Agenda item

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

TheBoardreceiveda report of the DirectorofCommunityand Children’s Servicesfor decision. The reportprovided theBoardwithan updateon theprogressmadein implementing the EducationStrategy.

TheEducationStrategy Advisorintroduced theworkof the EducationUnitand theestablishment of the Headteachers’ ForumandChairsof Governors’ Forum. The EducationStrategy AdvisoraskedtheBoardtonotethat paragraph8 shouldbe amended to readthat, “accountabilityto theEducationBoard thereforeexiststhrough theChairsof Governors’ Forum”.TheBoardaskedwhetherHeadteachers/Chairsofall schoolsin the Cityfamilywouldbe invited to attendtheForums. TheEducationStrategy Advisornoted that in thefirst instanceonlyacademieswereinvitedbut itwashoped that representatives of all schoolswould takepart in futureForums.

FollowingtheupdateMembersdiscussedissuesregardingsafeguardingtraining arrangementsfor school Governors.TheEducationStrategy AdvisorassuredtheBoard that it wasa priorityareafor the EducationUnitandplanswereinplacetoconduct a Governorsaudit whichwould inform Officersofwhich Governorshaveup todatetrainingand fromwhichprovider. It wassuggestedthat anonlinetrainingcourseshouldbe offeredtoall Governorstoensuretheyareable totakethetrainingata convenienttime.

A Board Membersuggestedthat Christ’sHospital Boardof Governorsshouldbe consultedwith regards to their safeguardingand pastoralcarearrangementsas much couldbe learnedfrom theirinput.A BoardMemberalsosuggestedthat one Governor per Boardshouldreceive moredetailedchildprotectiontrainingand beappointedas thesafeguarding representative for the Board.A Member alsodetailedtheimportanceofall schoolsprovidingwritten confirmationthat they had read thenew safeguarding regulations.

Followingthediscussionon safeguardingtheChairmanbriefedtheBoardon thefunding arrangementsproposedin thereport. The Board wereinformedthateachCity Academy wasallocateda grantof£150,000and RedriffPrimary School a grant of £50,000.The EducationStrategy Advisorexplained that the report includedindividual proposalsfrom RedriffPrimary School, Cityof LondonAcademy Southwark,CityofLondonAcademy Islington, andTheCity Academy Hackney,each provideddetailedplansfor how they woulduse themoneygrantedby theEducationBoard.TheEducationStrategy Advisor notedthat whereschoolshad submittedfundingproposalsthat wereinexcessofthe allocatedgrant, the school wouldbe responsibleforaltering the proposal to reflect the correct grant. The EducationStrategy AdvisorinformedtheBoardthatshe highlyrecommendedall of theproposalsforfunding.

A numberofBoardMembersaskedwhetherschools would receiveanannual grant, assomeproposalsmentioned theneed for recurringexpenditure.TheEducationStrategy Advisornotedschools wereinformed that the grantswereadditional money andnot an indication regarding how muchfunding they can expect in future years.TheChairmannotedthat schoolsshouldbe givenguaranteesregardinghow muchfunding theycan expectinfutureyears.TheDirectorofCommunitiesand Children’s ServicesinformedtheBoardthat it wasinthegift of the Boardtogrant recurring funding. The EducationStrategy AdvisoralsoaskedtheBoardtonotethat therewas also funding commitments for other EducationStrategythemes to address.

TheAssistant TownClerksuggestedthat the Boardconsider thefutureprocessfor assessingproposals and theoptionsavailable,such ascommittingtogiving£150,000each year, or phasing the fundinginorder to alignitwithotherStrategystreams.TheBoardalsodiscussedwhether grant applicationsshouldbe receivedby theEducationBoardthroughout theyear,orifit wouldbe best to have twogrant giving meetingsper year.

RESOLVED – That,

• The Boardnotethecontentsof the report.
• TheBoardgrant£50,000toRedriffPrimary School toenhancetheschool playgroundas detailedintheir proposal.
• TheBoardgrant the CityofLondon Academy Southwark£150,000for raising the standardof TeachingandLearningand AttainmentinMaths, asdetailedin their proposal.
• TheBoardgrant the CityofLondon AcademyIslington£150,000for the 5 activities detailedin their proposal,namely:

·     TheBoardgrant The City Academy,Hackney£150,000for the 4activitiesdetailedin theirproposal, namely: