Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed those present to the first meeting of the municipal year.  It was noted that Councillor Brian Gate had been appointed as Chairman and Ms L Snowdon was appointed as Vice-Chairman.

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)                 to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)               where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)             the meeting notes at the start of the meeting at the item ‘Reserves’ that the Reserve Member is or will be attending as a reserve;

(iv)              if a Reserve Member whose intention to attend has been noted arrives after the commencement of the meeting, then that Reserve Member can only act as a Member from the start of the next item of business on the agenda after his/her arrival.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Member:-

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Committee, Sub Committee, Panel or Forum;

(b)               all other Members present in any part of the room or chamber.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 8: School Place Planning Strategy 2010/13 and

Agenda Item 9: School Term Dates Academic Year 2011/12

Councillor Brian Gate declared a personal interest in that he was a governor of St Dominic’s (RC) Sixth Form College.  He would remain in the room during the discussions and decision making on these items.

CouncillorRaj Ray declared a personal interest in that he was governor of Shaftesbury High and Kingsley High schools.  He would remain in the room during the discussions and decision making on these items.

Councillor Krishna Suresh declared a personal interest in that he was a governor of Vaughan First and Vaughan Middle schools.  He would remain in the room during the discussions and decision making on these items.

Councillor Husain Akhtar declared a personal interest in that he was a governor of Norbury, Grange First and Grange Middle schools.  He would remain in the room during the discussions and decision making on these items.

CouncillorMrs Camilla Bath declared a personal interest in that she was a governor of Whitchurch Middle and Harrow High schools.  She would remain in the room during the discussions and decision making on these items.

Councillor Janet Mote declared a personal interest in that she was a governor of St John Fisher Catholic Primary school.  She would remain in the room during the discussions and decision making on these items.

Mrs C Millard declared a personal interest in that she was a governor of Grange Middle, Cannon Lane Middle and Nower Hill High schools.  She would remain in the room during the discussions and decision making on these items.

Mr N Ransley declared a personal interest in that he was governor of St Dominic’s (RC) Sixth Form College and St John Fisher Catholic Primary school.  He would remain in the room during the discussions and decision making on these items.

Mrs D Speel declared a personal interest in that she was a governor of Cannon Lane Middle school and an employee of St Dominic’s (RC) Sixth Form College.  She would remain in the room during the discussions and decision making on these items.

Reverend P Reece declared a personal interest in that he was a governor of Little Stanmore Nursery, First and Middle and Krishna-Avanti Primary schools.  He would remain in the room during the discussions and decision making on these items.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2010 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2010 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents or organisations under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 17 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were put, or petitions or deputations received at this meeting under the provisions of Executive Procedure Rules  51, 49 and 50 (Part 4D of the Constitution) respectively.

Report of the Director Schools and Children’s Development

The Forum received a report of the Director of Schools, Quality Assurance and Commissioning, which set out proposed School Term Dates for the academic year 2011/12.

Two models had been proposed to members of the Forum.  Model A was in line with the Local Government Authority Standard School Year and Model B, which was the preferred option, was compliant with the ‘Harrow Principles’.  Under Model B, the school term would begin on 1 September 2011 and there would be an extra day’s holiday after Christmas, with the Summer term ending on 23 July 2012.

A member of the Forum requested that officers keep neighbouring boroughs informed of Harrow’s School Term Dates for 2011/12.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to the Leader of the Council)

That Harrow Model B School Term Dates be adopted for 2011/12.

Reason for Recommendation: To fulfil statutory responsibility to agree School Term Dates and inform schools prior to the end of the summer term.

Report of the Director Schools and Children’s Development

The Forum received a report of the Director of Schools, Quality Assurance and Commissioning.  The report gave an update on the implementation of the School Place Planning Strategy 2010/13, which had been agreed by Cabinet on 17 March 2010.

An officer stated that the Department for Education’s (DfE) pupil census completed in the Autumn term would provide an accurate assessment of the take-up rate for school places in Harrow.  It was also added that the Admissions Service expect to receive many late applications during July and August 2010.  She stated that officers were currently evaluating the impact of  ‘bulge’ classes, explaining that for some schools there was considerable movement as sometimes parents changed their minds about choice of school, which created vacant places.

An officer stated that Place Planning was not an exact science but based on prediction, projection and demographic data.  She explained that much of the recent expansion in reception places had been temporary.  It was explained that there were discussions regarding temporary expansion for September 2011 and possible permanent expansion starting in 2012.  She emphasised that permanent expansion would only take place following temporary expansion and consultation with schools regarding management, accommodation and budget issues.

In the high school sector, additional places for Year 7 had been opened, in order to accommodate the unusual circumstance in Harrow of a double year intake (11+ and 12+) at high schools.  This would be reviewed as the new school organisation embedded.

An officer stated that following the government’s announcement of the Academies Bill, schools had been in discussions with officers to assess the implications, costs and benefits of changing to academy status.  To date, only 6 primary schools and 2 secondary schools had registered an interest in academy status.  The officer stated that Academy schools would be required to comply with the principles of the Fair Access Protocol and their admissions criteria would have to meet the National Code of Practice.  Two funding models were being considered by the government and it was not clear yet which would be chosen or the impact on services.  There have been a number of Government announcements recently and whilst further details are awaited, it is understood that the ‘Building Schools for the Future’ programme is on hold, and at this time the Direct Schools Grant is not affected.

Following a question about Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) provision in the borough, an officer reported that the number of ASD places will be  expanded with new provision at Priestmead School, Aylward School and Vaughan School and that ASD facilities would be available at Whitmore school from September 2010.

An officer agreed to find out the number of ‘statemented’ pupils in Harrow and circulate the figures to members of the Forum.

The Chairman stated that he would like to look at how the Forum could encourage greater community engagement with, and participation in its work.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the report be noted;

(2)               that figures detailing the number of ‘  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To note that the next meeting of the Forum is due to be held on 7 September 2010.

RESOLVED:  That the date of the next meeting be held on 7 September 2010.