Agenda item

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

Members agreed to vary the order of business so that Item 13 concerning the Free Schools Programme be considered as Item 9.

The Director of Community and Children’s Services introduced a report on progress in the City’s Free Schools programme. He noted that he was requesting two named lead-members be allocated to each free school to provide member-level advice and feedback up until the ‘opening’ phase of each school. The two members had been identified through their high level of engagement with the project to date and their overall project experience.

A member expressed concern at the fact that interim local governing bodies were already in place given the lack of involvement of the Education Board. The Chairman agreed and noted this unsatisfactory situation was one of the factors that needed to be reviewed during the Director of Community and Children’s Services review of academy governance.

RESOLVED, that

·         The report on progress in the City’s Free Schools programme be noted, and

·         Gareth Moore CC be appointed as lead-member for the City of London Primary School Islington.

·         Hugh Morris CC be appointed as lead-member for the City of London Primary School Southwark.