Minutes of Meeting

Francis Baily Primary School School Governing Body

Date of Meeting: 16 October 2013 7.00pm Present:
Chris Davis (HT) Gary Collins Ken Franklin Steve Ardagh-Walter Tina Skipworth Rashida Samsudin

Location: Francis Baily School

Asa Parker Chris Burnell Sharon Briggs Helen Sayers Pauline Ford (clerk)

Apologies:
Reference No.

Andy James

Steve West

Toni Monks Carolyn Tilbury

Also Attending: Neil Pilsworth Minute APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

1.1 Apologies were received and accepted from Steve West, Emma Tompkins, Andy James, Carolyn Tilbury and Toni Monks
Action

01.10/13

02.10/13

NOTIFICATION OF ANY OTHER FURTHER BUSINESS

2.1 The Chair informed the Governors that Andy James had resigned due to pressure of work 2.2 The Chair welcomed Chris Burnell to the Governing Body

03.10/13 04.10/13

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
3.1 None received

MINUTES OF LAST MEETING

4.1 The Minutes of the meeting held 17 September 2013 (previously distributed) were approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

05.10/13

MATTERS ARISING (NON AGENDA ITEMS)

5.1 Revised Homework policy to be presented at the next meeting with a sample homework diary. 5.2 BLIP Project - CB gave a brief update in the Year 2 Blip project, now due to start in April 2014 to cause minimum disruption 5.3 FC meeting arranged for 23 October 2013

Homework Policy and sample diary to Nov mtg

06.10/13

Ken Franklin joined the meeting at 7.15pm

REPORT FROM HEADTEACHER

6.1 The HT gave a verbal update. The Catchment Forecast from WB had previously been circulated; this aims to forecast pupil numbers for the next ten years. Spurcroft was quoted as number on roll 1100 but will not increase over current numbers. The HT presented his Data review (previously emailed). Generally speaking the school does well for lower ability pupils, including SEN children, the middle range are ok but not as many of the upper range, higher ability, children are converted. The challenge element for higher ability children needs to be increased. Year 6 had had good results last year with value added. He commented that programmes such as Maths Makes Sense and Read, Write, Ink need to be used strategically, but not totally relied upon, also IPC needs to be reinvigorated and topics interpreted. If Ofsted were to visit FB now they would want to see good teaching to prove that last year was not just a blip. Children in the Free School Meals (FSM) category had had varying success some were doing well, others not. The FSM + SEN children were making good progress but their attainment to Age Related Expectation (ARE) was not so good. RE, having returned from maternity leave, will now be focussing on PPG children. The question was asked Why have higher ability children failed? In previous years the school focus has been on the middle ability group, also standards at KS1 were not good enough. Children had been graded at L2; most were achieving two levels of progress by KS2 and getting to L4. More achievement of L3 at KS1 would lead to more L5 at KS2, as expectations will have to be raised. The priorities were to develop attainment at KS1 and higher ability, refocus children on what is expected in their year group; previous two sublevels per year was expected; now the expectation is 2 2/3 levels of progress per academic year. 2b to 4b is no longer good enough. Year 1 will now be expected to achieve one level, ie three sub levels, in a year. This will be a teacher focus. RS and NP have been providing challenge and demonstrated their practices to Pauline Ford, Clerk to Governors 16 October 2013 Minutes: 16 October 2013

other teachers. The HT added we need to get to the stage of children knowing their levels and being aware of their next steps. Better use of TAs in the classroom was needed. On a one to one basis the use is good but they can be better used in the classroom. School intends to build on the partnership with the Kennet ask SW to give feedback on how our year 6s can be better prepared. The Learning Improvement Plan (LIP) now includes implications of the data and becomes a rolling document that is added to as objectives change or are achieved. HT will report on it at regular intervals, subject coordinators will no longer report to the FGB. The question was asked have the last Ofsted report recommendations on what the school needs to do to improve further been met or addressed in the LIP? Raise attainment, particularly in mathematics Improving teaching and learning so that 90% of teaching is good or better by September 2012 Ensuring all teacher consistently match the work provided to the needs and abilities of all the pupils in their class Ensuring more able pupils are consistently set challenging work in all classes Ensuring the active involvement of girls in mathematics HT to check the LIP. One of the four principal sections of the LIP( which correspond to the Ofsted judgement sections) are to be added to the FGB agenda for Governors to fully address at each meeting. The question was asked why cant year groups be taught by ability for a particular subject? Setting has been found to be beneficial to children, especially for maths. Children can gather ideas from their peers in Literacy. Setting could also take place across the years eg year 3 taught with year 4, year 4 with 5. There would have to be a very clear message on differentiation to staff; even if teaching a class of higher ability children differentiation still needs to take place. The comment was made that setting will not work if the teacher is not good enough. The HT has observed good teaching in school where the teacher reacts to the children, not just follows a script. Sports funding FB subscribed to the West Berks Sports Partnership, this used 33% of the Sports Premium grant and included competitions, festivals and staff development. The remaining 67% of the grant was being use to employ a part-time sports coach for ten hours per week to develop teacher knowledge, run lunchtime and after school sports clubs. The comment was made that already the emphasis on sports had been raised and had a good impact on the children The written HT report to be emailed.

