Thurrock Association of Governors
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Thurrock Association of Governors | |
Working
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Governor's SupportContacts Minutes of TAG Executive Meetings Minutes
of Meetings held in 2004 |
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The following contacts are willing and able to support you in your important role as a Governor of a Thurrock School:
***************************************************************************************************************************************** Training Courses
Minutes of TAG Meetings
NOTES OF A MEETING OF THE
LEA/TAG TRAINING GROUP, PRESENT: Peter Bates Members were welcomed to the meeting, and introduced themselves. 2. CURRENT AND FUTURE TRAINING PROGRAMME Updated details of the Governor Training programme were received and discussed. A copy of the new opportunities for governor training provided through the Thurrock Active Citizen's Entitlement (ACE) as part of the Thurrock Governor Training Scheme was received and noted. The following comments were
made in relation to several courses in the training programme, or being
planned: A regular meeting for Chairs was discussed and it was agreed that an annual meeting opportunity should be offered to Chairs, to discuss training, recruitment and other issues. The Director would not be required to attend the meeting, in order to ensure that totally free and frank discussion would take place. The Group would arrange the meeting, following circulation of a letter by Peter Bates to canvas the idea. Details of the Framework for Governor Development in Thurrock paper discussed with the Continuing Professional Development Group (CPDG) providing a report on governor support in Thurrock and setting out a number of proposals for future developments. In particular, the identification of differentiated training provision, enabling a "route" for individual governor development to be planned, was received and supported. The following documentation
was also received: 3. GOVERNOR ATTENDANCES Statistics of governor attendances on training and development opportunities for the Autumn term 2003 were received and discussed. The following suggestions were
made: The role of Link Governor was discussed. 4. GOVERNOR SUPPORT ACTIVITY PLAN Details of the Governor Support Activity Plan 2002/2003 were received and recent changes discussed. 5. STRATEGIC ROLE OF GOVERNOR SERVICES The Report on the Strategic Role of Governor Services in Thurrock LEA by Michele Robbins, together with comments and suggestions for a way forward, were received. 6. GOVERNING BODY SELF-EVALUATION A copy of the OFSTED Form S3 and a self-evaluation scheme for governing bodies (The Effective Governing Body Exercise) developed by Oxfordshire LEA were received. It was noted that approaches were being made to buy into the self-evaluation scheme developed by Northamptonshire LEA. 7. EDP2 CONSULTATION, YEAR 3 The Group noted that support for the work of governing bodies in Thurrock formed part of the latest Education Development Plan (EDP), upon which consultations were being sought. 8. INFORMATION AND SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS The Group was invited to suggest any areas of information and support that should be improved or developed by the LEA. The following was received: 9. MENTOR SCHEME Details of the Thurrock Governor Mentor Scheme, which was included in each Welcome Pack for new Governors, were noted. 10. GOVERNOR RECRUITMENT Ian Yuille would be prepared to attend some Area Forum meetings in order to assist the recruitment of governors. 11. FUTURE MEETINGS Thursday 29 April 2004 at 2.30
p.m. (Purfleet Room) ****************************************************************************************************************************************** Learning Skill Council Meeting Notes 24th August 2004LSC officers present: On 24th August 2004 I was invited
to a meeting with the officers of the Learning and Skills Council -Essex,
along with the Chairs of Essex and Southend governor associations. The
purpose of the meeting was to set up communication channels between the
LSC and governors. It became clear that the governor representatives had very little knowledge about the working of the LSC and felt that few of their members would be more knowledgeable. Most of the rest of the meeting was taken up with question and answer or the delivery of information by the LSC members. Now that the 14 -19 initiative is in place it is important that governors, especially of secondary schools, become more aware. Below I list some of the information I gathered. When the official minutes are to hand I will circulate same. • The LSC funds Sixth
Forms directly. The above is a brief indication
of what was discussed. The minutes, when available, will give a more complete
picture. ******************************************************************************************************** THURROCK
ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNORS PRESENT:-Mrs. D. Clarke,
Mr. M. Fall, Mr A. Shephard and Mr. I
The following apologies were received from Mrs. L. Buckingham, Mr. M. Riley and Mrs P. Yeldham. 2. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 21ST FEBRUARY The minutes of the February meeting of the TAG executive were agreed. 3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES The secretary reported that the revision to the Constitution had not been finalised. 4. TREASURERS REPORT The Treasurer reported that the total in the bank was as stated at the previous meeting and that no monies had been spent. It was agreed that as the Treasurer was writing to schools about the new financial year that a brief explanation should be included as to TAG's aims. The treasurer would send a draft to each member before sending out to the schools. 5. CONFERENCE FOR 2005/2006 It was agreed that this should be a matter for discussion at the Chairs Conference. It was agreed to change the Chairs Conference to 4th May at Grays School. 6. TRAINING MATTERS Peter Bates reported that the current courses were attend very well and that the Self Evaluation Exercise had been taken up by a number of schools.
