PETHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL

Wednesday, 21^st March 2007

Attendees: Roy Pickup (RP - Chair), Jane Andrewes (JA), Sarah Waters (SW), Adrian Ellis (AE), Mark Johnstone (MJ), Phil Bond (PB), Tom Castle (TC), Peter Grimes (PG), Bridget Thorn (BT), Carole Obry (CO), Jan Morgan-Winsdale (JMW), Alan Harris (AH) and Jenny Oram (Clerk)

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The meeting was opened by RP who welcomed Bridget Thorn to her first meeting of the full governing body.

Apologies were accepted from Sheila McArthur, Erika Lawal and Peter Coombs. Jan Morgan-Winsdale sent her apologies because she would be arriving late.

Minutes of 6^th December 2006 were confirmed as an accurate and correct record and signed.

Matters Arising not covered on this agenda.
None.

Governing Body business – brief items to note
Change of date for May meeting of the Governing Body. SW will be in America on 16^th May. It was agreed that the date of the next meeting should be on 23^rd May 2007
Committee membership. RP circulated an up-dated list of officers, committees and special responsibilities. AE asked if PC would be a member of the Finance Committee. RP will invite him. It was agreed that the name of the Curriculum and Communications Committee should be kept as it is and should not be changed to Curriculum Committee. AH felt that as an Associate Member it is inappropriate for him to be the Training and Development Governor. JA agreed to take over this responsibility for the rest of the year.

Headteacher’s Report
A comprehensive written report was circulated to all governors prior to the meeting.
SW corrected the pupil roll figures which should show 52 not 51 boys in the school (9 not 8 boys in Year 5).
The monitoring of lessons was discussed and the high percentage of lessons rated as ‘good’ in two classes was considered very encouraging.
It was pointed out that in line with Ofsted grading criteria the meaning of ‘satisfactory’ has changed to be below the average (median) point on a four point scale. Recently, the Chief HMI has stated that “satisfactory is not good enough”.
SW explained that some teachers are part-timers and therefore have not yet had the opportunity to be observed as frequently as full time teachers. This makes it more challenging within a specific time period to raise gradings from ‘satisfactory’ to ‘good’ in classes where there are part-time teaching arrangements as not all assessment criteria may be evidenced in one lesson observation and fewer lesson observations have taken place in comparison with full time teachers.
In one class a proportion of observed lessons were regarded as ‘inadequate’, following a joint observation done with the School Improvement Partner who verified the grading given by SW. In association with the school’s P.E.P.(Primary Excellence Partner) headteacher, commissioned support has been organised through Kent Advisory Service and a programme of action set up to support the teacher concerned. SW has been advised by the Schools Personnel Service (Annette Kelly) and Judy Venner (Adviser for Early Years) that to date she has done everything that should be done to address the situation by offering appropriate support to the teacher concerned.
It was apparent that certain elements of in-house professional development (such as professional development meetings, support sessions and on-site training by the School Improvement Partner) had not been included in the Headteacher’s report under ‘Professional Development’. SW thanked governors for bringing this to her attention and said she would include these elements in future.
SW had circulated additional documents with her report.
(a) Annual monitoring programme - for governor information.
(b) Draft Integrated School Improvement Plan – written in terms of the SEF (Self-Evaluation Form). The ISIP contains financial information for the budget. RP asked committees (especially the Curriculum and Communication Committee) to look at their particular responsibilities. The ISIP will be tabled at the next governors’ meeting.
(c) Most recent version of the SEF, which now matches the ISIP. (The key priorities have been taken directly from the ISIP.) SW asked governors for assistance with section 1(e).
(d) Copy of the School Aims. The intention is that all or some will go into the SEF and the school’s prospectus. The list that had been circulated was the result of a series of efforts by SW, RP and BT. After some discussion the following amendments were agreed:
1. Provide all pupils with a curriculum that is broad, balanced, creative and challenging.
2. Monitor progress continually ….
and the following additions:
7. Welcome and value all members of our local community.
8. Embrace diversity to ensure that everybody in our school community is equally valued.
9. Encourage children to ask questions and equip them to make informed decisions.
(JMW joined the meeting at this point.)
SW reported that there was another child protection case on 16 March. A number of staff members are off sick, and one has just returned from sick leave, all suffering from chest infections.

