THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE FARNBOROUGH
MINUTES OF THE CORPORATION MEETING
MONDAY 7 DECEMBER 2009
The meeting opened at 5.08 pm.
09/43 Apologies
Andrew Annette, Derry Caleb, Adrian Collett, Nicola Orchard
Members present
William Bagnall (Chair), James Bacon, Phyllis Chan, Maire Davies, Harminder Dhillon (from agenda item 08/47), Peter Eyre, Andrew Majury, Linda Montgomery, Andrew Needham, Jack Nixon, Harry Ranson MBE, Daniel Rodgett, Derek Stroud, Martin Thomas, Gregory Trigg, John Guy OBE
Clerk
Richard Compton
Also present
Simon Jarvis, Gordon Dodds, Catherine Cole
09/44 Minutes of the 12 October 2009 meeting
The minutes of the meeting were approved and signed by the Chair.
09/45 Matters arising
(a) 2009 pay settlements
Dr. Guy reported that the teaching and support staff settlements of 1.85% from 1 September 2009 and 2.3% from April 2010 had been ratified, the former notified earlier that day (7 December). He would now implement the settlements under previously-delegated authority, as agreed with Chair of Corporation and Chair of Remuneration.
(b) Wolfson Foundation
The £70k grant for computer equipment was paid to the College in October 2009.
09/46 Chair’s Business
(a) Association of Colleges Conference, Birmingham, November 2009
The Chair and Dr. Guy briefed Governors on the proceedings of a well-structured and wide ranging conference, which had provided plenty of opportunities for networking. There had been the traditional large cast of speakers from the main political parties.
There had inevitably been a somewhat transient atmosphere in view of the impact of machinery of government changes, the new statutory SFC regime, and the forthcoming General Election.
09/47 Search Committee
William Bagnall introduced the proceedings of the immediately-preceding meeting of the Committee.
(a) Appointment of a Parent Governor, 1 November 2009 – 31 October 2011.
Andrew Majury had been elected as a Parent Governor after an election conducted on the single transferable vote system. There had been three candidates.
The Committee had recommended that he serve on the Curriculum and Quality Committees vice Katrina Cochrane.
Andrew Majury commented briefly on his previous career and experience.
DECISIONS
The Corporation appointed Andrew Majury as a Parent Governor from 1 November 2009 to 31 October 2011.
It assigned him to the Curriculum and Quality Committee.
09/48 Annual Report and Statutory Accounts 2008/09
Governors received and considered the annual report of members of the Corporation, the accompanying statements, the 2008/09 statutory accounts, and the report by the External Auditor.
Dr Guy summarized the draft Annual Report, which had been considered by the Policy and Resources Committee.
Important areas included the continuing implementation of the three year Development Plan; the financial position including the funding of Phase 6; curricular initiatives including the A* pilot; future developments; and principal risks. He commented in particular on financial and objectives (paras.5.3 - 5.7), the contributions of David Godfrey and Rebecca Rhodes to the ‘Action Research: Making a Difference in Education’ publication (para.13.4), and risk and its sources, identification and mitigation (para. 18).
Dr. Guy summarized the content of the statements of corporate governance and internal control, and of the responsibilities of members of the Corporation.
He gave an illustrated presentation on the 2008/09 accounts, including a detailed comparison with the 2007/08 accounts and a forward projection. Gordon Dodds provided further detail and confirmed that some textual amendments would be made to the Notes to the Accounts in the interests of consistency.
The College’s apportioned pension liabilities would continue to increase. This would lead to increased employers' and employees’ contributions to the Local Government Superannuation Scheme, with cost implications for the College.
DECISIONS
The Corporation approved:
(a) the 2008/09 College Accounts;
(b) the Corporation members’ report accompanying the accounts;
(c) the statement of corporate governance and the internal statement of responsibilities of members of the Corporation;
(d) External (Financial Statements) Auditor's report on the 2008/09 College accounts
09/49 Selection Panel
Simon Jarvis, Gordon Dodds and Catherine Cole left the meeting.
Governors had received copies of the national November advertisements for the post of Principal and of the pack of information available to candidates, which had been finalized after detailed consideration by the Selection Panel.
William Bagnall introduced the minutes of the 20 October and 5 November meetings of the Panel circulated with the agenda. Another meeting would take place the following day (8 December).
