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Present: Capacity:

Stef Atkins (SA) Co-opted Governor

Jane Aplin (JA) Head Teacher at Cranbourne

Pam Corrigan (PC) Co-opted Governor

Mike McCarthy (MM)

Vice Chair of Governors

LA Governor

Melissa Paxton (MP) Chair of Governors

Co-opted Governor

Persephone Salway (PS) Parent Governor

Natasha Singh (NS) Co-opted Governor

Helen Ward (HW) Staff Governor

Sally Harvey (SH) Co-opted Governor

Apologies:

Emma Lister (EM) Co-opted Governor

Nolan principles

• Selflessness.

• Integrity.

• Objectivity.

• Accountability.

• Openness.

• Honesty.

• Leadership.

School ethos statements

Make your mark Positive learning environment

Reach for excellence We invest in You

Rise to the challenge A school at the heart of the

community Spread your wings!

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Hannah Dobrock (HD) Co-opted Governor

Donna Titcombe (DT) Co-opted Governor

Natasha Singh (NS) Co-opted Governor

Absent:

Shibaji Shrestha (SS) Co-opted Governor

In attendance:

Claire Birtles (CB)

Clerk

Richard Pegler (RP) Assistant Headteacher

Tori Blair (TB) Teacher with responsibility for SMSC

The meeting started at 6.04pm.

1. Welcome and apologies for absence

The Chair of governors welcomed everyone to the meeting, in particular, Tori Blair (Teacher with

responsibility for Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) and Richard Pegler (Assistant Headteacher).

Apologies were received and accepted from Natasha Singh, Donna Titcombe, Hannah Dobrock and

Emma Lister.

Shibaji Shrestha was absent from the meeting.

2. Register of Pecuniary interests

No additional pecuniary interests were declared.

3. Agree minutes from the meeting dated 17.9.19

The minutes from FGB 17.9.19 were AGREED to be a true and accurate record of the meeting and

were signed by the Chair of Governors.

The minutes from the Extraordinary Full Governing Body meeting on 24.9.19 were AGREED to be a

true and accurate record of the meeting and were signed by the Chair of Governors.

4. Matters arising from meeting 17.9.19

All actions arising from 17.9.19 have been completed.

5. SMSC

Tori Blair (teacher with responsibility for SMSC) attended the meeting to discuss how Cranbourne

meets requirements for teaching students SMSC. Tori Blair discussed the various strands of the

subject, how the PSHE and PDL curriculum has been designed to address these, and how the school

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promotes fundamental British values. She informed Governors that the first discovery day had been

a success and Governors heard an example of positive written feedback given by a student about the

day.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: Do you still do rights respecting schools programme?

RESPONSE: Tori Blair explained that the school no longer takes part in this programme.

Governors discussed the benefits of this programme run by UNICEF and a Governor offered support

to staff in setting it up again at Cranbourne.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: How do you monitor the effectiveness of SMSC?

RESPONSE: Tori Blair explained to Governors that students now have exercise books where teachers

can check the progress they have made. Governors also suggested that the reduction of incidences

of intolerance is something that would show the effectiveness of SMSC. Tori Blair also explained that

the school did an audit at the end of last year to establish which subjects under the umbrella of

SMSC are covered in other curriculum areas.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: Do you ever touch on arranged marriage?

RESPONSE: Tori Blair confirmed that they do cover this with students and that it was dealt with as

part of the first discovery day.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: How do you educate staff so that they are appropriately trained to pass on

the subject matter to students?

RESPONSE: Tori Blair explained that she gives staff a presentation before the first of the discovery

days.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: How do you reach out to other members of staff so that values are passed

on?

RESPONSE: The induction programme for all staff includes these and Tori Blair prepares a pack of

approved materials for those involved in delivering subject matter on discovery days.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: Do we have any objections from any parents about your delivery of sex

and relationships education?

RESPONSE: The Headteacher confirmed that she had one complaint on the basis of religion and one

student did not come into school on the day. She informed Governors that a letter had been sent

home to parents in advance of the discovery day.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: Is this information on the website as well?

RESPONSE: The Headteacher confirmed that it is published on the website.

6. Discussion of GCSE outcomes

Unvalidated results and cohort case studies were circulated to Governors prior to the meeting.

