TEVERSHAM CHURCH of ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

FULL GOVERNORS MEETING

Monday 12th October 2009 – 7.00 – 9.00 pm

MINUTES

 

Present:

Liz Jenkin, Tony Sharpe, David Taylor, Clair Palmer, Natasha Norton, Annabel Lyons, Clare Abbersteen, Maria Froggatt, Charles Harcourt.

Ann Abineri in attendance as clerk.

The meeting was quorate.

  1. Welcome from the Chair and opening prayer

 

    1. 1   Pecuniary Interests

The Chair reminded governors of the need to declare pecuniary interests. Clerk confirmed that new governors have been given Declaration forms to complete and return.       

  1. Apologies for Absence

 

Apologies received and accepted from Hayley Brooker, Frank Butterfill, Julia Thomson, Bernard Miller, Gavin Richards.

Reverend Bowers is still unable to attend due to ill health. Clerk will contact him on his new e mail address to ensure he is receiving our paperwork for information.

Clerk will also contact Parish Clerk to ensure their appointed observer is still receiving the agenda etc.

  1. School Financial Sustainability – Janet Jallow      

Janet gave the meeting an overview of the school’s current budgetary position. She recommended careful management in the current economic climate and advised governors that the staffing budget will need serious consideration in light of pressure on the budget. She recommended that the Finance Committee arrange a Working Party in December 2009 to consider this. Questions from several governors were addressed to Janet and were dealt with. 

  1. Minutes of meetings 6 July 2009 and 14 September 2009 – attached   

Minutes 6.07.09: item 9 amended to ‘policy being reviewed’. Governors agreed that Chair could sign minutes following this amendment.

Minutes 14.09.09 accepted as a true record and signed by the Chair with governors’ agreement.

No matters arising. 

  1. Governing Body Work Plan 2009/2010       

TS and AA continue to review format. Draft new layout available for governors to comment on. New formats maps governor work to Every Child Matters. Work on this continues. 

  1. Ratification of Anti Bullying Policy       

Draft circulated prior to meeting. LJ offered an overview of this and explained the terms used. It is based on the county model with adaptations where appropriate. LJ answered governors’ questions. LJ explained that a focussed anti bullying week and related staff training have been arranged. Training on peer support has also been booked. LJ invited governors to continue to consider the draft and prepare further questions for the next governor meeting. 

  1. Chair’s Report 

TS outlined the role of the governor as an introduction to new governors and a reminder to existing governors. He explained how community cohesion is an area of increasing importance and how governors’ accountability will be examined under the new Ofsted arrangements.           

  1. Staff and Governors “Vision for the School” half day Forum 23 Oct 2009  

LJ reminded governors of the invitation they have received to this forthcoming event. This event will be attended by staff, governors, Friends of the School committee members and a Diocesan representative.  LJ explained how the views of the children are being sought in preparation for this event. The event will include a presentation on Every Child Matters. 

  1. Committee Reports

Health and Safety

Minutes & documents previously circulated, DT and CP answered questions.    

Finance

Minutes distributed at meeting. TS answered questions.  CH agreed to join Finance Committee. 

TS outlined the purpose of the following documents that had been circulated before the meeting:           

            Approval of School Regulations & Procedures

            Approval of Self-Assessment & Internal Audit

      Statement of Internal Control (SIC)

            Approval of Pre-Certification Checklist

            Approval of Risk Assessment 

The Approval of Pre Certification checklist can now be completed as the Approval of Risk Assessment has now been addressed.

A governor pointed out a typographical error in the checklist, TS confirmed that this originated with the LA and will be corrected on our version.

TS asked for formal agreement to adopt these documents. Agreement was given. It is noted that governors not present had sent agreement by email prior to the meeting.

The Statement of Internal Control was signed by LJ and TS in the presence of the governing body. 

  1. Governor Visits

       There were no reports.

       CH agreed to be the link governor for PE/Games and to do a visit this term.

        NN agreed to be link governor for ICT.

        AL and NN agreed to do a visit focusing on ICT this term.

         

  1. Training and Administration
    1. Termly Briefing

TS gave a verbal report on the Governors’ Termly Briefing which he attended.

AA attended Clerk’s Termly Briefing.  

    1. New Ofsted Inspection Arrangements 

BM and AA have attended this. TS booked onto it. E mail with details of further sessions has been circulated to governors. TS asked governors to give this a high priority.     

    1. New Governors

HC Diocesan application paperwork to be completed.  NN and CH have both been appointed mentors. MF to give new governors their passwords for local authority education portal. AA will chase up new governor packs which are sent by Governor Services.  

    1. New and important courses

Governors have received training brochure. In addition AA will send details of next round of Safer Recruitment online training which opens on 1.11.09.

AA has registered for Clerk’s Accreditation training. 

  1. Any Other Business          

No other business raised. 

Date of next meeting – Monday 23rd November 2009