ST MARY’S CE PRIMARY SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY MINUTES

AUTUMN TERM 2012

Date: 15th November

Time: 6.30pm

Venue: The School

GOVERNORS PRESENT

Mrs N Gilburt (Chairperson), Mrs L Irvin (Headteacher), Mrs A Graham, Miss J Walsh, Miss E Small, Mr G Phillips, Mrs B Hargreaves, Mrs E Splawnyk and Mrs L Appleton.

IN ATTENDANCE

Pam Dunham Senior Governor Support Officer

1. (i) ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON

There had been no prior declarations of interest/nominations for the position of Chairperson.

Nominations/expressions of interest were invited by the Clerk and Mrs N Gilburt expressed an interest.

It was unanimously

RESOLVED – that Mrs Gilburt be elected Chairperson for the agreed term.

Mrs Gilburt in the Chair.

(ii) ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRPERSON

It was noted that the Mrs S Smith governor had declared an interest in absentia in the position of Vice-Chairperson prior to the meeting:

additional nominations/expressions of interest were invited by the Clerk. Miss E Small expressed an interest in the position.

An election was held and Miss Small was elected Vice-Chairperson for the agreed term.

2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Miss A Smith, Mrs S Smith and Mrs M Nichol.

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Governors were asked to declare a personal interest in any agenda items; there were no declarations of interest.

4. ANNUAL GOVERNING BODY REVIEW

(i) Discussion and review of Committee Structure & Membership

Governors’ discussed and reviewed committee structure and membership.

(ii) Discussion and review of Committee Remits & Terms of Reference

Following a short discussion it was agreed that the Governing Body would continue to use the existing committee remits and terms of reference.

(iii) Election of Committee Chairpersons

It was unanimously

RESOLVED - that committee Chairpersons would remain unchanged.

(iv) Appointment of Linked Governors

Governors were advised of the requirement to elect Linked Governors and these were agreed as per appendix 1.

Governors discussed the appointment of governors to curriculum areas. Maths is the main school focus at present, as there is a weakness in the standard achieved. Literacy was still a high profile and has improved but the focus needed to be on maths for the present. The Chair agreed to act as link governor for maths as she had an interest in the subject. A literacy governor would be considered at the next meeting.

Action Point

(v) Review of Policies

The Governing Body agreed that a review of their existing policy portfolio would take place throughout the academic year as required in the relevant committees. The Headteacher reported that the Admissions Policy would be reviewed, as would the SEN policy. Teacher Appraisal had already been agreed. The organisation of the school day was already detailed on the school website. A governor asked if all policies had to be on the website and the meeting heard that they did not, but must be available on request.

Review of Open Government

Governors resolved that they would continue to adopt the Open Government policy; Governing Body meetings would be open to the public, subject to the exclusion of observers for confidential items.

(vi) Review of Governing Body Code of Practice

Governors agreed that they would continue to adopt the Governing Body Code of Practice

(vii) Register of Business Interests

Governors were requested to complete and sign the previously circulated declaration forms and return them to the Headteacher for retention in school.

A governor asked about pupil progress meetings following APP and parent consultation in the summer term and the Headteacher explained that individual meetings had taken place following the ICT policy’s recommendations.

5. (i) PREVIOUS GOVERNING BODY MINUTES

RESOLVED - that the minutes of the meeting held on 5th July, copies circulated previously, be approved and signed by the Chairperson and authorised for publication.

(ii) MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS GOVERNING BODY MINUTES

A governor remarked on the discussion around signage and the local profile of school; a request for signage on the main road has been made and the Headteacher confirmed that pupil numbers were increasing, although the school received little advance notice of applications.

6. (i) PREVIOUS COMMITTEE MINUTES

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the following meetings, copies circulated previously, be approved and signed by the Chairperson and authorised for publication.

(ii)  MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE MINUTES

Teaching and Learning Committee 16th October 2012

The meeting heard that coaching style lesson observations in KS1 had started that day; this would contribute to the triangulation of information between teachers.

The Headteacher outlined the situation in Y1; a teacher had been on long term sick leave since the Whit holiday. Governors expressed their concern for the class and the Headteacher advised that the pupils were making good progress with an excellent supply teacher who had been with them for the whole of their teacher’s absence. The Headteacher was pleased to report that all classes worked in a good learning environment and the school was very settled.

A governor asked about the Forest School. The meeting heard that it was going well and the school grounds were well-suited to the project. The Forest School was only a pilot project at present, but the work would eventually feed into writing and literacy. A governor asked about a link with pupil premium funding and the Headteacher explained that there was originally a behavioural link to the forest school but school would be refocusing the Forest School initiative to encompass literacy which is a high priority in school. Governors heard that the pupil premium has also been used to increase TA support. A new staff member had been appointed and would join the school later in the term. The TA was a very experienced LSA and her remit would be SERI (Stockport Early Reading Intervention) reading and maths interventions. The school wanted to provide support for all pupils who needed it, rather than just FSM children. Another TA would begin SERI training in January 2013 to ensure the school would not be vulnerable to staff absence or departure. Succession planning was taking place to ensure activities did not stop when staff changed.

Governors were pleased to note the provision of TA support and interventions; targeted pupils would benefit in terms of progress and achievement. The Headteacher pointed out that the pupil premium did not include funding for a large group of pupils who were not FSM but were in need of extra support; some were from struggling families.