The Principal post had been nationally advertised. A selection process would now be developed, culminating in final interviews on Friday 26 February 2010. The final decision would need to be taken by the whole Corporation and consideration would be given to how Governors who were not members of the Selection Panel could best be involved.
Simon Jarvis, Gordon Dodds and Catherine Cole returned to the meeting.
09/50 Policy and Resources Committee
William Bagnall introduced the minutes of the 23 November meeting of the Committee.
(a) Relationships with FCOT
Governors considered the Committee’s conclusions on the proposed merger with FCOT suggested by its Principal.
During discussion, Governors endorsed the points made the Policy and Resources Committee meeting that:
(i) the College had a distinctive ethos and mission which could be diluted by organizational change or merger;
(ii) there was no evidence that the College itself would benefit, and both colleges could maintain their distinctive identities within the wider community;
(iii) the College was prudentially and efficiently run and economies of scale were unlikely;
(iv) organizational change would be particularly undesirable during a period of continuing external turbulence and at a time that a new principal was being recruited;
(v) co-operation with FCOT had however been very productive and should continue
DECISION
The Corporation decided that the College should retain its total independence in order to pursue its central mission.
(b) Designation as a sixth form college corporation
Governors received a letter from the Department of Children Schools and Families inviting the College, as an existing sixth from college, to be designated as a new legal entity, a sixth form college corporation, and a position paper from the Sixth Form Colleges Forum.
The Policy and Resources Committee had considered the issue in depth and had recommended that the College should so designate.
Governors considered the proposal and unanimously endorsed it.
DECISION
The Corporation formally agreed to request designation as a Sixth Form College Corporation under the provisions of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act and instructed the Principal to notify the Department of Children Schools and Families accordingly.
(c) Recent national developments
Dr. Guy provided an update on the continuous turbulence arising from the Machinery of Government changes, including correspondence on vulnerable young people. Much of the detail of the post-April 2010 funding arrangements remained obscure.
He had maintained close contact with the contiguous funding authorities of Wokingham Council and Surrey County Council about the future implications of cross-border flows of students into the College.
(d) Finance matters
(i) November 2009 Finance and Management Report
The Committee had approved the October report under delegates authority.
Gordon Dodds confirmed that the November report (tabled) contained cashflow projections based on the future forecasts to be agreed at agenda item (e) below.
DECISION
The Corporation approved the November 2009 finance and management report.
(e) Funding into the future
Members approved the revised financial forecasts presented which showed the worst case scenario, but which were still subject to more detailed funding information from the LSC.
Members also approved the revised strategy of paying off the Bank loan in January 2010 and managing the College’s finances within the previously agreed overdraft of £1.75m until it is fully cleared during 2012/13. It was noted that due to the current profile of LSC funding, there could possibly be a peak borrowing requirement of up to £2.25m during the month of April, until the Local Authority funding of £2.0m is received; and this was also approved.
Members confirmed that the Principal and Deputy Principal (Finance and Administration) should continue to sign paperwork for the bank in relation to any bank facilities needed.
DECISIONS
As above.
(f) Risk management
Simon Jarvis, Senior Risk Manager, introduced the updated Strategic Risk Register.
The three highest risks remained external; inadequate funding of public services in the light of ongoing severe economic difficulties, further deterioration in revenue funding indicated from 2009/10, and turbulence caused by changes in the Machinery of Government.
A new risk of successive retirements of senior staff over a relatively short period had been mitigated by the appointment of a new Assistant (now Deputy) Principal Student Services and the ongoing process for the appointment of a new Principal.
DECISION
Governors approved the updated Strategic Risk Register.
09/51 Estates Committee
Linda Montgomery commented on the value for money report on a tender for the Artificial Turf Pitch received from Bowen plc, which she as Chair of the Estates Committee and the Principal had approved.
The report by Cyril Sweett had stated that the guaranteed maximum price of £549,000 represented a good value for money. The target completion date was 22 March 2010.
09/52 Curriculum and Quality Committee
Peter Eyre introduced the minutes of the 16 November Committee meeting.
(a) Performance Report and 2009 Quality Strategy
Simon Jarvis summarized the 2009 Performance Report, which had been considered in depth by the Committee, and was the outcome of a thorough and rigorous moderation and assessment procedure of which the Quality Day was an essential component.
