northlincs.gov.uk

Children, Families, Learning & Leisure Cabinet Member – Minutes – 28 November 2018

14 (14) RECONSTITUTION OF BERKELEY PRIMARY SCHOOL – The Director: Learning, Skills and Culture submitted a report seeking approval of the instrument of government to allow the governing body of Berkeley Primary School to be reconstituted effective from 1 February 2019.

At the full board of governors meeting of Berkeley Primary School held on 9 October 2018, the governors voted to reconstitute the board of governors in line with the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012 and the School Governance (Constitution) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.

The above regulations set out the options available to schools in terms of the overall number of governors, the categories of governor and the guiding principles for the constitution. The regulations gave the board of governors more flexibility with their constitution and stated that boards should be no bigger than they needed to be to carry out their statutory duties.

The constitution of each board of governors was laid down in a document known as the instrument of government. A board of governors could at any time request changes to their constitution, in accordance with the regulations, by varying their instrument of government.

Where changes were proposed, a maintained school’s board of governors must prepare a draft instrument of government and submit it to the local authority for approval.

Resolved – That the new instrument of government for Berkeley Primary School be approved.

15 (15) LOCAL AUTHORITY SCHOOL GOVERNORS – The Director: Learning, Skills and Culture submitted a report recommending candidates to serve as local authority governors on the governing bodies of Leys Farm Junior School, Oakfield Primary School, St Hugh’s School and The Grange Farm Junior School.

Governing bodies were the key strategic decision making body for schools.  It was the governing body’s role to set a school’s strategic framework and to ensure that all statutory duties were met.  The Department for Education identified three main duties which were:

• ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• holding the head teacher to account for the educational performance of school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff
• overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money was well spent.

When a LA governor vacancy occurred, the relevant governing body identified the necessary skills, knowledge and experience that would be required of the successful candidates.  The LA nominated suitable candidates to the school and the governing body decided whether the nominee met their requirements.  The governing body may choose to reject or appoint the candidate accordingly.

Resolved – That the following applicants be recommended for appointment as Local Authority Governors to the board of governors of the schools listed below:

The corresponding report of the following item (Minute 16 refers) contains exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

16 (16) ANNUAL REPORT OF THE VIRTUAL HEADTEACHER FOR LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN – The Director: Learning, Skills and Culture submitted a report seeking approval of the Annual Report of the Virtual Headteacher for Looked After Children.

The Virtual Headteacher (VHT) provided an Annual Report for the education of Looked After Children (LAC) up to the end of April 2018.  The report gave an oversight of the work of the virtual school and outcomes for LAC throughout that period.

The virtual school was accountable to the Multi-Agency Looked After Children Partnership and Corporate Parenting Board.  It held regular Children in Care Education and Employability meetings to address any issues regarding children’s education and discussed any requests for school moves for which the VHT provided oversight.  The meeting had representation from staff across services for children, health and colleges.

The previous VHT retired in October 2017 and a new headteacher was in post from September 2018.  The new VHT was a serving principal in North Lincolnshire.

Resolved – That the Annual Report of the Virtual Headteacher for Looked After Children be approved.