DIOCESAN BOARD OF EDUCATION

Transcription

1 DBE (15) M3 DIOCESAN BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes of the meeting of the Diocesan Board of Education held at 6.00 pm on Thursday 17 September 2015 in the St Nicholas Centre, Ipswich. Prayers: The Chair led the opening prayers. Present: Mr Graham Alcock Mrs Janita Betts Revd Dr Stephen Brian Mr Tom Brooke Revd Ali Chesworth Revd Andrew Dotchin Apologies: Mrs Doreen Bartlett Mr Mike Crawshaw Revd Robert Hinsley Mrs Jean Macpherson In Attendance: Mr Alister Gourlay Mr Gavin Bultitude Mr Daniel Jones Mr Phil Knowles Mrs Helen Matter Mrs Jane Sheat Miss Jacqui Studd In Attendance for Item only: Mr James Leese Mrs Anne Wright In Attendance for Item only: Mr Andrew Frolish Mrs Claire Woods Mrs Sandra Gray Ven Dr David Jenkins (Chair) Miss Jo Kidby Revd Canon Graham Owen Revd Sharon Potter Dr Andrew Revitt Revd David Messer Ven Ian Morgan Mr Pete Mumford Mr Drew Quayle Deputy Diocesan Director of Education (DDDE) Assistant Director, Children & Young People, Resources and Support, Suffolk County Council Buildings Officer School Effectiveness Officer (SEO) Diocesan Schools Adviser Diocesan Director of Education (DDE) Administrative Assistant (Education) Headteacher, St Mary s CEVAP School, Woodbridge Chair of Governors, St Mary s CEVAP School, Woodbridge Headteacher, St Mary s CEVAP School, Hadleigh Vice Chair of Governors, St Mary s CEVAP School, Hadleigh Page 1 of 5

2 In Attendance for Item only: Dr Tim Coulson Mr Chris Smith Mrs Helena Renfrew-Knight Ms Rowan Ferguson Regional Schools Commissioner DfE Lead for Academies in Suffolk DfE Academy Broker Head of School Policy, National Society The Chair advised that there would be a slight change to the order of the agenda items due to visitors. He welcomed Gavin Bultitude, who was attending for the first time, and advised that Drew Quayle, Headteacher at Bures CEVCP School, is in hospital and he and the school continue to be in our prayers CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT TO PROPOSED CHANGE OF STATUS TO ACADEMY WITHIN DIOCESAN MAT St Mary s CEVAP School, Woodbridge James Leese and Anne Wright provided background to St Mary s CEVAP School s decision to become an academy. James advised that the school had been considering academy status for two years and that staff, governors and the PCC were committed to the decision to become an academy within the Diocesan MAT. DBE members highlighted the thorough approach taken by the school evident through the documentation which had been circulated to DBE members. The Chair thanked the Headteacher and Chair of Governors for attending the meeting and for the work on academy status, and they then left while a vote was taken. The DBE gave their consent for St Mary s CEVAP School, Woodbridge to become an academy within the Diocesan MAT. The DDE will advise the school the following day MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING The minutes of the meeting held on 5 May 2015 were approved and signed MATTERS ARISING None DECLARATION OF INTEREST Tom Brooke declared an interest as a member of the Interim Executive Board at Bramfield, Middleton, Peasenhall and Yoxford (BMPY) Federation CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT TO PROPOSED CHANGE OF STATUS TO ACADEMY WITHIN DIOCESAN MAT- St Mary s CEVAP School, Hadleigh Andrew Frolish and Claire Woods provided background to St Mary s CEVAP School s decision to become an academy. Andrew explained that it was a natural step for the school to join the Diocesan MAT and be part of a network of schools working together, particularly on school improvement. The Governing Body was positive and backed the decision, a consultation with parents had also been positive, while an informal consultation had been held with staff, with a formal consultation to take place in November DBE members asked about the concerns of staff about academy status and Andrew Frolish advised that staff were generally behind the proposal although concerns had been expressed relating to transfer of undertakings and terms and conditions. Members asked how non-foundation governors felt about joining a Diocesan MAT. Claire Woods advised that the Governors had voted unanimously in favour of joining the Diocesan MAT and non-foundation governors fully supported the Christian ethos. Members asked about the fluctuation in financial figures which Andrew advised was Page 2 of 5

