THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE FARNBOROUGH
MINUTES OF THE CORPORATION MEETING
MONDAY 29 MARCH 2010
The meeting opened at 5.02 pm.
10/04 Apologies
Andrew Annette, Derry Caleb, Adrian Collett, Harminder Dhillon, Peter Eyre, Linda Montgomery, Jack Nixon, Harry Ranson MBE, Derek Stroud
Members present
William Bagnall (Chair), James Bacon, Phyllis Chan, Maire Davies, Andrew Majury, Andrew Needham, Nicola Orchard, Daniel Rodgett, Martin Thomas, Gregory Trigg, John Guy OBE
Clerk
Richard Compton
Also present
Simon Jarvis (Principal designate), Gordon Dodds, Catherine Cole, Jenny Osborne (to agenda item 10/09)
10/05 Minutes
(a) 7 December 2009 meeting
The minutes of the meeting were approved and signed by the Chair.
(b) 26 February 2010 meeting
The minutes of the meeting were approved and signed by the Chair.
10/06 Matters arising
None.
10/07 Chair’s Business
(a) Jack Nixon and Daniel Rodgett
The Chair thanked Jack Nixon in absentia and Daniel for their excellent contributions as Student Governors both to the Corporation and to its Committees; the Corporation had again been served by an excellent pair of Student Governors. Speaking on behalf of both Jack and himself, Daniel commented on how much they had both enjoyed and gained from involvement in the College’s central governance activities.
10/08 Search Committee
William Bagnall introduced the proceedings of the immediately-preceding meeting of the Committee.
(a) Appointment of an ex officio Governor from 1 September 2010.
William Bagnall confirmed that, in accordance with the Instrument and Articles of Government, Simon Jarvis should be appointed as ex-officio Governor when he assumed the post of Principal at the College on 1 September 2010.
Dr. Guy was an ex-officio member of all six Corporation Committees except Audit and Remuneration (which he attended) and the Search Committee had proposed that these arrangements be replicated.
DECISIONS
The Corporation appointed Simon Jarvis as an ex-officio Governor from 1 September 2010 on taking up the post of Principal, and as an ex-officio member of all Corporation Committees except Audit and Remuneration from the same date.
Simon Jarvis formally accepted appointment.
(b) Appointment of two Student Governors from 1 April 2010 to March 2011.
Richard Acton and Josephine Copeland had been elected as Student Association President and Vice President and so as ex-officio Student Governors.
The Search Committee had recommended that Richard and Josephine succeed their predecessors on the Policy and Resources and Estates Committees respectively.
DECISIONS
The Corporation:
(i) appointed Richard Acton and Josephine Copeland as Student Governors from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011.
(ii) assigned Richard Acton to the Policy and Resources Committee and Josephine Copeland to the Estates Committee.
(c) Press advertisement for prospective Independent Governors
Governors had received a copy of the advertisement placed in the local Press seeking prospective Independent Governors. Four responses had been received to date (29 March, the formal deadline for receipt of applications and CVs). These responses would form only part of the Independent Governor recruitment and selection process to be conducted by the Search Committee.
10/09 Enrichment Activities
Jenny Osborne, Lead Tutor for Enrichment, provided a condensed and illustrated version of the presentation which she had given to the Curriculum and Quality Committee at its 8 February meeting.
Over 1,800 students were involved with the voluntary enrichment activities. These could broaden a student‘s skills base and leadership powers, as well as being very enjoyable, and a plethora of activities was on offer.
Student-led activities included Fairtrade, debating and the annual Coppers productions. The Duke of Edinburgh Award programmes and the summer and winter expeditions to Norway, all of which had been inevitably demanding on staff time, had been most worthwhile.
Volunteering was a core part of the College's enrichment work. Students' activities were registered on a formal certificate.
In response to Governors' questions, Jenny Osborne commented on the effective induction process, the contribution of Enrichment Activities to immersing new students in the College community, and confirmation by the Farnborough Library staff of the College students' successful work in helping develop senior citizens' computer skills.
Governors thanked Jenny Osborne for an enjoyable and thoughtful presentation which had depicted the wide range of Enrichment Activities.
10/10 Estates Committee
Dr. Guy introduced the minutes of the 3 March Committee meeting.
(a) John Guy Building – formal opening ceremony
It was intended to invite the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to carry out the ceremony. An invitation would be issued after the General Election.