Alf Shephard raised his concerns about discipline issues in a secondary school. It was noted that the issues which arose had not been dealt with in an appropriate manner. It was clear that the head teacher and the Chair of Governors were not aware of the law and procedures. The question was raised as to whether heads and staff were aware of the rules governing detention and the need for 24 hours warning to parents. The committee also discussed Dissapplication and the governors awareness of the law about this . Children appeared to be disadvantaged by this procedure and often could not take GCSE exams because of staff decisions. These were often not challenged by parents. It was felt that this could be resolved by schools provding the authority with information on numbers of children who received detention or involved in Dissapplication, in the way that bullying was reported. This matter also raised the issue as to accuracy of pupils records and that there need to be a method of administration which was easily reviewed. The meeting also consider the governors role at a meeting of the school pupil discipline committee. Concerns were expressed that governors too often accepted what the head and staff reported without any challenge for evidence. It was a cause for concern that many governors probably were not aware of the legal implications and their responsibilities. It was felt that there was a too wider interpretation put on how such matters were dealt with. Although governors received training it was felt that there was still a lack of knowledge and that head teachers still had a powerful influence over governing body panels. It was felt that that guidance could be obtained from DfES but before doing so an approach should be made to Ms. R. Cooper as to her response on the above points. 8. NEW ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS It was agreed that the representatives on the Admission Forum should report back later in the year as to how the new admission arrangements had worked out. 9. MEETING WITH THE DIRECTOR It was agreed that the following should be discussed at the forthcoming meeting. a. Director of Creative partnerships There being no other business the meeting closed at 9-00pm
******************************************************************************************************** THURROCK
ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNORS PRESENT: Five Members of the Executive were present 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE - Apologies for absence were received from Mrs Yeldham, Mr. Shepherd and Mr Blanford-Davies. 2. MINUTES - The minutes of the meeting held on 21st March were approved as correct. 3. MATTERS
ARISING - 4. FINANCE - Since the Treasurer was absent from the meeting it was noted that there had been no change to the fincances in the bank account. 5. DIRECTORS MEETING - It was reported that a successful meeting had been held with the Director on the 5th April. A number of matters had been discussed, including Asset management, the new Executive Structure of Children's Services, The role of SIO's and Nutrition in Schools. 6. TRAINING - Peter Bates reminded the meeting that the next Directors Meeting would be held on Tuesday 6th September at 2-30 pm. All courses were proceeding well. The E-Mal contact with Governors is proving to be successful. The new data base will give a record of Governors Attendance at Training. The new Training Programme for 2005/2006 is in the process of arrangement. There are negotiations taking place to continue the Chairs Award. The Training Meeting arranged for 5th May has been cancelled due to the Election. Members were reminded of the usefulness of the DfES Governor Net. It was noted that Conference Governors leading within still had one place available for an Executive Member. 7. FUTURE MEETINGS - /It was agreed that since the Secretary and Chair would be away for the May meeting that this should be arranged for Monday 6th June. It was agreed that the meetings on the 11th July and 3rd October would be Open Meeting for all Governors to attend. Other meetings for the remainder of the year would be held on 12th September, 7th November and 12th December. The Annual General Meeting would be held on 28th November 8. There being no other business the meeting closed at 8-45 Ian Yuille - Secretary ******************************************************************************************************************************************* MINUTES
OF THE MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE OF THURROCK ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNORS Present:- Seven members It should be noted that despite the best efforts to publicise this meeting as being open to all governors to attend the response had been nil. 1. APOLOGIES - There were no apologies for absence. 2. MINUTES - The minutes of the meeting held on 18th April 2005, having been circulated were agreed. It was noted that the June meeting was cancelled due to the lack of members being able to attend. 3. MATTERS ARISING - It should be noted that the time of the next meeting with the Director is 3-30 p.m. Item 6 of the previous minutes. 4. TREASURERS REPORT - The Treasurer reported that there was a balance in the Bank of £1324:62. Although new requests for this years subscriptions had been sent out only a few had been returned.
