Agenda item

Joint report of the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls and the Head of the City of London School.

The Board considered a joint report of the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls and the Head of the City of London School setting out a proposed governance structure for the City Junior School and the following points were made:

• At present, the City Junior School was governed jointly by the Boards of Governors of the City of London School and City of London School for Girls and informed by the informal Project EDWIN Working Group which comprised representatives of both Boards and schools.  Following consideration of an appropriate governance structure for the City Junior School, it had been proposed that a joint Sub-Committee comprising equal representation of the two Senior Schools be established to act as a Board of Governors for the City Junior School.  It was also proposed that that the terms of reference of the two Senior Schools be amended to include oversight of the City Junior School.

• The Board was advised that in considering the proposed Terms of Reference of the Board of Governors of the City Junior School at its meeting on 8 December 2021, the Board of Governors of the City of London School had resolved the following amendment be made to the Sub-Committee’s constitution to enable the widest possible body of talent and expertise for the Sub-Committee:

The proposed amendment was supported by the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls.

·         A Governor suggested that the Terms of Reference further be amended to specify two Deputy Chairmen be appointed to the Sub-Committee, comprising one non-City of London Corporation Governor and one City of London Corporation Governor.  This would support robust succession planning, as only City of London Corporation Governors were eligible to serve as Chair.  The Board agreed that further consideration be given to this proposal should the Policy and Resources Committee support the establishment of the Sub-Committee at its meeting on 16 December 2021.

• In discussing appointments to the new Sub-Committee, should it be established, two expressions of interest comprising Peter Bennett and Alderman Robert Howard were received in respect of the two Common Councillor Governors roles whose appointment was supported by the Board.  Two expressions of interest comprising Mark James and Elizabeth Phillips were received in respect of the one Co-opted Governor role.  The Board agreed that delegated authority be granted to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman for any decisions relating to the operation of the City Junior School required in advance of the next meeting of the Board of Governors on 11 February 2022, including the Co-opted Governor appointment to the Board of Governors of the City Junior School.

RESOLVED – That:

• In principle agreement be given to the creation of a Sub-Committee to undertake the duties of a Board of Governors of the City Junior School;

• The draft Terms of Reference for the Board of Governors of the City Junior School be approved, subject to the below outlined amendment;

• The proposed revised Terms of Reference of the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls to include oversight of the City Junior School be agreed,

• The appointment of Peter Bennett and Alderman Robert Howard as Common Councillor Governors representing the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls on the City Junior School be agreed.

• Delegated authority be granted to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors of the City of London School for Girls for any decisions relating to the operation of the City Junior School required in advance of the next meeting of the Board of Governors on 11 February 2022, including the Co-opted Governor appointment to the Board of Governors of the City Junior School.