Agenda item

To consider the report of the Deputy Head.

The Committee considered the report of the Deputy Head and scrutinised the following policies:

a)    Attendance

b)    Learning and Teaching

a)    Attendance policy

A Governor sought clarification on whether parents understood the responsibilities set out in the Attendance policy, and the Deputy Head confirmed that parents’ responsibilities had been highlighted to them by way of separate guidance, and that the full Attendance policy was available to parents. Governors heard that pre-notification of non-attendance was forwarded to form tutors by 0835 so that any un-notified absence could be flagged immediately. Boarders worked to a dedicated attendance system.

Referencing section 3 of the Attendance Policy (‘Notification of unplanned absence’) a Member sought clarification on parents’ notification methods, and the Committee heard that parents were required to phone or use the parent portal rather than sending an email.

A Governor asked whether Sixth Form free periods were monitored, and the Committee heard that sixth-formers were required to sign in and out of the site, but were trusted while onsite.

b)    Learning and Teaching

The Committee heard from the Deputy Head Academic that the next iteration of the Learning and Teaching policy was under consideration to feed into the School’s strategic aims, and that the updated iteration was expected at the next meeting of the Academic & Personnel Committee, containing only a few updates.  

A Member suggested that the wording ‘must offer’ be changed to ‘will offer’ (referencing the ‘Purpose’ section on p.30 of the agenda pack).

The Deputy Head Academic confirmed that a ‘blink’ referred to a short visit to a classroom.

A Member asked whether there was any merit in including greater detail on measurable objectives and progress-monitoring. The Committee heard that progress was being tracked via other measures.         

RESOLVED, That the Committee approve these policies: Attendance; Learning and Teaching, with an updated iteration of the Learning and Teaching policy (these are non-statutory and therefore approved at Committee level).