Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Joanna Abeyie and from Ruby Sayed.  

These Members sent apologies and observed the meeting online: Alderman Robert Howard, Floyd Steadman.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 14 June 2024.

RESOLVED, That the public minutes of the meeting of 14 June 2024 were approved as a correct record.

Report of the Clerk.

The Board considered the report of the Clerk, noting that the proposed appointment of the Board’s Chair to the Corporation’s Policy & Resources Committee has been deferred until at least May 2025 due to the Corporation’s consideration of the remit and scope of its Committees during the 2025 election period.

The Board noted the upcoming meeting of the Nominations Sub-Committee to appoint an external Member to replace Mary Robey.

No further Board Members agreed to join the Nominations Sub-Committee.

A Member asked for an update on governor appointments at Emmanuel School following recent media interest in the matter. The Board heard that the matter would be investigated and an update provided to the next Education Board meeting.

RESOLVED, That the Board note the CoLAT appointments ratified via the urgency process.    

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

The Board considered the report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services seeking approval to proceed with two research projects from a list of proposed research projects for the upcoming academic year, noting that the projects align with the new Education Strategy 2024-29 which promotes bringing research to the education community in London and further afield and focuses on achieving the five strategic priorities: Supporting Educational Excellence, Promoting Personal Development, Reinforcing Safety, Health & Wellbeing, Improving Employability, and Embracing Culture, Creativity & the Arts. 

Members noted that each proposed project is designed to contribute to the strategic goals by fostering innovation, collaboration, new learning and evidence-based practices, and noted the detailed outline set out in the appendix to the report - noting especially the benefits of new research, added value that it would provide, and how such research might fit into the overall corporate plan of the Corporation.

A Member asked whether the Education Strategy Unit (ESU) has conducted research before, and the meeting heard that the proposed projects are a new initiative on the part of the ESU delivery of the new strategy whose remit now has a greater focus on new research and fresh knowledge and insight. The meeting noted that the four proposals stem from areas of concern following feedback from stakeholders during the consultation around the recently approved Education Strategy, and that the four proposals were extracted from a broader set of areas of concern expressed in that feedback. 

A Member asked whether the proposed projects constituted research (as opposed to fact-finding exercises). Based on the research experience of two ESU officers gained during their doctoral theses, the meeting noted that the proposals have been delineated to ensure that, as shorter pieces of research, they are able to offer value and insight into important areas and to potentially

To receive the report of the Director of Children and Community Services. 

The Board reviewed the report of the Director of Children & Community Services presenting Members with the list of actions selected from the City of London Corporation’s new Education Strategy 2024-29, for implementation in the 2024/25 academic year. 

In response to a Member request that each meeting agenda item be linked to an element of the Strategic Plan, the meeting heard that each agenda item would be linked to its relevant strategic point in future reports. 

A Member asked whether measures of success and/or impact could be built into the actions set out in the paper. The meeting noted that a measurement matrix with KPIs was shared with the Board at the June 2024 meeting. 

A Member commented that some priorities appeared to be the responsibility of schools, particularly ‘Educational Excellence’, and that the CoLC can deliver added value to other priorities, especially around engaging the whole CoLC in playing a part in improving employability and improving life chances, referencing in particular section 11 of the report.

The meeting noted that ‘Educational Excellence’ areas of strategic action and outcome specify the CoLC’s input potential rather than encroaching upon schools’ areas of responsibility.

Referencing section 9 (funding), a Member asked for an update on the involvement of the City Premium Grant (CPG) on the strategy actions.  The meeting noted that initiatives are under way at CoLAT to ensure that the CPG application process is more systemised and better rationalised and optimised to generate efficiencies and additionality via the newly created partnerships co-ordinator position at CoLAT.

Members noted that the CPG is partly needs-based and that some schools have asked whether there should be a metric that recognises the increasing number of EHCPs in a school, noting that Local Authority funding for EHCP children does not cover the cost of handling those needs

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

Members received the report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services updating Members on the work undertaken by Sir Alan Wood CBE and noted the summary outcomes set out as an Appendix. Members noted that Sir Alan Wood was invited by the Town Clerk to work with the City of London Corporation, City of London Academy Trust and the four independent schools on the current risks and opportunities presenting within the educational landscape. 