Richard Pegler (Assistant Headteacher) attended the meeting to speak to Governors about the

results analysis he had completed. He explained that the remarks have not been factored into the

results he was presenting to Governors today. The Assistant Headteacher explained to Governors

that this last year’s Year 11 cohort was a lower ability year group. Governors discussed with Richard

Pegler the disadvantaged gap over three-year attainment. The Assistant Headteacher explained that

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the gap between Pupil Premium and Non-Pupil Premium students was inverted last year (i.e. Pupil

Premium students achieved better than non-Pupil Premium students on the basis of contextual

data). Governors discussed the value-added Progress 8 scores (current value is -0.68). The Assistant

Headteacher explained that the school hopes that it can put the Contextual Value Added (CVA) next

to the Value Added (VA) in a couple of months’ time.

The Assistant Headteacher discussed with Governors the weak results of triple scientists and the low

value added in English. Governors discussed the predictions that had been made with the Assistant

Headteacher and observed that they had been more accurate than in the previous year. Governors

were interested as to why this was the case and the Assistant Headteacher explained that they had

used validation and action cycles in addition to precedent graphs to improve the accuracy of

predictions. The Headteacher and the Assistant Headteacher had held Heads of Department (HODs)

to account for their predictions using precedent graphs to ensure that predictions were robust.

Governors commented, however, that some of the stronger subjects in terms of results were the

subjects in which predictions were not as accurate as one would expect.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: Did you look at mock result 2 grades to establish final predictions?

RESPONSE: The Assistant Headteacher explained that teachers had only used the first mock to

formulate predictions.

The Assistant Headteacher explained that commentaries had been requested from Heads of

Department to explain how they had arrived at their predictions.

The Assistant Headeacher explained that weaker results in last year’s GCSEs were linked to the

maternity leave of numerous staff and staff absence.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: How do you categorize a subject as needing to improve?

RESPONSE: The Assistant Headteacher explained that a subject which needs to improve is one with a

Low Progress 8 score and a pass rate which is low compared to others.

The Assistant Headteacher discussed the weaker subjects and what changes have been made to

ensure results are better this year. In many subject areas, there is greater stability in staff this year.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: Music is not on your list of subject areas which need to improve despite

only achieving 40%?

RESPONSE: The Assistant Headteacher explained that there is not a big cohort in Music (i.e. the class

at GCSE is four, sometimes five students).

Governors expressed the view that a 40% pass rate is concerning considering the small size of the

cohort and that they would expect Music to achieve a result similar to that of Media which Is

another small option subject. The Assistant Headteacher explained that Music does need attention,

however, it had not been included on the list due to the results affecting fewer students than the

other subjects which had been identified.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: You say you intend to get up to 50%. How are you hoping to do that?

RESPONSE: The Assistant Headteacher explained that the HODs know why they were let down by

results and they have a whole year to work out what can be done differently.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: How are you monitoring weaker subject areas to ensure results improve

this year?

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RESPONSE: The Assistant Headteacher explained that he meets fortnightly with the HODs and line

managers (weekly meetings are held for bigger departments). In addition, there are mock exams in

November and March.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: You state that overall teaching at the school is ‘good’. Can you reassure

Governors that this is the case despite these results?

RESPONSE: The Assistant Headteacher explained that he has made this judgement on the basis of

observations throughout the school, and although he cannot say that all lessons are good, the vast

majority are.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: Is improvement about managing the exams more smartly?

RESPONSE: The Assistant Headteacher confirmed that there is an element of that in some cases. In

English, for example, time management of students has been highlighted as a problem when

students complete the exam paper (i.e. students are reading the text, answering a question and then

reading the whole text again which means they run out of time for the final questions on the paper

which carry the most marks). The Headteacher reminded Governors that these are the same

teachers who achieved 70% a couple of years ago, so English are looking to change exam boards as

well.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: Are you tracking for results to improve this year?

RESPONSE: The Assistant Headteacher explained that the Senior Leadership Team expects the GCSE

results to be better this academic year and that it is a better GCSE cohort.

7. School Development Plan

7.1 Approve updates

The Headteacher explained to Governors that changes are being made to the format of the School

Development Plan following the input of one of the Governors. The changes involve putting a rating

against some of the activities to help identify priorities and putting in filtering to assist Governors in

keeping track of actions and progress made against them. The Senior Leadership Team (SLT) have

discussed changes and the final version of the School Development Plan is being finalised.

