Welcome & Introduction: Gillian Hayward, Acting Chairman, opened the meeting
by welcoming everyone, thanking them for coming and pointing out that the
purpose of meeting was not only to hear about a topical issue, but also to
have the opportunity for governors to meet and provide mutual support. She
then introduced Jan Urban-Smith, who runs the Gloucestershire Healthy
Schools’ Partnership, as main speaker on “Healthy Schools”.
“Healthy Schools” – Jan Urban-Smith: (see handouts)
Jan commented that the Healthy Schools agenda is about very much more than
healthy eating, covering all aspects of a healthy lifestyle, physically,
mentally and spiritually. She pointed out that schools have always been
interested in the health and well-being of their pupils; the big difference
now is that the issue has become high profile as a result of many of the
recent government initiatives, including the new Ofsted, and is a large part
of the county’s Agenda for Change. Asked about governors’ specific
responsibility, she replied that there is a statutory requirement to provide
sex and relationships education, but that the food agenda is at present
non-statutory. The new regulations, to come out next year are likely to be
legally binding and this will apply to any caterers to whom schools contract
out. Jan stated that Gloucestershire is close to the national target of 50%
of schools healthy schools by December 2006, the further target – 100% by
2009 - will be harder to reach. Healthy School status, once achieved, will
need to be revaluated against new criteria at intervals – in theory every
three years, but this may be unrealistic. For those not yet validated, a
School Health check may be accessed on-line and should lead to the setting
up of an Action Plan (ideally by a group including staff, pupils, parents,
governor(s) and if relevant, caterer), to be followed when ready by a visit
from the Healthy schools Team.
Jan outlined the support available, stressed partnership working and
enthused about the Celebration events held to celebrate success. She
mentioned a recent, in-depth survey of Gloucestershire school-children – a
School Health Check on-line – early analysis of which is producing valuable
and largely statistically valid information about issues such as school
councils, bullying, drunkenness, misuse of drugs, and the financial
contribution to Health4Schools by Kraft, amongst many current activity
areas.
In answer to questions, Jan said that the initiatives are directed at the
community and should carry over to out-of-school, that education for a
healthy lifestyle for pupils (and for staff) is an essential part of the
curriculum if both teaching and learning are to be carried out effectively
and sustainedly. Universal provision for Healthy Eating is thought to be
required by 2009, but this will not necessarily mean that lunches have to be
hot meals. In Gloucestershire at present, there are a very large number of
primaries with no children having hot meals and the position varies
enormously with schools. The first of annual grants have arrived in schools
( approx £1400 secondary and £1000 primary), which can probably best be used
to support healthy eating initiatives, such as working on healthy lunch
boxes. There is also some funding to be used centrally to support Healthy
Schools issues. Jan stressed the importance of not trying to move too fast
and of consultation, particularly with children, negotiation with caterers
and investigation by governors. This does, of course, put even more load on
Heads.
Sources of information/advice/good practice:
“Food in Schools Toolkit” – coming into schools presently
www.foodinschools.org
www.wiredforhealth.co.uk
Food Policy in schools (National Governors Council)
www.ngc.org.uk
National Healthy School Status A Guide for Schools (dept of Health)
www.dh.gov.uk/publications
Break for Refreshments
Report from NGC (National Governors’ Council) Conference
Jacqui Phillips reported on the speakers who spoke on Models of Governance
and on the agreed merger with NASG. (See attached Notes from Conference)
Gloucestershire Schools’ Forum
Gillian Hayward gave a brief outline of the Forum’s role in discussing, and
recommending on, financial issues associated with Gloucestershire schools.
The September meeting had included recommendation on the way discontinuance
of the Minimum Funding Guarantee might be handled; the next agenda (for 16th
November) includes items on National Schools Funding changes, Medium Term
Financial Strategy, Teachers’ Threshold & SEN Funding, Schools Pensions,
Workforce Reform and Philip Moss from DfES will be visiting to give
information on the new regulations to be applied to School Forums.
ff4gs (Fair Funding for Gloucestershire Schools)
Gillian Hayward said that the campaign group is waiting for the outcome of
the recent consultation on distribution of the remaining funds not yet
allocated by government and that the present ministers seem more receptive
to the idea of a review of funding after 2006.
Schools Area Review Panels
Jacqui Phillips reported that all 6 Panels are now moving into Phase III,
involving meetings with stakeholders and any other interested parties; these
include meetings with Heads and Chairs and “drop-in” sessions for parents
and local communities of schools in the priority areas, meetings with local
councillors, local young people’s representatives and with representatives
of any interested local groups. It was emphasised that the Panels’ work is
at present exploratory and that in December proposals will be put forward to
Cabinet for consideration in the New Year. Further Phases involving other
areas may follow. It was commented that it was essential that any
reorganisation of accommodation must be done with development of Children’s
Centres in mind and it was stated that there will be liaison in planning and
that the areas for Centres will be determined first, not specific sites.
Governor Vacancies on Committees, etc.
Gillian Hayward reported that many vacancies had now been filled by governor
volunteers, but one remained for a Special school governor on the School
Organisation Committee. Anyone interested should get in touch with Clive
Williams at Shire Hall.
Communication
Gillian Hayward stated that the committee continue to try to improve
communication with governors, that the new format newsletter will go out
termly and the website will be updated/enlarged where appropriate and any
suggestions will be welcome. She said that investigations on surveying and
improving communications are being carried out with the LEA as part of the
ongoing conversations between GGA and LEA. It is hoped to set up email
addresses at schools specifically for Chairs. The subscription for schools
to GGA is to be included in the list of services into which schools opt. She
recommended the NGC Bulletin Board which can be found on their website (
www.ngc.org.uk -but this may change with merger!) and hoped that governors
will be proactive in finding about surveys, etc which at present they don’t
seem to get sight of. A cry from the heart (much echoed) about information
overload raised a suggestion that the newsletter might be the place to
gather together notification of all the essential reading that’s out there!
On this note the meeting closed at about 9.05pm.
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