THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE FARNBOROUGH
MINUTES OF THE CORPORATION MEETING
MONDAY 30 MARCH 2009
The meeting opened at 5.05 p.m.
09/01 Apologies
Andrew Annette, Adrian Collett, Phyllis Chan, Maire Davies, Harry Ranson MBE, Derek Stroud
Members present
William Bagnall (Chair), James Bacon, Derry Caleb, Katrina Cochrane, Peter Eyre, Harminder Lelly, Theo McCusker, Linda Montgomery, Andrew Needham, Nicky Orchard (to agenda item 09/09), Stuart Rowland, Martin Thomas, Gregory Trigg, John Guy OBE
Clerk
Richard Compton
Also present
Simon Jarvis, Gordon Dodds, Rosemary Heasman, Ann Horsley (for agenda item 09/06(a)), Catherine Cole (for agenda items 09/05 and 09/06(a)
09/02 Minutes of the 8 December 2008 meeting
The minutes of the meeting were approved and signed by the Chair.
09/03 Matters arising
(a) Student Governor election
This would be re-run on Friday 3 April because of a technical problem which occurred in the first round of on-line voting.
09/04 Chair’s Business
(a) Theo McCusker and Stuart Rowland
Noting that this was Theo and Stuart’s final Corporation meeting as Student Governors, the Chair thanked both for their excellent contributions both to the Corporation and to their respective Committees. They had made an impressive input as the College’s first pair of Student Governors.
Linda Montgomery commented on both Student Governors’ very active involvement in Estates matters, and thanked Stuart Rowland for his contributions as a member of the Estates Committee.
Both Theo McCusker and Stuart Rowland commented on how much they had enjoyed their year as Student Governors and had appreciated the opportunity to become directly involved in the College’s governance.
(b) Children’s Workforce Expert Group
Governors received and welcomed copies of a letter from the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, personally thanking Dr. Guy for the breadth of knowledge and commitment that he had brought to the proceedings of the Expert Working Group of which he had been a member, and for his contributions to the 2020 Children and Young People’s Workforce Strategy.
Dr. Guy summarized the work of the Expert Group. Its central remit had been to advise on how coherence could be developed between the various professions, such as education, health, and social work, involved in providing services for children, the lack of which had attracted severe criticism in the Victoria Climbié report.
09/05 Special Committee – recommendation on the appointment to the post of Assistant Principal (Student Services)
Governors received the confidential minutes of the 10 March meeting of the Committee, which the Clerk had determined as a reserved document because of its references to individuals.
William Bagnall summarized the selection process. The Special Committee had winnowed out a long list of eight candidates from a strong field of 35. These eight had visited the College for a familiarization day. They had then been invited back for a day of interviews and exercises.
The three short listed candidates had been interviewed by the Special Committee on the following day, 10 March. It had then recommended the appointment of Catherine Cole to the senior designated post of Assistant Principal (Student Services).
The Committee’s conduct of a very thorough selection process had, in his view, vindicated the Corporation’s decision at its 8 December 2008 meeting (minute 08/48(b)(ii)) to approve the framework for the convening of a Special Committee.
DECISION
The Corporation appointed Catherine Cole to the designated senior post of Assistant Principal (Student Services).
Catherine Cole summarized her past career in education. She was delighted to have been selected for the post and looked forward to serving the College in this senior capacity.
9/06 Curriculum and Quality Committee
Simon Jarvis introduced the minutes of the 2 March Committee meeting vice Andrew Annette.
(a) Presentation
Governors received an illustrated presentation on ‘Supporting Students’ from Ann Horsley, Assistant Director of Teaching for Learning, who had also given a presentation at the 2 March Committee meeting (minute CQ 09/05).
The College had adopted a comprehensive approach to learner support, involving availability to all students and not only to those with particular difficulties. A proactive approach included devoting much thought to the ambience of the centre, having staff on duty and offering opportunities to book one to one tuition slots in particular subjects.
Future objectives were higher take up of study advice slots, further staff development and a fuller and more effective programme of short courses.
The very substantial increase in student take up indicated the effectiveness and appeal of the College’s progarmme.
In response to Katrina Cochrane and the Chair, Ann Horsley commented on the College’s approach to dyslexic students and its provision for ESOL students in developing greater command of English.
On behalf of Governors, the Chair thanked Ann Horsley for a very interesting and informative presentation on a very significant issue.
(b) Achievement and Retention targets, 2008/09
Simon Jarvis summarized the targets approved by the Committee under delegated authority, after the customarily rigorous assessment and moderation process led by David Woodward.
