GLOUCESTERSHIRE GOVERNORS' ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF THE AGM ON 13 JUNE 2005

PRESENT :- Mrs. Barbara Bridges (Chair) and 44 other Governors as noted in the Attendance Record.

THE CHAIR’S INTRODUCTION AND REPORT :- Mrs. Bridges welcomed all those present; she thanked the Members of the Association Executive Committee for their work during the year and, on behalf of them, she thanked and congratulated all Governors, whether or not present at the Meeting, for their significant contributions to the life and management of schools in Gloucestershire. She referred to the commencement of the work of the Area Review Panels and Governors’ involvement in them as an example of the work undertaken.
In respect of membership arrangements of the Association, Mrs. Bridges mentioned those made in the neighbouring Oxfordshire Association area and said that she understood that Gloucestershire LEA had agreed in principle to make similar arrangements for the Gloucestershire Association. There was then an indication by those present at the meeting that this should be pursued.
Mrs. Bridges referred to the Association Website and advised members of the Website Address; she said that she had proposed that this should also be quoted in intended new membership documentation.
Finally, Mrs. Bridges advised that because of changes in her vocational career she had decided that she must stand down from the Chair.
In thanking Mrs. Bridges for her report and for her work on behalf of the Association, Mrs. Gillian Hayward for herself and for all other members spoke of the widespread regret that this decision had had to be made. The report was then formally adopted.

TREASURER’S REPORT :- Mrs. Anne Bryson, as Treasurer, presented a Statement of Accounts for the year to 31st March 2005 and drew particular attention to the satisfactory balance of £1373.52 carried forward on 1st April. She advised that, up to the end of May, 80 Schools had renewed membership for 2005/06. Members present formally approved the Statement of Accounts as presented.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS :- It was formally noted that Mrs. Sue Padfield, Mrs. Gillian Hayward and Messrs. Paul Bellingham, Alan Pearce and George Workman were not due to retire at the present time and were willing to continue as members of the Executive Committee but that Mr. John O’Sullivan had resigned. Mrs. Bridges advised that there had been no nominations for the offices of Chair and Secretary but that nominations had been received for the offices of Vice Chair (Mrs. Sue Bell) and Treasurer (Mrs. Anne Bryson) and for three of the Executive Committee vacancies (Mrs. Sharon Powell and Messrs. Des Harding and Ian Richings). There being no other nominations, these Governors were declared duly elected as Officers and Committee Members, respectively, leaving vacancies to be filled during the year.

SCHOOLS FORUM
As Chair of the Forum, Mrs. Gillian Hayward reminded members that it is a statutory body charged with, at present, an advisory role in relation to LEA Budget matters. She spoke of the work of the Forum up to and including a meeting of it held that day referring, in particular, to the work undertaken as to Needs Lead Budget Formulae for Primary, Secondary and Special Schools. Mrs. Hayward mentioned the nationwide Change for Children programme, the Government’s 14-19 Strategy and developments in respect of Early Years Children’s Centres. She also referred to school end of year Balances and to the fact that there had been understood to be no significant reduction in the overall sum involved from that seen at the previous year end. Mrs. Hayward advised members of Government proposals to ring fence Education Budgets as designated schools grants and of the anticipation that the Forum’s role would change from advisory to decision-making.
As a member of the Fair Funding for Gloucestershire Schools Campaign Group, Mrs. Hayward spoke of a meeting held with David Milliband, M.P. when he was in office as an Education Minister and of a forthcoming meeting with the current Minister for School Standards.
From the Chair, Mrs. Bridges thanked Mrs. Hayward for her Report and for her work.

AREA REVIEW PANELS :- As a member of the Area Review Panel for the Stroud district, Mrs. Jacqui Phillips described work undertaken to date and mentioned the appointment of Professor Stephen Owen as Independent Chair of that Panel. She referred to Data supplied by the LEA and by the County Council’s Environment Department and of debate as to the possibility of reserving approximately 7% places as agreed surplus places.
From the Chair, Mrs. Bridges thanked Mrs. Philips for her Report.

LEAD COUNCIL MEMBER FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES :- Mrs. Bridges said that Councillor Mrs. Hall was unable to be present at the Meeting because of other commitments but had made a written report. This report was read; it included reference to the decision to retain Alderman Knight and Belmont as Special schools and of the intent to review special school provision in other parts of the County. Mrs. Hall also mentioned the work being undertaken to improve the Central Technology College and to retain Barnwood Park as a secondary school; she thanked all Governors for their continued and developing work in and for schools throughout the LEA area.

GUEST SPEAKER :- From the Chair, Mrs. Bridges introduced Mrs. Ann Holt, OBE, a School Governor who also has a career and who, additionally, acts as a special advisor to the DfES. Mrs. Holt said that her theme was “Intelligent Accountability” and that she had in mind the special relationship between schools and their governing bodies, touching School structures, Teaching & Learning, Leadership and activities beyond the classroom. She said that essentials of governance were public accountability, strategic leadership and the vision of governors acting as agents for change – equal partners with the Head Teacher and the Senior Management Team. Mrs. Holt mentioned the three functions of vision - governing bodies being responsible for inspiring, for decision making and for ensuring that all involved in the life of a school pulled in the same direction at the same time. Thus, quoting the words of Mr. Tim Brighouse, a Commissioner for Schools, she said Governors had to show unwarranted optimism, they had to accept crises as normal and complexities as fun, needed an endless supply of intellectual curiosity and to have a complete absence of self pity and paranoia. In light of increasing pressure for improved outcomes and of the Government’s general ambitions for schools, Governors must be prepared to consider how their schools will most successfully achieve progress from where they are now to where they might wish to be. In the process there was sometimes a need to consider what schools should cease to do and this could be painful but Governors had a responsibility for agreeing what pupils need to learn, how they will learn this and how this will be organised. Mrs. Holt made mention of the many changes brought about by the passage of the Government’s Children’s Act included the ambition for broad local partnerships. She also spoke of the Extended Schools Project, of Self-Evaluation and of the many other challenges ahead. She summarised her speech by referring to five key questions for all Governors : what do they do to help shape the vision and direction of their schools ?
How involved are they in the annual planning process ? Do they have a clear sense of the priorities for development ? Do they understand the challenges faced by their schools ? Is there a good working relationship between them, the Head Teacher and the School ?
In response to questions, Mrs. Holt spoke of the extent to which Governors’ involvement should properly include involvement in the School Curriculum; she also spoke of the need for Governors to be concerned, generally, that pupils left Primary Schools with all basic skills in place.
Mrs. Bridges thanked Mrs. Holt for an inspiring and challenging speech and said that there would be many regrets that the meeting could not run on to any later hour in order to hear more.

There then being no other Business, the Annual Meeting was closed at 9.05 p.m.