Agenda item

Report from the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding the Education, Cultural and Creative Learning Skills 2020/21 Annual Report. The Chair introduced the item and advised that governance would be a key priority going forward.

Despite the impact of COVID a significant amount of activity had taken place, including a drop in permanent exclusions from eighteen pupils in 2018/19 to one in 2020/21, which was welcomed by all present. Further to this, arising from the Alternative Provision available, the current cohort of Year 11s had all completed their studies with all students in education, employment or training (NEET).

Governors were encouraged to complete all Governor training sessions following low attendance at a recent safeguarding training course and the importance of Governors completing statutory training every two years was highlighted. Comment was made, however, that Governors in daytime employment may find it difficult to take time off to attend in-person daytime meetings. In response to a question posed by a Member, officers advised that some courses were recorded and made available to Governors, but that sessions such as safeguarding could not be recorded due to the sensitive nature of the conversations. Slides and other reference material was however always made available, and two additional Members of CoL staff were now on board and would provide support with training sessions. A query was put as to whether such reference material was circulated to the clerks of governing bodies, who were in a better position than the Chairs of Boards to disseminate the information to their governors.

The Chair welcomed the news that additional funding had been secured for adult education services, as detailed on p29 of the report and commended those involved for their work in obtaining this.

RESOLVED, that:

i)              the report be noted;

ii)    consideration be given to holding Safeguarding training sessions during the evening, to facilitate those Members who found it difficult to attend daytime sessions due to full-time employment;

iii)   that training invitations for Governors be sent to clerks for circulation, as well as individual Governors.