comEast Brent First School Governors

 

MINUTES OF GOVERNORS’ MEETING

HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 12TH JULY 2006

 

Mr Christ Abbott               Present                  Apologies/Absent

Mr Ian Evans                   P

Mrs Heather Hector           P

Mrs Sara Mitchell             P

Mrs Fran Bowkett              P

Mr Will Read                   P

Dr Wendy Kingdom            P

Rev M Lee                       P

Mrs Caroline Parsons                  P

Mrs Alison Currie (Clerk)    P

Mrs Amanda Smallwood      Ap

 

 

1.       APPROVAL OF MINUTES ON 22ND MARCH 2006:  These were approved and signed.

2.       Mrs Smallwood and Mr Read have rendered their resignations with effect from 31/8/06. Mrs Parsons’ term of office was due to finish on the 31/8/06 but she had very kindly offered to stay on for another term. Mr Abbott thanked Amanda and Will for all their work they have done and thanked Mrs Parsons for continuing. Mrs Jenny Farrell will take over from Amanda as Parent Governor. The Foundation Governor will be appointed by the Church.

 

3.       Review of Committee Meetings:  This will be discussed at the next full Governors Meeting.  The Curriculum Committee will be losing 2 of its members – Mr Read and Mrs Smallwood. Dr Kingdom offered to join this Committee but will come off the Finance Committee. Mrs Farrell will join the Curriculum and the Finance Committee.

 

4. School Development Plan to include subject leadership reports: A joint meeting of subject leaders and linked governors was held on 22nd May. Mrs Hector has devised a form for subject leader reports, which will be used to build the Action Plan. The form will be e-mailed to Governors in the next week.  Subject reports & action plans to be returned by 30th September 2006.     ACTION:  Mrs H Hector

 

Mr Abbott asked the Governors if they would be willing to attend 2 meetings a term with 1 committee meeting in between as we have so much to get through. The governors agreed to this.

 

5.       Ofsted feedback: Mrs Hector thought the Inspectors were very fair, organised and astute.  The Inspectors had previously thought that boys were not doing very well here but Mrs Hector proved by statistics that they are doing very well. One of the issues that came up in both Ofsted and SIAS was security on site, especially with a public footpath running through

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the playground.  Parents have suggested that a line be painted across the bottom of the

playground and a sign put up on both fences asking walkers to keep inside of it. Hopefully this can be done during the summer holidays. A lengthy discussion was held on security in general and it was decided to have a parents meeting so that their concerns and recommendations can be aired. Mrs Bowkett informed the meeting that the fence edging the outside classroom will be moved during the school holidays to incorporate the main door into the Elliot building. The Governors gave their thanks to all the staff for their hard work especially Mrs Hector.

 

6,       SIAS feedback:  Miss Susan Barton, an ex Headteacher carried out the inspection. The school has a distinctive Christian atmosphere and provides the children with a positive and effective Christian foundation. Miss Barton was very impressed with the confidence the children discussed religious issues and recognised that the leadership of the head in striving to improve the quality of Christian education.   We need to develop a programme of themes for worship; ensure all worship in the week is distinctively Christian and make sure there are more opportunities for children to experience the different aspects of the Anglican faith. All assemblies, including the Celebration assembly, from September will be more Christian based.

Martin Lee gave his apologies and left.

 

7.       Policy Review: We still need to review some policies. A planning meeting will be held next term and policies given out for review to different Governors.

 

8.       School Profile:  There is still some difficulty getting this online. As this replaces the Governors Report to Parents we need to draft some of the sections. Mrs Bowkett will organise who will do the different parts and then edit them.                 ACTION:  Mrs F Bowkett

 

9.       Finance:  We are 19% spent at the end of Month 3. A Finance Update sheet was given to each Governor and a Budget sheet showing the commitments and balances for each cost centre. The Governors will need to do a Best Value Statement for next year – this will done by the Finance Committee. The virements were signed.

 

10.     Celebrations:  Thanks and congratulations go to Wendy and everyone who helped with the travel plan. We have been awarded a grant of £4000 to help achieve this plan. Church Road parking and staff parking in the school, additional transport from Rooksbridge and BOS was discussed but it was felt that more discussion was needed; a meeting will be organised in September. 

 

11.      Governor Training:  The system has changed slightly. In future courses will be held locally. Dr Kingdom will send out a skills audit to all governors to complete, which will then be sent to County showing what we require with regard to training. Action:  Dr W Kingdom

 

12.     Heads Report:  Mrs Hector gave each Governor a Head’s Report.

 

A letter had been received from Mrs L Hankins, LSA asking for unpaid leave to 2 weeks 1st-15th December 2006 to accompany her partner who is unable to take time off during the school holidays. The governors agreed to this request stating that it was the 1st time in 12 years this lady had asked for time off,

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Mr Abbott had received a communication from Mrs Jan Thomas, LSDA giving her congratulations to the school on their successful Ofsted inspection.

 

DIARY DATES:  

Vision & Values Day:                            01/09/06              9 for 9.15 am

Full Governors Meeting - planning:          28/09/06              4 for 4.30 pm

Full Governors Meeting -Review:            29/11/06               4 for 4.30 pm

 

Parents Meeting to be held on Thursday, 11/10/06 @ 3.30 pm with crèche. Written comments to be sent in advance of the meeting.