6. CONSTITUTION - The secretary reported that work was still proceeding on the revised constitution and this would be ready for the September meeting. It was also noted that the Adult Community College had not been included in the original document. It was suggested that since the current system included children and young people from 0 to 19 the college might be included if not by full membership then by affiliation. 7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - It was agreed that this would take place in the Council Chamber in the Civic Offices on 29th November 2005 at 6-30 p.m. 8. TRAINING - It was noted that Mike Riley and Terry Gilbey together with Peter Bates had attended a meeting at the Culver Centre at which discussions took place regarding a joint conference to be held on 14th November. The subject for the day would on the latest changes in OfSTED Framework. External speakers were being invited. It was noted that there was still some concern about the information being given at Governors Training on Exclusions. This apparently had been demonstrated at a recent exclusion where it was felt that the Governors were unaware of their role at even the early stage in the exclusion proceedings. 9. CHAIRS MEETING - The meeting of chairs and vice chairs of governing bodies was felt to have been a useful exercise but that there was an apparent gap between the secondary and primary representatives. It was felt that the secondary governors were not interested in the problems at primary level. It was felt that if such a meeting was held again that perhaps the two parties should meet separately. 10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS a. THE
REPORT OF THE CHAIR ON THE LEARNING AND SKILLS COUNCIL MEETING.
- Di Clarke reported that she had attended a meeting on 11th May. She
said that she was not sure how much Governors were being involved. There
appeared to be no real focus to the meeting. A further meeting was to
be held on 15th September and it was agreed that if this meeting were
not focussed and constructive that TAG would indicate its intention
not to participate in future meetings. 11. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING - 12th September at 7-00 p.m. at the Civic Offices. The meeting closed at 9-00 pm Ian Yuille Back
to top PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MEETING OF 10th OCTOBER WILL BE AN OPEN MEETING FOR ALL GOVERNORS. COULD YOU ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF YOUR GOVERNING BODY TO COME ALONG TO THAT MEETING WHICH WILL BE IN THE CIVIC OFFICES AT 7-00PM?
Meetings Calendar - 7th NOVEMBER. The AGM will be held on 29th November at 6-30 pm The first
meeting of the new executive has been fixed for 12th December. ******************************************************************************************************************************************* Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive of Thurrock Association of Governors held on 3rd October 2005 at the Civic Offices, GraysPresent: Mrs. D Clark
(Chair) 1. Apologies for Absence Apologies were received from M. Martin, I. Yuille and I.B. Davies 2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting The minutes of the meeting held on the 12th of September were approved. 3. Matters Arising Some discussion took place relating to the Thurrock Association of Governors Website. It was agreed that the website needed to be simplified and should avoid unnecessary duplication of information available elsewhere. It was agreed that Mike Fall would provide a laptop for the next meeting with some saved pages of other Governor Association websites so that the executive could form some views about it's own website. Mike Riley suggested
that the association should avoid the acronym T.A.G. and should promote
itself as The Thurrock Association of Governors at all times. Mike further
suggested that the association consider alternatives to school's paying
a subscription, a years free membership was suggested for all schools
and college's. 4. Treasurers Report The treasurer
reported current funds of £1,444.00 at the time of the meeting.
It was noted that only 8 schools have subscribed so far this year.
There was some confusion regarding copies of the amended constitution. Mike Fall agreed to contact Ian Yuille to obtain the amended version and circulate it to the Executive. It was also agreed that the matter of Thurrock Adult Community College's eligibility for membership would be placed on the agenda for the next meeting. 6. Training Peter Bates
reminded the Executive of the governors Conference scheduled for the
14th of November and confirmed that there would be some advertising
stands at the venue. He asked if the Association would like to use the
opportunity to advertise. He also advised that a speaker from Nottinghamshire
would be attending. 7. DfES Conference Peter circulated notes from Judith Bennett Vice Chair of the NGC. No association members who had attended were present to provide feedback. 8. Any Other business Peter Bates raised the likely merger between the NGC and NASG for information. Mike Fall identified that he and Linda Buckingham had now attended two meetings of the Children and Young Peoples Partnership Board and that the board were now identifying Key Priorities for the Thurrock Children and Young People's Plan. The meeting closed at 20:50 hrs *******************************************************************************************************************************************
5. ANY OTHER BUSINESS ******************************************************************************************************************************************* |
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