Agenda item

Report of the Headmaster of the City of London School (copy attached).

The Board received a report of the Headmaster of the City of London School relative to various School matters including Public Examination Results, University Places for Leavers, The School Roll and the 2011-12 Charity Appeal.

Public Examination Results

The Headmaster was pleased to report that this year’s A/AS results had been the best the School had ever received.

Governors wished to place in record their congratulations to all staff and students on this enormous success.

The Headmaster reported that this year’s cohort were not expected to perform on the same level given that they were a smaller year group and of a lower ability range.

University Places for Leavers 2012

The Headmaster reported that over 90% of leavers were expected to enter Russell Group Universities. Governors were informed that 29 students had gained Oxbridge places (a School record) and 8 were due to join Medical Schools.

In response to a question, the Headmaster stated that, generally speaking, many more school leavers in the country as a whole were now choosing to undertake ‘in-house training’ or apprenticeship schemes following the increase in University tuition fees. He highlighted that many accountancy firms had now ‘stepped up’ their School Leavers programmes.

In response to a second question, the Headmaster stated that, whilst the School had considered the IB programme, they had decided against its introduction as it was felt that it did not allow pupils to go into sufficient depth in certain subjects. Governors were also informed that ‘Further Maths’ was not an option at IB.

Finally, the Headmaster reported that overseas Universities were increasingly targeting Independent School pupils who did not achieve the ‘AAB’ results required by many of the Russell Group Universities.

Scholarships awarded

In response to a question, the Headmaster reported that, in terms of Bursaries, most seemed to come from the ‘Tower Hamlets’ and ‘Peckham’ areas. He reiterated that eligible pupils could apply from any area.

Governors Briefing from the Head of Economics – Mr. Lionel Redit

Governors received a briefing from Mr Lionel Redit, the School’s Head of Economics. Mr. Redit outlined the work of his Department and highlighted the increasing popularity of Economics at A/AS Level.

During his briefing Mr. Redit made the following points:

·          The Department now had its own ‘base’ within the School and consisted of three staff at present;

·          From 1985-99, 52% of pupils achieved an A-B grade in Economics at A Level, since 2000, 87% were now achieving these grades;

·          Economics revision classes were made available to pupils at lunchtime;

·          Various initiatives such as ‘Young Enterprise’ and ‘Dragons Den’ were organised by the Department;

·          Visits to institutions such as Lloyds, the Bank of England, the Metal Exchange and the Baltic Exchange had recently taken place;

·          This year, a trip to New York had been scheduled;

·          Key speakers such as Norman Lamont and Jim O’Neill of Goldman Sachs had been invited to address pupils in the past;

·          iPads were currently being trialled within the Department;

In response to a question regarding the increasing popularity of Economics within the School, Mr Redit stated that he believed that it was currently the most relevant subject within the Sixth Form Curriculum.

In response to a further question, Mr Redit stated that it often made the first year of an Economics degree simpler if a student had studied the subject at A Level. He went on to report that some universities now required A-Levels in Maths and Further Maths from students wanting to read Economics. 

School Roll – September 2012

The Headmaster reported that there were currently 922 on the school roll – the second highest the School had ever had.

Sports Report 2011-2012

Governors commented on this year’s impressive sports results which were particularly pleasing given that CLS was often perceived by outsiders as a ‘non-sporty’ School.

Charity Appeal 2011-12

The Headmaster reported that the total raised by the School for the Great Ormond Street Hospital was £64,311 which was the biggest amount any School had ever raised for the Charity. Governors were informed that the incredible amount raised had recently been reported in both ‘City AM’ and ‘The Evening Standard’.

Rodney FitzGerald deceased

The Board noted the very generous donation from former Governor Rodney FitzGerald. The Finance Director, CLS, reported that a total of £135,000 had been received to date and that it had been indicated that a smaller amount was set to follow. He stated that the School were extremely grateful for this donation and had written to thank the executors.

Primary School Academies

The Headmaster reported that he was now Chairman of Governors at the Bentworth Academy in White City. He went on to report that three of the Governors were former pupils of the City of London School.

The Headmaster reported that his first Governors meeting had been very encouraging and that the new Senior Management Team at the Academy were slowly getting to grips with things. Finally, he reiterated that he had taken up this position in a personal capacity and that there was therefore no reputational or financial risk to the City of London.

The Chairman, on behalf of the Board, congratulated the Headmaster on his work in this area to date.

International Boys School Coalition (IBSC)

The Headmaster reported that he had now been made Vice Chairman (Europe) of the IBSC. He went on to report that the IBSC’s membership had increased recently and that they would be hosting three conferences this year looking at issues relating specifically to the education of boys.

The Sutton Trust

The Headmaster reported that he and the Chair of the Sutton Trust (Sir Peter Lampl) were leading a drive to encourage Government to make Independent day Schools more ‘accessible’ to all. He reported that, to date, 44 independent school Heads had signed a letter to ‘The Times’ on this matter. The Headmaster reported that this would be a long-term campaign hoping ‘Open Access’ may appear on the manifesto for the next election.

A Governor questioned whether this might lead to a flight of parents who could afford to send their children to independent day schools as this had been the case with the Belvedere School in Liverpool. She stated that the concern amongst some parents was that this could lead to a change in culture at the Schools involved. The Headmaster replied that CLS had always had a mix of students coming from a wide variety of backgrounds and he hope that, with further bursaries, this would continue. Moreover, if allIndependent day schools were to sign up to this approach, ‘flight’ would not be an option for some parents.

Guest Speaker – Lord Bilimoria

The Headmaster reported that Lord Bilimoria, Chair of the Government’s Anglo-Indian Trade Committee, would be speaking at the School early next week. He extended an invitation to all Governors to attend this event. It was hoped that the School would launch a partnership with a prestigious Indian Boarding School on the back of this event with CLS ‘old boys’ and old boys of the Indian Boarding School also ‘linked up’ in the future.

Governors wished to place on record their support for and recognition of all of the Headmaster’s work in continuing to ‘push boundaries’ and to act as a real ‘standard bearer’ for education.