SW to provide feedback on Y6

Clerk email HT report

07.10/13

POLICIES
7.1 The Safeguarding and Child Protection policy is a WB model and has been updated RESOLVED: That, having been proposed and seconded, the Safeguarding and Child Protection - WB model policy be approved. 7.2 The Curriculum Statement for 2013/2015 was presented to the Governors. The National Strategy will be launched this year; the school Curriculum Statement will be updated at that time. RESOLVED: That, having been proposed and seconded, the Curriculum Statement be approved. 7.3 The DfE Exclusions policy was amended in September 2012. The schools policy has been updated. RESOLVED: That, having been proposed and seconded, the Exclusion policy be approved.

08.10/13

GOVERNING BODY MATTERS

8.1 The HT gave the Governors a brief explanation of the new legislation. Leave from school is called Planned Leave of Absence, the HT is no longer permitted to authorise leave, with very few exceptions parent in the forces, seasonal worker eg farming, siblings with SEN, forced holiday closure by employer (with proof). West Berkshire can now impose a fine of 60 per child, per week, per parent if the absence is more than ten sessions in a ten school Clerk to week period. The HT requested that Governors agree, in principle, to the instigation of fines. Ultimately it would be the update the decision of the HT if a fine was imposed. The Governors sought clarification; if leave was requested for example a Attendance religious pilgrimage? The HT would consider the background to each case and the number and circumstance of policy previous requests. The Attendance policy to be amended to reflect the new legislation. RESOLVED: That, having been proposed and seconded, the Governors agreed to the principle of the instigation of fines for Planned Leave of Absence, at the discretion of the Headteacher. The Chair presented a document he had prepared Governing Body Purpose, Objectives and Constitution ( previously emailed) in which he outlined proposed revisions to the current roles and responsibilities for Governors, having created a different format to the current annual structure. After much discussion and consideration the Governors agreed in principle to consider the changing of roles and responsibilities. The table and revised terms of reference for each Governor is to be reviewed by all Governors and discussed further at the next meeting. The HT advised the FGB that he felt that the fact this was under consideration would give Ofsted confidence in the Governing bodies ability to reflect on its effectiveness, and that in his opinion a fast transition to a new structure was not imperative. This was noted by the Governors. 8.2 Governance - Self Assessment - postponed to next meeting 8.3 Approve GB objectives in view of the impending change to the format and Roles and Responsibilities of the Pauline Ford, Clerk to Governors 16 October 2013 Minutes: 16 October 2013

Governing Body it was agreed to continue with the GB objectives. 8.4 Committee and Link Governor structure was looked at briefly but postponed to next meeting due to lack of time 8.5 Review and update Governor skill sets postponed to next meeting 8.6 New Constitution revisited postponed to next meeting Governors Register of Business Interests and Governors Declaration Form Having been signed by most Governors at the September meeting, those absent then signed at this meeting

09.10/13
1)

ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS 9.1 None DATE OF FUTURE MEETINGS

Wednesday 13 November Wednesday 4 December Wednesday 15 January 2014 Wednesday 12 February Wednesday 12 March Wednesday 21 May Wednesday 25 June Wednesday 16 July

10.10/13

11.10.13 Appendix

CLOSE OF MEETING
There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.00pm

DOCUMENTS EMAILED PRIOR TO THE MEETING

Agenda 16 October 2013 Minutes 17 September 2013 HT data report, LIP Policies: Safeguarding & Child Protection, Curriculum Statement, Exclusion Governors newsletter Pupil Premium Notes of Health & Safety Walk Ofsted Self Evaluation and Gap Review

DOCUMENTS PRESENTED AT THE MEETING

Minutes Taken By:

Pauline Ford, Clerk to the Governors 16 October 2013

Pauline Ford, Clerk to Governors 16 October 2013

Minutes: 16 October 2013