Agenda and minutes

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 apologies for absence (if any).

RESOLVED: Apologies for absence had been received from Mr K Sochall

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:  That the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item: 8. Local Authority’s Strategic Role for Education in Harrow; 9. Information Report - Harrow School in Partnership (HSIP) Update; 10. School Term Dates 2012/13; 11. School Place Planning Strategy 2010/2013 Update; 12. Update on Potential Conversion to of 7 High Schools to Academy Status; 13 Information Report - Revenue Budget 2011/12 to 2015/16; 14. Information Report - 2011/12 Schools Capital Programme.

Councillor Ramji Chauhan declared personal interests in the above items in that he was Governor of Glebe First and Middle School and Hatch End High School.  He would remain in the room whilst the items were discussed and voted on.

12. Update on Potential Conversion to of 7 High Schools to Academy Status; 14. Information Report - 2011/12 Schools Capital Programme.

Councillor Janet Mote declared a personal interest in the above items in that her sister-in-law was a teacher at Marlborough Primary School and Nursery.  She would remain in the room whilst the items were discussed and voted on.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2010 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2010, be taken as read and signed as a correct record subject to the following amendments:

Minute 11. Declarations of Interest: 

That Councillor Akhtar declared a personal interest in that he was a Governor of Elmgrove School be removed.

Councillor Jane Mote be amended to read Councillor Janet Mote.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents or organisations under the provisions of Executive Procedure Rule 51 (Part 4D of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were put, or petitions or deputations received at this meeting.

Report of the Head of Achievement and Inclusion Services.

The Forum received a report of the Head of Service, Achievement & Inclusion, which set out proposed School Term Dates for the academic year 2012/13.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to the Portfolio Holder for Schools and Colleges)

That the Local Government Association (LGA) Model of the School Term Dates for 2012/13 be agreed.

Reason for Recommendation: In order tostatutory requirements to determine School Term Dates for 2012/13.

Report of the Head of Achievement and Inclusion Services.

An officer introduced a report which outlined changes to schools and the Council arising from the Education Bill.

The officer advised that it was intended for the views of the Forum to form part of a report to Cabinet later in the year, to suggest efficient and effective ways for the Forum to engage on future education matters.

Members of the Forum felt that given the substantial changes occurring within education nationally, it was difficult to identify the exact role of the Forum at this stage.  Further consideration was needed, and options should be kept open.

A possible way forward would be for an informal group of EdCF representatives to consider the remit and options, including representation, of a forum focussed on education matters.  It was also noted that there were current vacancies for Parent representatives on the Forum, whose involvement in such discussions was key.

It was suggested that the report to Cabinet should outline the changes to the Council and schools arising from the Schools White Paper and the Education Bill and the implications of the legislation, if enacted.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Report of the Head of Achievement and Inclusion Services.

An officer introduced a report which provided the Forum with an update on the implementation of the School Place Planning Strategy for 2010 - 2013.  He advised that:

·                    following a request to all Primary Headteachers in March 2011, eight bulge classes had been agreed in time for the pan-London submission deadline of 14 March 2011;

·                    offers for school places had been made for 100% of residents who had applied for a school place on time;

·                    there was a need to formulate a long-term plan that included some permanent expansion of school places to eradicate the need to arrange bulge classes on an ad-hoc basis.

In response to questions, officers advised that:

·                    by September 2011, all high school places in the borough were expected to have largely filled;

·                    schools agreed a formula on how best to fund bulge classes when choosing to adopt them;

·                    per pupil funding applied to bulge classes.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Report of the Corporate Director, Children’s Services.

An officer introduced a report which set out the developments towards establishing the Harrow Schools’ Improvement Partnership (HSIP).  He advised that:

·                    HSIP on 6 April.  Headteacher representatives were keen on establishing a framework for schools to access high quality support;

·                    further information would be provided to schools in the summer term;

·                    the possibility for staff to work on the partnership was being considered.

In response to questions, officers advised that:

·                    the model was driven and funded by schools.  It was anticipated that the fee for HSIP Members would be approximately £5,000, although this had not been confirmed;

·                    teacher training was implicit throughout the entire programme, and would draw on National Programmes such as the Certificate of Excellence;

·                    the possibility of High School Academies becoming part of HSIP would be considered;

·                    the Programme was driven by headteachers to seek ways of improving the school.  It would also provide good opportunities of obtaining funding;

·                    the Programme could provide for good marketing opportunities, but was dependant on its success;

·                    the focus was on teaching and curriculum, after school activities were not a priority at this stage.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Report of the Corporate Director, Children’s Services.

An officer introduced a report which provided an update on the potential transfer of seven Harrow High Schools to Academy status.  He advised that:

·                    the consultation period for the seven schools concluded on 4 April 2011;

·                    the Governing Bodies of the schools were due to meet between 4 and 26 May 2011 to decide whether or not to transfer;

·                    project teams were in place to ensure that should the decision to transfer to Academy status be taken, the Council was adequately prepared support the necessary procedures;

·                    should the decision to transfer be taken, significant work on transferring the terms of conditions of approximately 1,400 staff would need to take place.

In response to questions, officers advised that:

·                    there were no available attendance figures from the consultation events as these were processed by the relevant school and not the Authority;

·                    the consultation letters were designed to provide a broad and transparent view on the impact that transferring to academy status would have.  Any issues with the correspondence would need to be addressed with the Governing body of the relevant school.

The Chairman thanked officers, teachers and Governors for stimulating and engaging in a wide consultation process.  He added that he would revisit the Frequently Asked Questions section on the Council’s website to ensure the accuracy of its content.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Report of the Corporate Director, Children’s Services.

An officer introduced a report which provided a summary of the Council’s budget for 2011/12 to 2015/16.  She advised that:

·                    the budget included efficiency savings of £2.5 million from Children’s Services;

·                    the per pupil Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for 2011/12 was confirmed at £4,862;

·                    due to an increase of pupils with English as an additional language, the Authority qualified for an Exceptional Circumstances Grant of £1.533 million;

·                    funding beyond 2012 had not yet been provided by the Department for Education (DfE).  It was anticipated that more information would be provided in the Autumn term.

In response to questions, officers advised that:

·                    the Pupil Premium had been confirmed at £430 per eligible pupil for 2011/12.  The Pupil Premium was being looked into to allow London weighting;

·                    the ramifications for primary schools of High schools transferring to academy status were being looked into;

·                    all schools were eligible for free school meals;

·                    Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) now formed part of the schools budget, and no longer fell into the schools specific contingency.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Report of the Corporate Director, Children’s Services.

An officer introduced a report which provided the Forum with details of the Department for Education’s Capital Grant allocation.

In response to questions, officers advised that:

·                    a permanent level of expansion would become necessary to meet the demand for future primary school places;

·                    Asset Management work would be conducted to identify the priorities in which to address the maintenance of schools;

·                    schools adopting the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) would not be funded by the Capital Grant allocation.

RESOLVED:  That the Capital Grant allocation for 2011/12 be noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Forum is due to be held on 26 June 2011.

RESOLVED:  That the Forum was next due to meet on 27 June 2011.