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Chair ………………………………

LONDON BOROUGH OF ENFIELD

GOVERNING BODY OF OAKTHORPE PRIMARY SCHOOL

21 SEPTEMBER 2017

MINUTES - PART 1

MEMBERS: Ms Helen Karamallakis (Chair) - Co-opted Governor * Mrs Joanna Kromidias (Vice-Chair) - Co-opted Governor

LA Governor Parent Governors Mr Robert Aleck Mrs Reshma Chandrani Mrs Natalie Peters Co-opted Governors Mr Willie Rodrigues

Vacancy Mr Ben Agwunobi

Mrs Rena Abraham * Mrs Yesh Akhtar

Headteacher Governor

Ms Alex Christodolou Mr Mike Koumi Vacancy Staff Governor

Mrs Anne Del Greco

* Mrs Michelle Wood

* Denotes absence

Also attending: Ms D Giles - Minute and Advisory Clerk 1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence from this meeting were received from Mrs Akhtar and Mrs Wood. RESOLVED to consent to these absences.

An apology for lateness was received from Mrs Chandrani.

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Chair ………………………………

2. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

Governors were given the opportunity to declare any prejudicial interest they might have in respect of items on the agenda. No declarations were made.

3. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR

(a) Term of Office

RESOLVED that the Chair and Vice-Chair have a term of office of one year.

(b) Election of Chair

RESOLVED that Ms Karamallakis be Chair of the Governing Body.

(c) Election of Vice-Chair RESOLVED that Mrs Kromidias be Vice-Chair of the Governing Body.

RESOLVED to invite Mr Matt Miller, LA Strategic Lead for Governance to deliver a training session, to include the role of the Chair, as soon as possible.

ACTION: HEADTEACHER

PROCEDURAL ISSUES

4. MEMBERSHIP (a) Co-opted Governor

REPORTED the resignation of Mr Hall with effect from 18 September 2017. Governors acknowledged Mr Hall’s significant contribution to the School and Governing Body over many years. They considered how this could be commemorated.

RESOLVED that Governors consider how to commemorate Mr Hall’s contribution and refer suggestions to the next Governing Body meeting.

ACTION: GOVERORS, CLERK

(b) Parent Governor

NOTED

(i) that term of office for Mrs Chandrani ended on 20 October 2017;

(ii) the existing vacancy.

RESOLVED that an election be held. ACTION: HEADTEACHER

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Chair ………………………………

5. GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS

(a) Standing Orders

RECEIVED the Standing Orders for Oakthorpe Primary School, a copy of which is included in the Minute Book. RESOLVED to agree the Standing Orders.

(b) Code of Conduct

RECEIVED the Code of Conduct for Oakthorpe Primary School, a copy of which is included in the Minute Book RESOLVED to agree the Code of Conduct.

(c) Governance Annual Statement

RECEIVED Annual Statement of Governance 2016/17, a copy of which is included in the Minute Book. NOTED that the Headteacher had supplied the areas for curriculum development for the forthcoming year. It was confirmed that the School would now deliver Spanish as the Modern Foreign Language. Mr Oldham already teaching Spanish in some years and other Staff were keen to learn and already had some knowledge. RESOLVED to ratify the Statement subject to the agreed amendments and it be published on the School’s Website.

ACTION: HEADTEACHER

(d) Register of Business Interests

Governors are reminded that the register of business interests must be confirmed on a yearly basis and then kept in School. Additionally, it should be updated as and when changes in circumstances occur.

RESOLVED that all Governors complete a form for return to the School.

ACTION: GOVERNORS

6. COMMITTEE COMPOSITION AND ORGANISATION

(a) Committee Membership

The Governing Body reviewed the organisation and membership of its Committees and Panels.

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Chair ………………………………

RESOLVED (i) to amend the membership of the Governing Body’s various

Committees and Panels with delegated responsibilities as detailed in the Appendix to these Minutes;

(ii) to appoint Governors with specific responsibilities as detailed in the

Appendix to these Minutes;

(b) Annual Review of Delegated Responsibilities RECEIVED the Governing Body’s Organisational Arrangements Document, a copy of which is included in the Minute Book. The Document included recommended amendments to reflect recent changes in education policy and/or legislation. Governors reviewed the Document, focusing particularly on the recommended amendments.