Raising standards of achievement
RP suggested that there are several strands:
a) Attainment – which involves children reaching pre-determined National Curriculum levels (SATs, FS, KS1 and KS2, pupil progress, value added);
b) Achievement – which is to do with all subjects including extra-curricular activities;
c) Teaching and learning.
RP distributed a sheet entitled ‘Raising Standards – Self Review Framework’ showing these strands and requiring for each strand the insertion of judgements about the strengths of the school, areas for development and supporting evidence to back up these judgements. RP asked governors to read through the SEF and the ISIP and assess the evidence in them and then identify the school’s strengths and areas for development in attainment and achievement, and find the necessary evidence. RP will email the framework to everyone and RP and JA will be beginning the exercise by making suggestions. Other governors will be able to add their own. The target for completion is the first week of next term as the School Profile (which includes references to strengths and areas for development) has to be completed soon afterwards.

RP distributed a Governor Information Summary Sheet. AE expressed a particular interest in pupil attainment and the efficacy of the monitoring system. RP suggested that AE might like to spend time in the school when target-setting is undertaken and also see how pupil tracking works. AE welcomed the suggestion. PG commended the school for the progress it has made with tracking which can be a very difficult exercise.

Guidance on Governor Visits
A policy document (‘Developing and Operating an Effective Governor Visits Policy’) from the School Governance Unit had been circulated in advance of the meeting. It was agreed that the document should be adopted and the policy then updated. SW keeps all monitoring documents.

Sheila McArthur’s report of her visit to Class 4 was accepted. It contained a suggestion that some toys and equipment need to be replaced. SW advised that the ISIP includes the provision of some resources for this purpose and the PTFA has raised some funds. The report highlighted the need to continue with the Early Years Outdoor Play Area.

The following governor visits were suggested for the next two terms:
AE – to look at the tracking system next term.
JA – has just done a visit with a focus on phonics, the report of which will go to the next governors’ meeting. She will undertake another visit focusing on literacy.
RP – will undertake a visit on numeracy.
PG – will undertake a visit focusing on behaviour. As the Class 3 link governor he will liaise with Tracy Gager.
Both Peter Coombs and Bridget Thorn have undertaken introductory visits.

Committee updates:
Personnel:
JA attended a personnel seminar recently. She reported that the Training and Development Agency has brought out a new model policy on performance management which KCC is seeking to simplify. A simpler model will be available after Easter. A new pay policy is also being developed and guidelines for adverts are being produced. All these will need to be studied when they are available. JA will organise a Personnel Committee meeting in the near future.
Finance:
The monitoring figures for February 2007 were distributed and show that overall the school has spent 90% of its budget in 11 months. The finance policy is due for review. AE, SW and Chris Euden attended training on the preparation of the portfolio of evidence that will have to be produced by April 2008 to show that the financial management of the school is efficient. There is the option either to self-certify the portfolio or to have it certified externally. If the latter option is chosen then certification is only required every three years, but this costs about £800.
Premises:
Minutes of the meeting on 24^th January 2007 of the joint Finance and Premises Committee had been circulated in advance. Work on the Early Years Play Area is going ahead. The contractors should start on 2 April and the work will take about 8 weeks. Isle Landscapes will undertake about 2 weeks’ initial work and another contractor, the Phi Group will then come and build the soil retaining wall. Isle Landscapes will then return to finish the play area. The school will fund the project by using its devolved capital allowance for two years (this year and next year) plus some of the 2008/09 allowance to cover a shortfall of about £8,000. The school has applied for a loan to cover the cash flow implications. The debt will be at its peak in June 2007 (c£35,000) when most of the invoices will have to be paid as well as VAT at this point. The debt will quickly be reduced to c£20,000 in September 2007. A site meeting is due to take place on Friday, 23^rd march at 2.00pm and will be attended by SW, RP, the architect and both contractors. Any governor is welcome to attend.
Curriculum and Communications:
Minutes of the meeting on 8^th March 2007 had been circulated in advance. PB confirmed that he had up-dated the Prospectus as far as he could but there is still no accessibility plan. He then summarised the position regarding the various policies with which the Committee had dealt (see minutes of 8^th March). PB asked for contributions and stories for the next Governors’ newsletter. RP thanked PB for all the effort he had put in to producing the latest edition.

