Agenda item

To agree the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 1 July 2021.

The confidential minutes of the meeting held on 1 July 2021 were approved as a correct record.

A Member asked for further detail regarding the overspend mentioned at Item 9. It was confirmed that this was an overspend on salary for the role of Director of Academy Development - it was planned for this role to have expired as a result of the Target Operating Model, but due to unforeseen delays in the process this was not yet able to occur.

A Member also raised a point of concern regarding Item 21, the sixth form strategy update. They recognised that attracting pupil numbers at sixth forms was a challenge faced by many schools and could result in budgetary complications, but felt that it should continue to be monitored closely by the Board in the coming months due to the financial and reputational risk of the Corporation as sponsor to CoLAT. They suggested that as well as high quality education being offered, the sixth forms must work to provide a diversity of curriculum and a strong marketing strategy for secondary school leavers to ensure that numbers were achieved.

The Chair recognised that this was a concern shared by many but confirmed that it would continue to be monitored closely by the Board. It was highlighted, however, that it was difficult to maintain a balance between adequate scrutiny (as a key responsibility of the Corporation as sponsor) and not exceeding this by adding unnecessary additional layers of Governance.