(b) Artificial Turf Pitch (ATP)
The project (final stage slightly held back by the very wet weather) was nearing completion. Handover was expected early April. This would give the College the two week Easter break to have the pitch ready for student use for the first time on 19 April. Bowen’s price had been negotiated down after some value engineering to £549,400 (plus VAT) compared with the initial bid of £683,000 (plus VAT). The top soil from the excavation had been reserved on site to effect savings; it would be used to refurbish the rugby pitch over the summer months.
(c) Environment, Health and Safety Committee
No incidents had been reported.
10/11 Draft Development Plan and Draft Strategic Plan, 2010/13
(a) Plans – Simon Jarvis commented on the Plan commended by the Committee.
The Plan had focused on five Strategic Aims:
Excellence in teaching and learning;
Excellent care, guidance and support for all students;
An attractive and engaging learning environment;
A strong financial footing in turbulent funding environment; and
Partnership with the outside world.
The Strategic Plan encapsulated a detailed action programme.
DECISION
The Corporation approved the 2010/13 Development Plan and Strategic Plan.
(b) Prospective structural changes
Simon Jarvis summarized the proposed changes and the revised structure for September 2010, which took account of discussions with staff involved.
The first tier of senior postholders and Principalship would consist of a Deputy Principal (Finance and Administration) and Deputy Chief Executive, a Deputy Principal (Data and Communications), a Deputy Principal (Student Services) and an Acting Deputy Principal (Curriculum and Innovation) (new post). The present Vice Principal post would disappear.
The newly appointed Acting Deputy Principal would not be classified as a senior post holder under the Articles. It would be occupied in an acting capacity whilst the role evolved and the new Principal was able to evaluate the structure.
The Extended Principalship would contain three Assistant Principals and there would be four Directors of Faculty
The structure was designed to buttress the Principal's strategic role, enhance flexibility, balance posts' loadings, engender a creative approach, and provide further opportunities for staff development.
Governors conducted a full discussion, concentrating in particular on the importance of continuity, the depth and range of the new posts, and the need to mitigate inessential demands on the new Principal.
DECISION
The Corporation agreed that the Principal-designate should proceed with these proposals.
10/12 Policy and Resources Committee
William Bagnall introduced the minutes of the 15 March meeting of the Committee.
(a) Machinery of Government
(i) Redesignation of the College
The Chair wrote to the SFCF on 9 December 2009 seeking formal designation as a Sixth Form College under the new legislation coming into force on 1 April 2010. This was an automatic process for an existing SFC. All except two sixth form colleges had designated and formal notification of approval was expected shortly.
(ii) Recent developments
The Principal summarized recent developments, including discussions with Hampshire County Council, the College’s host authority, and contacts with Wokingham Council and Surrey County Council.
(iii) Corporate documents, 2010/11
The Clerk confirmed that no new Instrument or Articles of Government had been introduced, and the current (2008) statutory documents therefore remained in force.
In these circumstances, he proposed that Governors retain the 2009/10 corporate documents, the combined Corporation and Committee Standing Orders and the Committee Terms of Reference, into 2010/11. As and when there were new Instruments and Articles, he would report, with proposals for revision as appropriate, to the Policy and Resources Committee and then to the Corporation.
DECISION
The Corporation agreed that the present corporate documents should continue into 2010/11.
(b) Funding for 2010/11
The Corporation received confirmation of the final funding allocation of £16.017m, including additional learner support allocation, which would be transferred to the College via the Young People’s Learning Agency and then Hampshire County Council.
(c) Other finance matters
(i) Strategic cashflow forecasts
Dr. Guy and Gordon Dodds summarized the updated strategic cashflow forecasts.
These had been based on assumptions including clearance of the bank loan in January 2010 (completed), staff cost increases of 2.5% to cover increases and increments, and zero provision for inflation.
This forecast, again made on prudential assumptions, demonstrated a continuing strong cash flow position and the capacity to absorb the cost of Phase 6, the John Guy Building.
Commenting on the ongoing day-by-day cashflow forecast, Gordon Dodds confirmed that full provision had been made to cover cashflow requirements in April 2010.
DECISION
The Corporation approved the strategic cashflow forecast to 2014.
(ii) College’s financial health rating
The LSC’s letter confirmed the College’s financial health rating as ‘Good’. A higher rating had not been achievable because the LSC did not regard the bank overdraft as a loan, which affected liquidity.