3 due to the fluctuation in pupil numbers and about the sustainability of school finances and Andrew advised that the school has financial plans in place. The Chair thanked the Headteacher and Vice Chair of Governors for attending the meeting and for the work on academy status, and they then left while a vote was taken. Members discussed the mobility of pupils, the school s finances and staff views about academy status. Gavin Bultitude advised that the school has been prudent but that pupil numbers did fluctuate in Hadleigh. The DBE gave their consent for St Mary s CEVAP School, Hadleigh to become an academy within the Diocesan MAT. The DDE will advise the school the following day DIOCESAN MULTI ACADEMY TRUST BUILDING CAPACITY The Chair welcomed Tim Coulson, Chris Smith, Helena Renfrew-Knight and Rowan Ferguson, and introductions were made. Tim Coulson advised that the DfE were present to discuss DBE strategy and the support they can offer with church schools. They also wished to discuss changes in Government policy relating to academies, particularly the Education and Adoption Bill which brings in changes relating to interventions and introduces a definition for coasting schools. Revd Sharon Potter asked about the timeframe of Government policy to which Tim Coulson advised that the Education and Adoption Bill is due to be enacted by Easter Under this legislation, a number of schools in Suffolk will fall under the category of coasting schools and will need to become academies and be part of a MAT. The DfE want to prepare MATs for this and ensure that the system is robust. Tom Brooke asked if there were sufficient and suitable sponsors for academies and Tim advised that there is although this is patchy across the country. Tim deals with the East of England and advised that there are five sponsors in Suffolk. Discussion followed on the role of DBEs. Rowan Ferguson highlighted that some Dioceses had decided to set up Diocesan MATs, other had not, so there was still a role for DBEs. Tim commented that the role of DBEs might change but that they still have a distinctive role. The DDE advised that the MAT is developing a strategy for building capacity. Tim advised that MATs can decide their own methodology and resources for school improvement. Revd Andrew Dotchin arrived 7.15pm Revd Potter commented on the logistical problems of rural schools. Helena Renfrew-Knight stressed the importance of talking to governing bodies about the benefits of joining a MAT and to encourage sponsorship. The Chair thanked Tim, Chris, Helena and Rowan for attending the meeting. Alister Gourlay left the meeting 7.40pm MULTI ACADEMY TRUST UPDATE The DDE referred to Paper C. The DDE asked that the DBE receive the paper, approve the involvement of Diocesan Education staff on the MAT, and consider the possibility of reducing the size of the DBE in recognition of the work of the MAT as well as in line with the DBE for the Future report (July 2013). Page 3 of 5

4 The paper was received and involvement of Diocesan Education staff on the MAT approved. Concern was expressed about reducing the size of the DBE while there were still so many church schools which were not academies in the Diocese. Graham Alcock left the meeting EDUCATION AND ADOPTION BILL The DDE referred to Paper D and asked the DBE to note its content. The MAT Directors are to take forward strategy relating to its provisions SCHOOL EFFECTIVENESS - OFSTED / STATUTORY INSPECTION OF ANGLICAN AND METHODIST SCHOOLS (SIAMS) RESULTS The SEO referred to Paper E and updated the board on his activities since the previous DBE meeting. The Chair thanked the SEO for his hard work represented in the report. Alister Gourlay re-entered the meeting 7.50pm DBE SEF MONITORING GROUP The DDE advised that the DBE Steering Group, which had arisen from the DBE for the Future report, had met in July and agreed that the remit of the Steering Group should be to monitor the Self-Evaluation Framework (SEF). The name of the group had changed to the DBE SEF Monitoring Group to reflect this, they would meet twice a year and their role kept under review LOCAL AUTHORITY UPDATE Gavin provided an update on: Admissions The local authority will be consulting on admissions policy for the 2017/2018 school year, in November 2015, which will run for six weeks. Capital Projects The local authority is looking at an option of land in Lakenheath for a new primary school and the development of an old airfield in Eye. Education and Learning Infrastructure Plan The Plan submitted in December 2014 provides a long term strategy for education and learning infrastructure and will be used as a basis for discussions with borough and district councils, schools, and other stakeholders to shape the Council s provision of schools, early years providers, and other facilities for learning. Education and Learning The restructure of school and pupil facing services at SCC has now been concluded. Each school has a single point of contact from the Education and Learning team. The DDE added that St James CEVAM School in Bury St Edmunds is due to close next summer. A new High School planned for Moreton Hall is due to open in Autumn 2016 but the site for the new school may not be ready. The local authority had asked the DDE if the Diocese would consider allowing the use of the St James site for the new school for a temporary period, which the Chair had agreed. The DBE agreed to this temporary use. Page 4 of 5

5 15.39 CHILDREN S WORK AND YOUTH WORK The DDE advised that Children and Youth work is to move to a Board of Mission whilst Chaplaincy is to stay with the DBE CONFIRMATION OF FOUNDATION GOVERNORS Revd Chesworth asked about the number of new foundation governors for St Edmundsbury CEVAP School. The DDE advised that a number of the foundation governors at the school had changed their status to comply with the school s new Instrument of Government, and this required ratification by the DBE. The DBE ratified the appointment of Foundation Governors listed on Paper F DBE ELECTIONS The DDE encouraged members to fill in the election forms by Friday 2 October FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Action: Chaplaincy to be on the agenda at a future meeting ANY OTHER BUSINESS None DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS These were confirmed as follows: Tuesday 17 November 2015 at 1 pm for 1.30 pm Monday 1 February 2016 at 1 pm for 1.30 pm Tuesday 3 May 2016 at 6 pm for 6.30 pm Thursday 15 September 2016 at 6 pm for 6.30 pm Tuesday 15 November 2016 at 1 pm for 1.30 pm Revd Canon Graham Owen closed the meeting in prayer at 8.15pm. Signed: [Chair] Date: Page 5 of 5