RESOLVED to agree the Organisational Arrangement Document subject to the following amendments:

• Agree any organisational changes, including converting to Academy status - delegated to the Governing Body;

• Ensure equality objectives are published including how they will be achieved – delegated to the Headteacher and the SEN Governor;

• Promote the cultural development of pupils through spiritual, moral,

cultural, mental and physical development education requirements – delegated to the Headteacher and the Teaching and Learning Committee;

• Ensure Pupil Premium Strategy published on Website – delegated to the Headteacher;

• PE and Sport Premium Funding – consider its use and publish information on

the Website – delegated to the Headteacher and the Teaching and Learning Committee;

• Ensure annual risk assessments carried out to ensure fire precautions are in

place – delegated to the School’s Health and Safety Officer and the Headteacher.

ACTION: CLERK

(c) Associate Members RESOLVED not to appoint any Associate Members at this time.

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Chair ………………………………

7. MINUTES The Minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2017 were confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

8. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

(a) Enfield Trust (Minute No. 54(d)) NOTED that Mr Koumi, the Headteacher and the Deputy Headteacher had

attended a meeting facilitated by the LA on 10 July regarding setting up an Enfield-wide Trust. Representatives from Nottingham City (who had already established a Trust) and the NAHT (National Association of Headteachers) had also attended. Mr Koumi informed Governors that there had been interesting conversation and debate.

Since this meeting the Headteacher had attended two further meetings with representatives from the LA, and other Headteachers and Governors. It had been decided to form Working Groups to consider various aspects including different Trust models (Croydon, Tower Hamlets, Nottingham and Hertfordshire). Eventually options would be presented to all Schools.

In response to questions the Headteacher informed Governors that:

• Schools that joined the Trust would maintain their autonomy and continue

to be maintained LA schools but work in close partnership;

• Schools would be committed to supporting each other;

• Staff (for example legal and finance) could be employed across the Trust;

• There would be no change to the legal status of schools joining the Trust;

• Academies would probably be permitted to join the Trust;

• Members of the Trust would have the same vision and values.

RESOLVED that an update be provided at the next Governing Body meeting. ACTION: HEADTEACHER, CLERK

(b) School’s Financial Value Standard and Risk Assessment and Financial Control

Checklist (Minute No. 57(A) RESOLVED that Mr Rodrigues meet with Mrs Griffin, the School’s Business

Manager, to complete the Documents and the Documents be referred to the next meeting of the Resources Committee.

ACTION: MR RODRIGUES, MRS GRIFFIN, CLERK

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Chair ………………………………

CORE FUNCTION: ENSURING CLARITY OF VISION, ETHOS & STRATEGIC DIRECTION

9. AIMS, VISION AND VALUES

The Governing Body reviewed the School’s Aims, Vision and Values to ensure they continued to reflect the ethos of the School. NOTED that the Aims, Vision and Values had been reviewed at the last Inset Day and no changes had been suggested. RESOLVED that

(a) Governors review the Aims, Vision and Values and forward any suggested changes to the Headteacher;

ACTION: GOVERNORS (b) the Senior Leadership Team decide how to measure achievement of the

Aims; ACTION: SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

(c) an update be provided at the next Governing Body meeting.

ACTION: HEADTEACHER

10. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2017/18

Governors were provided with a copy of the School Improvement Plan (SIP). NOTED that (a) there had been a dip in Key Stage 2 results and the School was investigating

why this had occurred. Attainment in Reading, Writing and Maths was generally at the national average however the combined result was below. The high level of needs and vulnerable pupils (SEN and Child Protection issues) in the Year Group would have impacted on the results. Case studies of those pupils who had achieved below expectation were being produced. This cohort was the second of three challenging year groups;

(b) the Headteacher advised Governors that unlike some schools Oakthorpe would continue to provide all pupils with as much support, tailored to their needs, as possible;

(c) in response to a question the Headteacher confirmed that value added in

writing was good, in maths was just above national average and in reading was just below but not significant;

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Chair ………………………………

(d) a Governor asked if the current Year 6 needed more resources and the Headteacher replied that there was more staffing in this year Group than any other.

(e) an Action Plan was being produced and was being finalised the following

week with support from Ms Michelle Stanley, School Improvement Adviser.

RESOLVED that the Action Plan be circulated to Governors in advance of the Teaching and Learning Committee meeting and discussed at the Committee meeting.

ACTION: HEADTEACHER, CLERK

(f) Key Stage 1 results were just above the national average. RESOLVED to agree the School Improvement Plan.

11. GOVERNORS’ ACTION PLAN Governors considered the production of an Action Plan. Impact of the priorities

would feed into next year’s Statement of Governance.

NOTED that suggested priorities included monitoring of the School’s priorities and raising the profile of the Governing Body. RESOLVED that a draft Plan be produced and referred to the next Governing Body meeting.