(iii) Auditors 2010 /11
Governors noted that the merger of Tenon and RSM Bentley Jennison required the appointment of a new, separate, audit firm for the 2010/11 financial year. The Principalship would advise the Audit Committee that a new External Auditor should be appointed.
Phyllis Chan, Chair of the Audit Committee, concurred.
(iv) February finance and management report
Governors noted that the January and February 2010 reports had been approved by the Committee under delegated authority.
(d) Hampshire CC proposals for Children’s Trusts
Simon Jarvis commented on his summary of Hampshire County Council’s plans for a series of Children’s Partnerships, one of which was for Rushmoor and a second was a tri-furcated Hart Local partnership. Involvement in local planning was a statutory requirement, and the Committee’s recommendation was that the Corporation approve an appropriate resolution that would also cover neighbouring Surrey and Berkshire partnerships.
DECISION
The Corporation approved the following resolution;
‘The Governing Body agrees that the College become a member of the Local Children's Partnerships and shall receive reports on the work of the Partnerships in improving outcomes for all children and young people.’
Simon Jarvis also briefed Governors on the development of the Farnborough Young People’s Partnership.
(e) Admissions 2010
Catherine Cole reported on prospective 2010 student admissions. The demand management strategy continued to work satisfactorily.
Governors noted that the Policy and Resources Committee was reviewing the admissions process.
10/13 Curriculum and Quality Committee
Simon Jarvis introduced the minutes of the 8 February Committee meeting.
(a) Achievement, retention and success targets for 2009/10
These had been approved by the Committee under delegated authority. As in previous years, the targets were demanding but achievable. Dr. Guy explained how higher success (retention x achievement) targets fed into increased financial allocations if achieved.
(b) Consolidated Corporation and Committee self-assessments
After considering the Clerk’s covering paper, and the 2008/09 collective self-assessment forms, the Committee had recommended to the Corporation that the present effective and durable process continue into 2009/10. The Clerk commented in particular on members’ great enthusiasm, fuelled by appropriately short and decisive meetings, the efficient transaction of business both to and from Committees and the Corporation and between Committees, and the universally high calibre of chairing.
DECISION
The Corporation decided that the self-assessment system should continue into 2009/10.
10/14 Proceedings of other Committees
The Audit and Remuneration Committees had not met since the last Corporation meeting.
10/15 Principal’s Business
(a) Reports.
Governors received:
(i) the Principal’s diary, spring term 2010;
(ii) the latest newsletter to parents.
(b) Mephedrone
Dr. Guy briefed Governors on his 10 March letter to parents and guardians (circulated with the agenda) warning them of the dangers of Mephedrone, an apparently legal but harmful drug. His letter had been adopted by all Rushmoor and Hart schools and colleges. There since had been much national publicity.
(c) Correspondence with OCR
Governors received correspondence between the Principal and the OCR Examination Board concerning two complaints received regarding the College extending the examination start time due to the adverse snowy weather.
Governors endorsed the actions taken by the Principal.
(d) International Partnerships
(i) Presbyterian Secondary Technical School, Aburi, Ghana,
Two groups would be visiting the School during the summer
(ii) Lyceum Ogolnoksztalcace, Sulechow, Polska
There would be an inward visit.
(iii) Nepal
Two members of the College staff would accompany the Rushmoor Borough Council led delegation to Nepal.
(e) College spring/summer events and ongoing programme of Farnborough Music Society concerts
The agenda had contained the programme.
(f) Press reports
Governors received copies.
10/16 Information items considered by Committees
The Corporation received these items:
(a) Policy and Resources Committee
The Clerk would propose any amendments necessary to the combined Corporation/Committee Standing Orders and Committee Terms of Reference, in the light of any new Instruments and Articles of Government and DFCS guidance following the new statutory SFC regime coming into force on 1 April 2010
(b) Estates Committee
Evolving 2010 summer works programme
Rainwater harvesting and services/energy monitoring
(c) Curriculum and Quality Committee
External Quality Reviews of Spanish and Classical Civilization
10/17 Any other business
(a) Corporation Dinner, Monday 5 July
The Annual Corporation Dinner would take place in College after the Monday 5 July Corporation meeting.
Governors welcomed the Chair’s proposal to invite past Governors to what would be Dr. Guy’s final Corporation Dinner as Principal.
The Chair closed the meeting at 7.02 pm.