(c) Consolidated Corporation and Committee self-assessments
Simon Jarvis introduced the self-assessments. The Clerk commented on his summary paper and the 2007/08 Corporation and Committee self-assessments. These were very similar and both had an increased strategic focus. The Committee had concluded that the self-assessment process had again been vindicated at both Corporation and Committee level and should continue into 2008/09. The system would readily absorb the residue of the Healthchecks with which it had increasingly overlapped (agenda item 09/09(g)).
DECISION
The Corporation approved the 2007/08 self-assessments and agreed that the system should continue into 2008/09.
(d) Investors in People (IiP)
Simon Jarvis confirmed that, following the review that had taken place on 23/24 February, IiP status had again been awarded to the College. The appropriate certificate had been received that day (30 March). .
09/07 Estates Committee
Linda Montgomery introduced the minutes of the 11 February Committee meeting.
(a) Phase 6 - redevelopment of Scola
(i) Construction
Progress with Phase 6 was on target despite a period of bad weather. Construction work was well on course for completion on 10 July. The target occupancy date remained September 2009.
The topping out ceremony had been conducted by David Bell, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Children, Schools, and Families, on 3 March, as part of a visit to the College made at his own request. Governors received his 5 March letter of appreciation. He had been particularly impressed by the enthusiasm of the College students and his meeting with the Student Association.
(ii) Phase 6 cashflow
Gordon Dodds briefed Governors seriatim on the main items in the revised strategic cashflow forecast to 2014 (revised) which had been circulated with the agenda, and had necessarily been based on current assumptions on future LSC funding. At present Phase 6 remained affordable and the future cashflow position strong. The LSC had given formal borrowing consent.
DECISION
The Corporation approved the revised strategic cashflow forecast.
(iii) Naming of the building
Dr. Guy left the meeting.
Linda Montgomery proposed that, having consulted the members of the Estates Committee and also other Governors and the Principalship, the new iconic central building should be named after Dr. Guy in recognition of his distinguished and devoted service as Principal of the College over many years. It would also reflect his contributions at a national level, and be welcomed by staff and students alike.
Her proposal was universally supported by Governors. The precise title could be finalized in due course but the ‘John Guy Building’ or a variant thereof seemed highly appropriate.
DECISON
The Corporation decided that Phase 6 should be named the ‘John Guy Building’ or a variant thereof.
Dr. Guy returned to the meeting and was informed of the decision. He expressed his great appreciation of and thanks for this accolade.
(b) Artificial Turf Pitch (ATP)
Linda Montgomery reported that two consultation meetings had been held with local residents and the proceedings fully recorded; five councillors had also attended. There had been supportive comments on the College’s efforts to conceal the pitch by reorienting it and to reduce the impact of the floodlighting.
A final proposal, taking account of residents’ comments, would be now put forward for planning permission.
09/08 National and local developments affecting post 16 education
Dr. Guy updated Governors on various developments
(a) Apprenticeships, Skills and Learning Bill - aspects
Dr. Guy amplified his notes (circulated with the agenda) on the Bill, which was currently before Parliament. These had identified matters particularly germane to SFCs.
Sixth form colleges would become sixth form college corporations, all existing colleges being automatically so designated; inauguration day might be 1 April 2010, Financing would be through the Young Persons’ Learning Agency (YPLA), in succession to the LSC, which would be abolished. Funding would be channeled through the host local authority, which would passport the funds onward.
The powers of the new SFCs would be broadly similar to their predecessors', and they would retain their charitable status. There would be a new duty to promote the well being of the local area.
(b) Transfer of responsibilities to local authorities in the immediate area
Governors had received a paper from the Director of the REACT (Raising Expectations Action Programme), following his visit to the College on 25 February, and a paper from the Principal outlining meetings he had held with ‘distant sub regions’ locally.
Dr. Guy had in particular met representatives of Surrey County Council on 30 March and of Wokingham unitary authority on 13 March, as there were very substantial flows of students from their administrative areas to the College. His initiative had been welcomed, and had helped identify the issues of cross-border student flows from the proposed sub-regions including Surrey and the former Berkshire. FCOT was being involved.
Governors welcomed Dr. Guy’s initiative and asked him to keep them informed on forthcoming developments.
(c) Sixth Form Colleges’ Forum
Governors were briefed on the emergence of a stronger Sixth Form Colleges’ Forum including the appointment of a Chief Executive (press cutting from the Guardian circulated).
(d) Capital funding in the LSC sector
Governors had received:
(i) the Principal’s overview of the current financial difficulties;
(ii) copies of correspondence from the AoC/LSC; and
(iii) a press cutting from the TES
Dr. Guy outlined the present difficulties caused by the LSC‘s decision to defer approval of various colleges' capital projects. Colleges which had received approval in principle but not in detail could be in particular difficulty, as expenditure on professional fees and other items might already have been incurred.