ACTION: MRS ABRAHAM, CLERK

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

12. DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS

NOTED dates of meetings for the academic year Autumn Term 2017:

Committees: 19 October 2017:

• Resources – 6 pm;

• Teaching and Learning - 7.15pm;

Governing Body: 30 November 2017 at 6.30 pm.

Spring Term 2018: Committees: 23 January 2018:

• Resources - 6pm;

• Teaching and Learning – 7.30 pm;

Governing Body: 22 March 2018 – 6.30 pm.

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Chair ………………………………

Summer Term: Committees: 17 May 2018;

• Resources – 6 pm;

• Teaching and Learning - 7.15 pm;

Governing Body: 27 June 2018 – 6.30 pm

CLOSE OF MEETING 13. ITEMS TO REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL

RESOLVED that none of the above be regarded as confidential.

Confirmed and signed at a meeting of the Governing Body held on the day

of 2017

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Chair ………………………………

Appendix

GOVERNING BODY OF OAKTHORPE PRIMARY SCHOOL

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP 2017-18 RESOLVED that

• in the event of a casual vacancy or the unavailability of a specific member of a Committee/Panel the Governing Body authorise the Chair to appoint any Governor to join that Committee;

• the membership of the Governors’ various Committees and Panels with delegated responsibilities be as follows:

Committees and Panels

(a) Teaching and Learning Committee

Mrs Reshma Chandrani Ms Alex Christodoulou (Chair)

Ms Helen Karamallakis Ms Joanna Kromidias Mrs Natalie Peters

Mrs Yesh Akhtar Headteacher

(i) Appointment of Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher

Mrs Rena Abraham Mr Robert Aleck Ms Alex Christodoulou Ms Helen Karamallakis Mrs Joanna Kromidias

(ii) Appointment of all other Staff Delegated to the Headteacher. (Governor representation where appropriate). Schools Personnel have advised that Governing Body staffing panels can now comprise of 2 or 3 Governors.

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Chair ………………………………

(iii) Staff Dismissal

Initial staff disciplinary/capability decisions delegated to the Headteacher up to and including dismissal. The Governing Body would become involved at the appeal stage if required. Appeal Panel to be drawn from the Governing Body as required.

(iv) Staff Grievance/Redundancy and Redeployment of Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff Initial and Appeal Panels of 2 or 3 Governors to be drawn from the Governing Body.

(v) Performance Management Committee To be drawn from:

Mrs Rena Abraham Mr Robert Aleck Ms Helen Karamallakis

Review Officer – to be appointed if required.

(vi) Pay Panel Appeal Panel

Mrs Rena Abraham Ms Helen Karmallakis Mrs Joanna Kromidias

(b) Resources Committee Mr Ben Agwunobi (Chair) Mrs Rena Abraham Mr Robert Aleck Ms Alex Christodoulou Ms Helen Karamallakis Mrs Joanna Kromidias Mr Mike Koumi Mr Willie Rodrigues Mrs Anne Del Greco (Headteacher)

School Business Manager (Mrs Rachel Griffin) Invited to all meetings

(c) Complaints against the School/ Curriculum

Members to be drawn from Governing Body as required.

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Chair ………………………………

(d) Pupil) Discipline Committee (to consider exclusions)

Three to be drawn from the Governing Body as required. (Parent Governors not to participate in hearings involving pupils from the same year as their children).

(e) Governor Recruitment Panel Mrs Reshma Chandrani Mr Mike Koumi Headteacher

Individual Governor Responsibilities

SEN/Inclusion Governors

Mrs Alex Christodoulou and Mrs Reshma Chandrani

Training and Development Governors Mrs Rena Abraham and Mr Mike Koumi

Literacy Governors Ms Alex Christodoulou and Mrs Joanna Kromidias Numeracy Governors Mr Ben Agwunobi and Mrs Joanna Kromidias Science Governor Mr Willie Rodrigues ICT Governors

Mr Robert Aleck and Mrs Natalie Peters Health and Safety Governor Mr Mike Koumi Attendance Governor Ms Natalie Peters Gifted and Talented Pupils Governors Ms Helen Karamallakis, (academic subjects) and Mrs Joanna Kromidias (non-

academic subjects) Safeguarding Governors (including monitoring of Single Central Register)

Ms Helen Karamallakis and Mrs Reshma Chandrani

Pupil Premium Governor Ms Alex Christodoulou

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Chair ………………………………

PE Premium Governor Mrs Yesh Akhtar/Mrs Natalie Peters

Achievement Governors Ms Helen Karamallakis and Ms Alex Christodoulou

Member Governor Forum Representative Chair CPD Governor Ms Alex Christodoulou Teaching School Mr Ben Agwunobi

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