Governors expressed their desire to have more strategic input into the School Development Plan.

The Chair of Governors requested that Governors make their input into the School Development

Plan when they complete their visits into school to monitor their individual parts of the plan.

Governors thanked the Headteacher for including time frames in the plan as they had requested.

ACTION 10: Headteacher to send Stef Atkins the updated School Development Plan once

reformatting is complete. Once the Headteacher has received amendments, she will send it to the

Clerk for circulation to all Governors to receive comments.

Governors APPROVED the following key areas for improvement on the School Development Plan:

• Quality of work in books is good but can be uneven.

• Quality of support for SEND students in the classroom is not as consistently excellent

• Attendance for some pupils needs to improve

• The participation in extra-curricular activities is lower than staff would want

• There is a lag between the quality of education and the quality of results which is uneven

including progress on closing gaps

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• Low level behavior by a small group of boys can at times disrupt learners.

7.2 Discussion of Governor visits relating to SDP (Governor visit forms attached)

The following governor visit forms relating to the SDP were circulated prior to the meeting:

- Leadership and Management monitoring – 1st October 2019.

8. Approve staff development plan

The staff development plan for the academic year 2019/20 was circulated to Governors prior to the

meeting.

The Headteacher explained that there is a focus in the plan on subject specific training. Hampshire

Inspectorate and Advisory Service (HIAS) are the main source of training, but the school also

sometimes uses the teaching school (Thornden) to deliver training. Staff also use PiXL for training

specifically on exam techniques for key subjects. The nine twilight sessions this year are more

generic. Staff are focusing on the achievement of boys and metacognition and learning climate as

well as more routine training such as Health and Safety. The Headteacher explained that the training

for staff later in the year will be more bespoke.

Governors APPROVED the staff development plan.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: What about leadership Continuing Professional Development (CPD)?

RESPONSE: The Assistant Headteacher in charge of data goes to performance data training and the

Deputy Headteacher attends a Deputy Headteacher group and plans to complete here NPQH. The

SENCO receives support from the county SEND team and she also attends a Basingstoke circle for

SENCOs.

Governors AGREED for the Deputy Headteacher to come to as many of the FGB meetings as she can

as part of her CPD.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: Will training relating to reducing teacher workload be included in the May

training session for staff?

RESPONSE: The Headteacher confirmed that it will be.

Governors received a summative overview of the Headteacher’s Performance Management from

the Performance Management Panel for which the Headteacher and two members of staff who are

Governors left the room. This was recorded as confidential minute one.

8. Discussion of staff survey

Results of the staff survey were circulated to Governors prior to the meeting.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: Are you happy with the results of the staff survey?

RESPONSE: The Headteacher expressed that she was happy with the results of the staff survey.

Complaints about the behaviour of students had reduced and she explained that there is a real

change of atmosphere in the school.

Governors commented that they have noticed a change in the responses to this staff survey with a

reduction in negative comments.

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GOVERNOR QUESTION: How are you using this survey?

RESPONSE: The Headteacher stated that there are very few action points from this survey and there

was nothing that she was not aware of and already addressing.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: What percentage of the staff responded?

RESPONSE: The Headteacher commented that over half the staff responded.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: Just over 50% is not a huge response. Why was the response not greater?

RESPONSE: The Headteacher predicts that staff had other priorities at the time of the staff survey.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: Did the survey include support staff?

RESPONSE: The Headteacher confirmed that the survey did include support staff.

10. Finance

10.1 Receive monitoring statements and review spending against current budget plan.

The monitoring statements for the O and Y accounts were circulated to Governors prior to the

meeting.

One of the Finance Governors confirmed to the governing body that the monitoring statements had

been discussed at a meeting the previous day at which the Clerk had taken notes.

The Finance Governor present explained that a deficit is predicted, however, it is hoped that the

budget may come in at a neutral value by the end of the year due to careful expenditure. He also

mentioned that there have been some coding anomalies following the Local Authority’s decision to

change the coding for some items.

The Finance Governor present expressed that he thinks the governing body should consider having a

finance committee on the basis that more accountability is now demanded of finances and the SFVS

now requires a greater level of scrutiny than was previously the case. Governors AGREED to set up a

committee for finance consisting of six governors (including the Headteacher).

ACTION 11: Clerk to write an email to all governors to explain the idea of setting up a

Finance/Resources committee and to ask those interested in sitting on the committee to let her

know before the next FGB.

