Agenda and minutes

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda. A list of general personal interests previously declared are attached.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda, in addition to the list of general personal interests circulated with the agenda. 

Cllr Hyman declared a personal interest in the business generally, as a governor of Huntington Primary School

Cllr Looker declared a personal interest in the business generally, as a governor of Park Grove Primary School and of Canon Lee School.

Cllr Blanchard declared a personal interest in the business generally, as the Chair of the York Board of Young Enterprise.

Cllr Merrett declared a personal interest in the business generally as he is a parent of a child who attends St Paul’s Primary School.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 27 May 2008.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 May 2008 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so. Anyone who wishes to register or requires further information is requested to contact the Democracy Officer on the contact details listed at the foot of this agenda. The deadline for registering is Monday 16 June 2008 at 5.00pm.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report asks Members to consider the draft final report for the review of School Governors.

Members considered the draft final report and annexes for the review of School Governors (Part A). The report summarised the results from:

·        the individual surveys issued to all 1090 governors,

·        the exit questionnaire issued to governors who resigned since the start of the academic year 2006-07

·        the informal consultation held in February for all governors

·        the questionnaire issued to each schools governing body requesting further information to support the review.

Members dicussed the current composition of governing bodies and recognised that in order for the upgraded Governor Support and Development Services (GSDS) database to continue to be an effective tool, governing bodies would need to be encouraged to keep the information contained up-to-date.  The database would help identify gaps in skills, ways in improving the diversity of governing bodies to reflect the local community and help identify future training requirements. Members expressed concerns that currently community governors were getting filled by LEA governors and recommended that the GSDS help encourage governing bodies to consider the communities they represent and the ethnic balance when recruiting potential Community governors.

Members noted that Primary Schools preferred whole governing body training sessions and Secondary Schools preferred online training sessions.  The GSDS were currently working on developing these training sessions.  Members commended the GSDS on the current training and development sessions available and recommended that the GSDS should continue to identify the best and most appropriate forms of training.

After a detailed discussion Members recommended the following amendments to the draft final report:

• Each objective should result in the following recommendations:

Objective (i), recommendation A & D,

A,Continue to develop improved methods for advertising governor vacancies, eg by targeting specific organizations, in order to attract a more diverse mix of individuals to the role of governor.

D, Regularly maintain, update and develop their database to ensure it captures the information necessary to reflect changing circumstances.

Objective (ii), recommendation A & B

A, Continue to develop improved methods for advertising governor vacancies, eg by targeting specific organizations, in order to attract a more diverse mix of individuals to the role of governor

B, Create an information guide to encourage governing bodies to consider the communities they represent and the ethnic balance when recruiting potential Community governors.

Objective (iii), new recommendation E, Information on best practice to be shared with all York schools.

Objective (iv), new recommendation F, Governor Support and Development Service should be encouraged to consider the most applicable form of training, whether it be whole governing body or online training.

• Section 5 amend first sentence to read; At a meeting in May 2008, the Committee considered a scoping report for Part B of this review, having received an update from the Head of Early Years & Extended Schools.

• Second sentence of last paragraph in section 6 amend sentence to read; Much thought was given to the content of the questionnaire in an effort to compliment the information already gathered as a result of the individual governor survey.

• Second sentence of section 16 amend sentence to read;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

To receive an update from the Head of Early Years and Extended Schools on work undertaken on the recommendations from a previous scrutiny review of the Extended Schools Service.

Members received a verbal update from the Head of Early Years and Extended Schools on work undertaken in the recommendations from a previous scrutiny review of the Extended Schools Service.

Members were informed that:

• The Extended Schools Service were currently 4^th best in the Region and 10^th best in the Country.
• All schools were working towards meeting the core offer to provide a safe place before and after school for all 0-19 year olds.
• Two years worth of government funding was still available to improve the consultation.  
• The Service was working in partnership with Headteachers, governors and the voluntary section to ensure that the extended school service provision was integrated into schools with a shared partnership provision

The outcomes rising from the recommendations approved by the Executive on 12^th September 2006 are attached to these minutes as annex 1.

Some members expressed continuing concerns about the community use provision, the quality of what was on offer and the costings to hire the school. It was suggested that a central letting point might be made available to allow the service to cover all demands and identify where the issues were.

After a detailed discussion Members agreed to consider a feasibility study at the next meeting of the Committee on a possible topic looking into the effectiveness of the current model for delivering extended schools provision with particular regard to community use.

Members thanked the officer for her update and noted that the recommendations had been met. 

Resolved:    (i)  That the update on the approved recommendations be noted and the team be commended on their achievements to date.

                     (ii)  That a feasibility study be submitted to the next meeting on Extended Schools Provision (community use)

Reason:          To note the work undertaken on the recommendations from a previous scrutiny review of Extended Schools Service.

To consider a list of possible scrutiny topics for future review, some of which will be proposed by Members at the meeting.

Members considered a list of possible scrutiny topics for future review and agreed the following:

• Not to proceed with the review of the Schools Governors Review (part B)

• To receive a feasibility study into Extended Schools Provision (Community Use) at the next meeting of the Committee.

• Request the Cultural Quarter Ad-Hoc Scrutiny Committee consider whether it wishes to look at the Promotion of York Pride through Schools as part of its review.

• Not to review the Compliance with the Implementation of Statutory Provisions topic and members requested that the Scrutiny Officer acknowledges the request from the NASUWT and inform them of their decision.

• Invite the Executive Member of Children’s Services EMAP to the meeting due to be held on 3rd December 2008.

RESOLVED:     (i)   That the following possible topics for review be put

                                 forward for discussion with feasibility studies at the next meeting of the Committee:

·        Extended Schools Provision

·        14-19 Specialised Diplomas

(ii)               That the following topic be put forward for an update at the next meeting of the Committee.

·        Young Peoples Service

REASON:      To ensure work can proceed in line with scrutiny procedures and protocols

To consider and agree a plan of future work for the Committee.

Members considered and agreed a plan of future work for the Committee.