The Headteacher reported that the progress data from RAISEonline was not yet available. The Headteacher’s report described that unvalidated data was included but the school could not make national comparisons at this stage.

Resources Committee 24th October 2012

The Resources Committee Chair reported that Julie Ryan of the LA had been a great help in providing support for Learning Leads at the meeting.

The Committee had considered sickness absence costs and insurance. The Committee was pleased to report that the budget was on target. Major developments were planned to the school building later this year and the LA had been very supportive.

A governor asked about staffing arrangements; a teacher covering a maternity leave was also going on maternity leave. The Chair explained the arrangements in place and the Headteacher advised that the aim was to appoint cover and keep 0.6 additional staff as there would be 36 in the affected class after Easter; this would be reviewed when further budget information was available for next year.

7. HEADTEACHER'S TERMLY REPORT

The report of the Headteacher was presented and discussed.

Governors considered reviewing information via a whiteboard at future meetings; this facility would be available when the wireless broadband system had been installed.

The Headteacher observed that she had now been at the school for a full year and had a complete picture of life in school. Governors heard clarification of pupil movements from September; many had joined across the school. This led to general growth across school, not just in YR. Another application had been received that day and would take YR to 29. There were 173 on roll at present. The building was only supposed to accommodate 172, but there would soon be 174.

The Headteacher described a three-year growth trend which had implications for the building and on resources; the school had a stable staff used to having small numbers of pupils in small classrooms. There was a noticeable pressure on space. The number of children with FSM was increasing significantly with 31 in school. The Headteacher was pleased as parents were choosing St Mary’s to provide education for their children. Many were aspirational and supportive parents who were encouraged by the ethos of the school.

Achievement and Standards

The Headteacher explained that provisional data was available and described the use of RAISEonline (ROL) which looked at information on attainment; this was summarised in the report. Future reports may include graphs to illustrate progress. Governors asked about the comparison of school results to those of the LA and the Headteacher reminded the meeting that Stockport was a high-performing authority. The school was below LA floor targets for children making two levels of progress. Children were achieving at the end of KS1 but this was not maintained at the end of KS2; sufficient progress was not being made. The school had previously set a target of 65% VA, two levels of progress which was considerably below the government floor target of 90% but had actually achieved 89%. The Headteacher described how ROL highlighted areas of concern. Attainment was acceptable but progress in maths was an issue. This raised questions for teaching and monitoring in school. The Headteacher clarified that two pupils who had not made expected progress were SEN, EAL and FSM. Ofsted criteria would consider that the pupils in this small cohort had not made sufficient progress. The Headteacher would explain that the two children had been recommended for statement but had left the school before this was in place.

The meeting discussed the relevance of progress measures for children who joined the school in YR and those who joined later. The Headteacher explained that if children did not make progress staff looked at tracking and action taken, for example where children with IEPs were not referred earlier to support agencies. The Headteacher described how the school used IEPs and put children on SA+ ready to progress to a Statement of Educational Need. The introduction of termly Pupil Progress meetings would strengthen monitoring and ensure children were identified earlier. The Headteacher advised that the governing body needed to be aware that there was a three-year downward trend for the next three cohorts. The majority of SEN and SA+ pupils in school were in the current Y5 and Y6 groups. Staff were clear where interventions and support were required, which would have impact on the children’s learning. A governor asked if the school had used IBPs before and the Headteacher reported that they had not.

Mrs Splawnyk left the meeting at 7.55pm.

Governors remarked that 21.4% of pupils at the school made three levels of progress which was a positive sign. A governor asked if it was more able pupils who had made progress. The Headteacher explained that the data was skewed by the performance of two pupils.

The Headteacher reported that the school SIA Sue Guy had visited to carry out lesson observations. Mrs Guy had given the school more notice than for an Ofsted inspection but the judgements of the Headteacher and Mrs Guy had corresponded which the school was pleased to report. Governors were referred to Mrs Guy’s feedback in the Teaching and Learning section of the Headteacher’s report.

Governors were informed that the School Library Service held book awards. A child from the school had won an award for their design of artwork for a nominated book. The school had two runners-up and one winner who would be chosen to present their artwork to the author. The result had not yet been announced but the school would buy the book for display in the reception area.

The meeting heard that the new website contained newsletters with half termly updates of class information. After school clubs were well attended now that timing clashes had been resolved.

The Headteacher reported on a Link project with a residential care home to be built in the Heatons area. Pupils had made a collage for the opening ceremony. A governor suggested that elderly people from the local area could be invited to the school Christmas Nativity.

Leadership and Management

Performance Management was under way and the Headteacher advised that part of the report related to action taken in the summer term.

A governor asked about a safeguarding concern reported in school. The Headteacher explained that the report had been made to her and was being addressed. A child had made a disclosure to a visiting member of staff.

A governor asked if parents were concerned by the refusal of holiday requests and the Headteacher explained that she had not yet issued any fines but was considering it. There would first be a letter to parents to reaffirm that the school would only authorise absence for illness, weddings and funerals; it was a church school after all. Some parents caused concerns on attendance but where possible family circumstances were taken into consideration. A letter was sent initially to raise concern about attendance followed by a second, stronger letter and a phone call from the Headteacher. Governors discussed the issue and agreed to support the Headteacher’s approach. A governor asked who received the funds from fines and the Headteacher reported that it was the LA. The Headteacher advised that the school looked for patterns of poor attendance, and warned families of possible action if attendance did not improve.