The Finance Governor present informed Governors that there will be a review meeting on the 4th

November to prepare for the revised budget.

The Finance Governor present highlighted that there was a small underspend on staffing at present,

however, there is a predicted overspend on buses following the school’s decision to put on a bus

from Oakley for the new Year 7s.

The Headteacher informed Governors that some big payments came out at the start of the year and

that there has been considerable fluctuation in student numbers.

ACTION 12: Clerk to draft terms of reference for the new Finance/Resources committee and

present to the next FGB.

10.2 Changes to Schools Financial Value Standard

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A school communication with a link to information about the new SFVS was circulated to Governors

prior to the meeting.

The Finance Governor present explained that the SFVS which needs to be completed by the

governing body by the end of March is now more in depth and time consuming.

ACTION 13: Governors to discuss new SFVS as an agenda item at Finance/Resources committee 1.

10.3 Service Level Agreements

Governors AGREED that they should have input into decisions regarding the renewal of SLAs in the

coming academic year.

ACTION 14: Headteacher to send Governors information regarding value for money of SLAs once

the new contracts are available.

11. Policies, statutory documents and reports for approval

11.1 Approve use of Hampshire model pay policy

The localised Hampshire model pay policy was circulated to Governors prior to the meeting.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: What changes have been made from the previous year’s pay policy?

RESPONSE: The Headteacher explained that the following changes have been made:

• Actual pay scales have changed.

• She has inserted a spot amount for SEN allowance.

• There was a clause about Performance Management and Performance Related pay. She had

to choose between 6 months or 9 months absence as applicable for receiving an automatic

pay rise (the Headteacher selected nine months)

• The staff structure detailed in the pay policy has changed because taken out the second in

departments. The Headteacher reminded Governors that mindful of budgets going forward,

some members of support staff who have left the school have not been replaced.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: Apart from the above amendments, does this policy follow the Hampshire

model?

RESPONSE: The Headteacher confirmed it does.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: For moving up to Upper Pay Scale (UPS), the policy states that you should

have had two years of evidence for improvement to the school, and if on maternity leave teachers

cannot have put this in place. What would the unions take of that?

RESPONSE: The Headteacher explained that moving up to UPS requires two years of sustained

improvement to the school and this is the universal measure of whether a teacher progresses.

Governors APPROVED the pay policy 2019/20 based on the Hampshire model.

11.2 Antibullying policy

The updated antibullying policy was circulated to Governors prior to the meeting.

Governors felt that the policy is comprehensive and like the way it sits with and is cross- referenced

with other policies.

Governors APPROVED the reviewed the antibullying policy.

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11.3 Lettings policy

The updated lettings policy was circulated to Governors prior to the meeting.

Governors raised that there is no reference to safeguarding in the policy. The Safeguarding Governor

responded that this is covered in the rules for adults coming into school which Governors were

satisfied addressed this.

Governors APPROVED the reviewed lettings policy.

11.4 Data protection update to include biometric data statement

The updated data protection policy was circulated to Governors prior to the meeting.

The Clerk explained to Governors that the new statutory policies document published in September

requires there to be a statement regarding biometric data to be included in the data protection

policy.

Governors APPROVED the reviewed data protection policy.

11.5 Supporting students with medical condition – update to include specific procedure around

children with health needs who cannot attend school.

The updated supporting students with medical conditions policy was circulated to Governors prior to

the meeting.

The Headteacher explained to Governors that this was another requirement of the new statutory

policies document published recently by the DFE and that the policy did already contain reference to

students with health needs who cannot attend school. The Headteacher explained that reference to

such cases has been expanded further in this updated version.

Governors APPROVED the updated supporting students with medical conditions policy.

11.6 Approved updates pupil premium report and year 7 catch up funding report

The updated pupil premium and year 7 catch up funding reports were circulated to Governors prior to

the meeting.

The Headteacher explained to Governors that when Donna Titcombe (One of two Governors with

responsibility for Pupil Premium) visited her to discuss Pupil Premium, she requested that some

additional figures were added to the reports.

Governors APPROVED the updated Pupil Premium and Year 7 Catch up funding reports.

12. Approve plan for offsite visits 2019/20

A list of off-site visits was circulated to Governors prior to the meeting.

GOVERNOR QUESTION: Have all the checks been done using EVOLVE?