The key strengths of the College (page 12) included high quality teaching maintained across the curriculum, high standards of students’ work in all curriculum areas, a good wide ranging programme of enrichment opportunities and extra-curricular activities, and a committed and able Corporation.
Jack Nixon and Daniel Rodgett commented on the very systematic process for ascertaining students’ views of the College, which were generally very favourable.
DECISION
The Corporation:
(i) approved the 2009 Performance Report; and
(ii) agreed that it should form the basis of the College’s 2009 Quality Strategy.
(b) Summer 2009 examination results
Simon Jarvis commented on the generally very good summer results; some areas had however given cause for concern and these were being addressed. The issue of re-marks and appeals remained.
Peter Eyre commented in particular on the problem of maintaining consistent grading standards at very large colleges where examiners had to assess many broadly similar presentations in subjects such as performance studies.
Governors congratulated staff and students on an excellent outcome that reflected very well on the College.
(c) Admissions 2010
Catherine Cole reported that here had been over 3,000 student applications for 2010. Some 300 places remained after partner schools and sibling attachments had been catered for.
09/53 Audit Committee
Phyllis Chan introduced the minutes of the 18 November Audit Committee meeting.
(a) Annual Internal Audit Report for 2008/9
Phyllis Chan summarized the report, which had been recommended for approval. The central Audit opinion (para. 6) was that, in the auditor’s view, the College had adequate and effective risk management, control and governance processes to manage achievement of its objectives.
All the individual areas audited had received a grading of ‘Good’ except for one that had been graded as ‘Outstanding’, financial planning, budget setting, and monitoring.
DECISION
The Corporation approved the annual Internal Audit report, 2008/09.
(b) Annual Review of the Internal Audit Service, 2008/09
Governors noted that the Committee had approved the final report. The internal audit service had been accorded an overall assessment of ‘Good’ after scrutiny of specific performance areas.
The Audit Committee had, in particular, considered the treatment of risk. It had decided that, from 2010 onwards, the Committee would consider the latest Strategic Risk Register at its November meeting.
(c) Audit Committee’s annual report to the Corporation
Phyllis Chan commented on the Committee’s own report, identifying salient elements. The Committee had been satisfied with the internal and external audit services.
DECISION
The Corporation approved:
(i) the Audit Committee’s Annual Report.
(ii) the appointment of Tenon Ltd and RSM Bentley Jennison as Internal and External Auditors for the financial year 2009/10
09/54 Proceedings of other Committees
The Estates and Remuneration Committees had not met since the last Corporation meeting.
09/55 Principal’s Business
(a) Reports.
Governors received
(i) the Principal’s diary, autumn term 2009;
(ii) the latest newsletter to parents;
(iii) the new College prospectus
(b) College’s Open Days, 11 and 12 November 2009
These had again proved highly successful. Over 6000 visitors had attended the College
(c) Extended Project
Professor Colin Mellors, Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of York, presented the Extended Projects at a ceremony held on November. He had been very complimentary about the excellent quality of the students’ projects.
(d) Presentation of A level certificates
These would be presented by Peter Lauener, Chief Executive of the Young People’s Learning Agency, on Thursday 17 December.
(e) Student Association
Governors congratulated the Student Association on collecting over £6000 in charitable collections this term.
(f) College Christmas events and ongoing programme of Farnborough Music Society concerts
The agenda had contained the programme.
(g) Press reports
Governors received copies.
09/56 Information items considered by Committees
The Corporation received these items:
(a) Policy and Resources Committee
To note that the Clerk will make any amendments necessary to the Standing Orders and Committee Terms of Reference in the light of any changes to the Instruments and Articles of Government and DCSF guidance.
To note the latest position on funding of the Local Government Funded Pension Scheme.
(b) Curriculum and Quality Committee
To note that the A* pilot with OCR is to be extended to 10 subjects
Diplomas including the College’s IT Diploma
Revised Ofsted Common Inspection Framework in force from 1 September 2009
Framework for Excellence – implications of revised FfE for College
To note that the Spring 2010 presentation to the Committee will be on Enrichment Activities
(c) Audit Committee
Approval of the September 2009 Internal Audit visit under delegated authority
09/57 Any other business
The Chair thanked Governors for their splendid attendance and gubernatorial contributions during the year and wished them and enjoyable and restful Christmas.
and New Year break.
The Chair closed the meeting at 7.30 p.m.