A Member asked whether more detail on the work completed was forthcoming. The meeting noted that no further information is available, and that the Chief Town Clerk is aware of the report.

Verbal update on the LCF

The Board heard that the London Careers Festival 2025 will run from 03 February to 14 February, the in-person festival being during the first week.

The early booking facility for some sessions that was successfully trialled in 2024 is being rolled out for the 2025 iteration and has been met with success, and further updates will be brought to the December 2024 meeting of the Board.

Members noted that a key objective is to expand partnerships with Square Mile businesses as part of a suite of opportunities for businesses to engage with the CoLC’s educational offering and to further facilitate work experience and apprenticeship opportunities for learners

Members discussed ways to engage Square Mile businesses in partnership work around the educational offering, and a range of suggestions was made including: asking all CoLC members to submit one employer name, and calling on the services of CoLC-related experts in the field.

A Member asked what impact analysis has been made of the 2024 event over and above the evaluation provided at the June 2024 meeting. The meeting noted that a refresher on the impacts of the 2024 event would be provided for newer Members.  

To receive the report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services and the Chamberlain. 

Members noted the report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services presenting Members with the budget monitoring update for Period 3 (P3), noting that the current forecast indicates that the budget for 2024/25 is projected to be fully utilised as anticipated.  

A Member asked where the budget was shown for the research projects proposed at item 5 of the meeting. The meeting heard that the finances for that is within the ‘Education Strategy’ line.

A Member sought clarification on why Aldgate School was incorporated into the plans. The meeting heard that the school is part of the Family of Schools and has access to the CPG (partnerships, and strategic). 

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

The Board received the report of the Managing Director of the City Bridge Foundation noting that the City of London Corporation is the sole corporate trustee of this Charity: the City Educational Trust Fund (CETF) (Charity No. 290840).

The Board noted that it had agreed, at its April 2024 meeting, to award a £3,649,998 grant to A New Direction (Charity No. 1126216) to deliver Primary Arts.

Acting collectively for the City of London Corporation as Trustee of the City Educational Trust Fund (CETF) (290840) and being satisfied that it is in the best interests of the charity to do so, Members noted the evaluation of the pilot of the Primary Arts programme funded by the CETF, and noted the update of the work-to-date of the rollout for the full-length Primary Arts programme funded by the CETF.

A Member sought confirmation on the extent to which consideration has been given to the sustainability and longevity of the project once the Primary Arts project is completed. The Board heard that visits are under way to ascertain what has been embedded in schools from the project, noting that feedback so far suggests that activities and structures arising from masterclasses are being rolled out in schools.  

A Member commented that there is merit in more extensive linkage of the programme with the CoLC’s cultural and heritage assets, noting the involvement of Tower Bridge and the Guildhall Art Gallery among others. 

On the target to reach out to under-served schools and children, a Member asked for progress on how that recommendation has been implemented. The Board heard that a selection matrix has been devised for completion by schools that includes criteria such as EHCP, EAL and PP numbers.

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

The Board considered the report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services presenting Members with key information relating to the impact of the

School Visits Fund in the academic year 2023/24, noting also that the administration of the fund was transferred into the Education Strategy Unit, from Culture Mile Learning.

RESOLVED, That the grant quantum be adjusted so that visits on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays attract grants of up to £275 and visits on Mondays and Fridays attract grants of up to £325.

There were no questions.

The Board received an update on the Ethical AI in Education City Schools Conference that took place on 01 October 2024 at Merchant Taylors’ Hall.

The event convened 100+ school teachers and leaders alongside a range of IT professionals and educational charities to discuss ethical issues around AI and education, with a keynote address by Dr Claire Malone.

Members noted that the event was received very positively, and commented that more work on all aspects of AI in education was merited.

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 14 June 2024.

The Board considered the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 14 June 2024.

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

The Board considered the report of the City Bridge Fund & Charities Finance Director.

To consider the report of the Managing Director of City Bridge Foundation. 

The Board considered the report of the Interim Managing Director of City Bridge Foundation.

Report of the Clerk.

The Board noted the report of the Clerk

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

The Board received the report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services setting out the unvalidated results across the City’s Family of Schools.

Members are invited to note the agenda for the Education Board Awayday taking place on 21 October 2024.

The Board noted the agenda in respect of the Awayday on 21 October 2024.

One item of business was raised.