governors considered a report of the Headmistress providing an update on compliance matters at the School and the following point was made:

• Good progress had been made in completing the Fire Risk and Health and Safety Audits and it was anticipated that all remaining outstanding actions would be completed by February 2021.  Staff training records were being reviewed to identify any gaps, and training had been arranged for January and February 2021 to address staff training needs.  It was planned to train an additional staff member in maintaining the Single Central Register to ensure that arrangements were robust.

RESOLVED - That the current position be noted.

There was one question.

The Chairman reminded Governors to arrange virtual or on-site visits to the School during the Spring 2021 Term.  This was particularly important for Governors with Designated Roles.  The Headmistress advised that the Independent Schools Inspectorate would be resuming its programme of inspections from the Summer 2021 Term and that Governor visits supported the delivery of strong governance at the School.

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 5 October 2020.

The non-public minutes of the previous meeting were approved as an accurate record.

To receive the draft Non-Public Minutes of the Academic Working Party held on 18 November 2020.

RESOLVED - That the non-public minutes of the Academic Working Party meeting held on 18 November 2020 be received.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Finance and Estates Sub-Committee held on 13 November 2020.

RESOLVED - That the non-public minutes of the Finance and Estates Sub-Committee meeting held on 13 November 2020 be received.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk outlining non-public Outstanding Actions.

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

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

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

The Board considered a report of the Headmistress outlining the Preparatory School vision.

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

The Board considered a report of the Headmistress presenting an update on the Preparatory School.

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

This report was withdrawn.

Joint Report of the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls, the Chamberlain and the City Surveyor.

The Board heard an update of the Headmistress, the Chamberlain and the City Surveyor on Gateway 2.

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

The Board considered a joint report of the Bursar and the Chamberlain presenting the proposed Revenue Budget 2021/22.

Joint Report of the Bursar of the City of London School for Girls, the Chamberlain and the City Surveyor.

The Board considered a joint report of the Bursar, the Chamberlain and the City Surveyor presenting the proposed Repairs, Maintenance and Improvement Fund 2021/22 and 20-Year Plan.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Board considered a report of the City Surveyor on the Summer Works 2021.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Board considered a report of the City Surveyor providing an update on Summer Works 2020.

There were no questions.

There were two items of urgent business.