RESPONSE: The Headteacher confirmed that the Deputy Headteacher is the EVC and she has done

the relevant checks and she has then double checked these.

Governors APPROVED the plan for offsite visits 2019/20. .

13. Chairman’s items

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13.1 Governor resignation and replacement of website governor and second safeguarding

governor.

The Chair of Governors informed the governing body that Lynsey Spillane has resigned as parent

governor. A new parent governor is being sought and the deadline for that is 6th November.

13.2 Governing body development plan

A draft governing body development plan was circulated to Governors prior to the meeting.

The Clerk explained that she had compiled the development plan on the basis of the action points

following the recent whole governing body training and welcomed feedback on the draft plan.

The Chair of Governors impressed on Governors that they need to become more proactive in terms

of questioning and monitoring as identified on the development plan.

Governors AGREED the governing body development plan.

13.3 Approve terms of reference for panels.

Terms of reference for a list of possible panels were circulated to Governors prior to the meeting.

Governors APPROVED terms of reference for the following Governor panels for 2019/20:

- Appeals

- Complaints

- Headteacher recruitment

- Headteacher PM

- Pay

- Staff discipline and dismissal

14. Health and Safety

Minutes from the most recent Health and Safety meeting were circulated to Governors prior to the

meeting.

The Health and Safety Governor confirmed that he had attended the recent meeting and that

statutory requirements are being met. He mentioned the planned lockdown drill and staff present

requested that the sound of the actual alarm would be used for that drill.

15. Safeguarding

Governors AGREED that Theresa Inglis would replace Lynsey Spillane as the second safeguarding

governor.

The Safeguarding Governor revisited the areas highlighted by an independent audit of safeguarding

on 10th September. It mentioned that one member of staff’s knowledge of safeguarding procedure

was not as embedded as it should have been. This has now been resolved. There had also been a

couple of comments about bullying from students. The recent staff survey indicates that this has

improved, however, the Safeguarding Governor made all Governors aware that this needs to be

monitored to ensure that is continues to be the case.

16. Governor training

The Chair of Governors extended thanks to DTG for sending out information about training

opportunities.

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17. Governor visits

Completed governor visit forms were circulated to Governors prior to the meeting.

ACTION 15: Clerk to put a blank copy of the visit form on Governorhub.

18. Correspondence

The Clerk confirmed that she had received a complaint, however, it had not been dealt with at Stage

1 and she had returned it to the Headteacher and asked the parent to contact her again if they were

dissatisfied with the Headteacher’s response.

19. AOB

- Bring Your Own Device is not working in school for Governors at the moment due to a

problem with a certificate on windows. The Network Manager is aware of the situation and

is addressing it.

- The Autumn concert has been cancelled.

- Staff will start the next meeting by sharing a positive item of news with Governors.

- Helen Ward volunteered to be the new website Governor.

20.Self-evaluation discussion

20.1 What difference have Governors made to the children at this school in this meeting and how

have we progressed with workload management:

- Governors have discussed how to improve attainment and held leaders to account for this

year’s GCSE results.

- Agreed the areas for improvement on the School Development Plan which will directly

impact students’ outcomes.

- Governors have ensured that students are receiving access to SMSC education.

- Governors have ensured that key policies which affect students have been reviewed and

updated (i.e. antibullying and supporting students with medical conditions).

ACTION 16: Clerk to include accountability – section 2 of Hampshire’s governing body self-

evaluation document and positive news items are included at the start of new FGB meeting.

The meeting ended at 20.26pm

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Summary of actions

22.10.19

Number Action

10 Headteacher to send Stef Atkins the updated School Development Plan once reformatting is complete. Once the Headteacher has received amendments, she will send it to the Clerk for circulation to all Governors to receive comments.

11 Clerk to write an email to all governors to explain the idea of setting up a Finance/Resources committee and to ask those interested in sitting on the committee to let her know before the next FGB.

12 Clerk to draft terms of reference for the new Finance/Resources committee and present to the next FGB.

13 Governors to discuss new SFVS as an agenda item at Finance/Resources committee 1.

14 Headteacher to send Governors information regarding value for money of SLAs once the new contracts are available.

15 Clerk to put a blank copy of the visit form on Governorhub.

16 Clerk to include accountability – section 2 of Hampshire’s governing body self-evaluation document and positive news items are included at the start of new FGB meeting.