Health and Safety matters
RP reported that the tank in the new building is not big enough to supply water to the toilets efficiently. The windows in the old building are falling apart. SW reported that although a structural visit has taken place, when it was agreed that the windows need to be replaced, nothing has yet been done. SW also reported that she has obtained agreement for the fire training that staff have to undertake to be paid for through the cluster.

School Policies
Collective Worship Policy. This policy is the responsibility of the full governing body, not the Curriculum and Communication Committee. SW explained that there is a statutory duty to provide daily collective worship. On Monday it is undertaken by the pastoral team that visits the school and SW commended their efforts. On Tuesday and Wednesday it is organised by SW; on Thursday it is class based and on Friday it is organised by SW or JMW. Discussion ensued about the specific reference in the policy to worshipping God and the need for children to feel comfortable about not holding a belief in God. It was felt that the policy should not make assumptions and could be much more creative. It was finally agreed to accept the policy as it is a statutory requirement, but to subject it to a more thorough review next year.

The following policies had been circulated in advance of the meeting:
Special Educational Needs – draft. Noted.
Literacy. Approved.
Science. Approved.
Design and Technology. Approved with amendments.
Anti-Bullying and KCC Anti-bullying Incident Monitoring Form. Approved.

Extended Schools
RP is keen to put together a working group. Vida Conway has discussed the matter with the village hall committee and identified two people to join the group. A meeting has been arranged for Wednesday, 18^th April at 7.00pm which SW and CO will attend. CO was the only governor to volunteer to help. There were no further volunteers forthcoming from the governing body. The working group’s initial task will be to develop a questionnaire (which will need to be proof-read by volunteers).

Training Courses – Governors and Clerk
JO reported that she had attended the Clerk’s conference held at St Augustine’s in Westgate-on-Sea that morning. She had participated in workshops on The Role of the School Improvement Partner and on A Clerk’s Understanding of the Self Evaluation Form.
JA, RP and PB had attended a curriculum seminar on the Renewed Primary Strategy. There have been a lot of changes since 1998 and JA asked SW if the renewed framework is being implemented at the school. SW indicated that it will be from September although some progress has already been made. JA raised the training of teachers, resource issues and the need for some monitoring.
RP attended a Chair’s seminar run by Alison Osborne.
The Governors’ Induction Pack is available and RP asked anyone interested in having a copy to email him. CO, MJ, BT and JO indicated an interest. RP will check with Peter Coombs.

Correspondence and AOB
Correspondence: SW recently received a letter from the Extended Schools Development Manager. The government is offering funds to schools, mainly for building projects and it appears that grants could be up to £50,000 although there must be an element of shared funding. It was agreed that RP should put an application together for the proposed new car park on which some expenditure has already been incurred (architect’s fees and planning application) and which can arguably be presented as part of the extended play area project.
RP distributed a copy of ‘School improvement through ICT – guidance for governors’ which will be considered at the next meeting.
The revised Welcome to Governance document was made available to all governors who needed an up-to-date copy.

AOB: JO distributed declaration forms and List 99 forms to governors and asked for them to be completed so that her records are up-to-date.
AE commented on the large number of papers that had been circulated in advance of the meeting and suggested that they should be better organised. For example, there should be an index and each paper should be dated. His printer is unable to bear the wear and tear of printing off large volumes of paperwork and JO said she was happy to provide hard copies to any governor who required them. This was the first meeting where everything had been distributed electronically and RP offered to email round and ask governors whether they are happy to print off their own papers or require hard copies to be provided.
JA asked when the SEF will be in a more final form as it is a very lengthy document to keep printing. SW explained that unfortunately it is not possible to highlight changes to the SEF as they occur. RP suggested that once the expected Ofsted inspection has taken place the SEF will not take up so much governor time.

Confidentiality of Items.
None

Date of next meetings.
Wednesday 23 May 2007 at 7.00pm.

The meeting closed at 9.00 pm

Committees

govern-ors

RP, JA

govern-ors