Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of that part of the meeting which was open to the press and public held on 16 December 2014 be confirmed and signed.

None received.

Reconstitution of Governing Bodies/ & Instrument of Government Leathersellers Federation of Schools

The Chair stated that both items being considered were related, therefore both would be discussed together, this was agreed. The Executive Director, Children and Young People introduced the report. The Chair referred to the minutes of the last meeting wherein Panel Members requested information on diversity within the governing bodies at Lewisham schools, and asked whether progress had been made with reference to Leathersellers schools.

The Executive Director, Children and Young People said that officers collected this information automatically from schools that the Council clerks. She added that for other schools that are not community schools, this request would have to be handled delicately as they do not have to provide this information, and the request might not be welcomed.

The Executive Director, Children and Young People said that the returns from schools that the Council clerks have been very disappointing, and the data did not look good. She added that she could assure Panel Members that this work would be done, but she was unable to say when it would be done. The Chair said the future arrangements for Lewisham schools were changing, and as Members of a local authority their leadership role would be to ensure schools were effective, and such figures could provide some useful information.

Councillor Curran asked if the Council could request this information from schools that the Council did not clerk. The Executive Director for Children and Young People said the Council could not request anything from anyone. The Chair said that he was confident schools would see this as an important piece of work. The Executive Director for Children and Young People said it was unhelpful to examine individual governing body, albeit this was an important piece of work. The Chair said this issue was fundamental to improvement in schools.

Councillor Mallory said that it would be helpful to get this information. He added that it was important that the schools governing bodies reflect the community. He said as schools were part of the community, the community should be able to influence them. Councillor Mallory said it would be useful to have a global picture of Lewisham schools.

The Executive Director for Children and Young People said she would not want to report on an individual governing body, as she did not think this was appropriate. She said she would rather show some overarching figures, then set goals and aspiration levels. Officers would then keep an eye on progress. The Chair said he needed a specific figure showing distinctions. He added that there should be separate figures for Primary and Secondary schools. There should also be figures showing Leathersellers schools and other academies in comparison to community schools.

Councillor Morrison said that members would also need information on the diversity of staff, as schools seemed to be going through a cultural change. Councillor Morrison said that she had noticed in some of the schools most of their staff were female, whilst those  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

RESOLVED that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for  following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act, as amended by the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to information) (Amendments) (England) Regulations 2006 and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information:

No item was identified for further discussion.

Award of Contract for Permanent Expansion of Holbeach Primary School from 2 to 3 forms of Entry

Discussion of this report was withdrawn by the Chair.

Meeting ended 7:18pm