The College was not directly involved as LSC detailed permission for the construction of Phase 6 (and approval of 10% funding) had already been received.
09/09 Policy and Resources Committee
William Bagnall introduced the minutes of the 23 February Committee meeting.
(a) Phase 6 – revised cashflow forecasts
The Committee had commended the revised strategic cashflow forecast to 2014 for approval. These had previously been approved by the Estates Committee and had necessarily been based on then current assumptions on future LSC funding.
DECISION
Governors approved the revised Phase 6 cashflow forecasts.
(b) Provisional finding position, 2009/10
Governors had received a paper with the agenda from the Principal on the current position, and an analysis (tabled) by Gordon Dodds on the cashflow implications for the College of two alterative LSC funding scenarios.
Dr. Guy's paper had noted that the only growth in 2009/10 seemed likely to be that in student numbers already assumed under capital growth plans; in the case of the College, funding for about 3120 students, the figure assumed in its funding projections. The LSC‘s final allocation was still awaited but had been promised by 6 pm. on Tuesday 31 March.
Gordon Dodds' analysis had investigated the cashflow implications of 'pessimistic' and 'possible’ LSC funding for 2009/10 of 3047 and 3090 students, projecting forward to 2014 and compared with the current allocation for 3100 students. The pessimistic scenario could produce a negative cash position, which would require substantial corrective cost reductions.
Dr. Guy agreed to circulate the final 2009/10 allocation to Governors once it had been received from the LSC.
NOTE
Dr. Guy confirmed to Governors by e-mail on 1 April that the final LSC allocation for 2009/10 was based on 3089 students, 11 less than the forward planning assumption.
The cumulative effect was a final allocation 2009/10 of £15.680m, £66k less than the prudent assumption of 3100 but considerably less than if the 3127 students anticipated were fully funded.
(c) PrIncipalship Update 09/01 - updated Development Plan
Simon Jarvis briefed Governors seriatim on key elements in the Principalship Update 09/01, circulated with the agenda.
The follow up to the ‘The Children’s Plan, One Year On’, included developing e-contact with parents, on-line access to Cristalweb for parents, a College Report Card, and Co-location of services.
The Common Application Process had yet to be finalized and AoC had taken matters up at national level.
The College played a very active role in curricular development including continuing involvement in the Diploma programme and the Farnborough version of the Extended Project.
Finance, accommodation and staffing polices were being developed and College risk assessments were being conducted in the light of external changes.
DECISION
The Corporation approved the updated Development Plan.
(d) Future approvals of College policies and documents within the Committee’s ambit
(i) Policies
The Clerk confirmed that the Committee had suggested that it could conveniently approve various policies on established subjects within its purview, rather than refer them to the Corporation for a second round of discussion.
The Committee had commissioned the note circulated with the agenda. This had listed the main policies and annual reports that could be delegated to the Committee; exceptions would be the College Charter, Risk Management, and policies involving new or controversial issues. The Committee’s Terms of Reference were sufficiently broad to accommodate this change.
DECISION
The Corporation approved the Policy and Resources Committee’s delegation proposal contained in the Clerk’s note.
(ii) Governors’ finance and management reports
The Chair and the Principal had proposed that the Policy and Resources Committee should be given authority to approve monthly Management and Finance reports between Corporation meetings, presenting only the most recent monthly reports (subsuming the earlier ones) for approval by the Corporation at its regular meetings. (On occasion the Corporation might receive a latest monthly report which had been produced after the date of the last Policy and Resources Committee meeting).
The Committee’s amended Terms of Reference containing the consequential amendment had also been submitted for approval.
DECISION
The Corporation agreed that it should henceforth receive only the latest monthly Finance and Management reports and approved the consequentially amended Policy and Resources Committee Terms of Reference.
(e) February 2009 Finance and Management Report
Gordon Dodds confirmed that the February report contained no substantive changes from the December 2008 and January 2009 reports, which had been approved by the Committee.
DECISION
The Corporation approved the February 2009 Finance and Management Report.
(f) College Anti-Bullying Policy
Rosemary Heasman summarized the College Anti-Bullying policy, which had been recommended for approval by the Committee. The Policy developed and formalized current good practice. Harassment and bullying were defined in Appendix A and a list of Associated Policies/Procedures appeared in Annex B.
DECISION
Governors approved the College Anti-Bullying Policy.
(g) Healthchecks
The Committee had endorsed the Clerk’s proposals that the Year 7 Healthcheck report be approved but that the annual Healthcheck reports now cease because of their increasing overlap with the ongoing annual self-assessments.
DECISION
The Corporation approved the Healthcheck Year 7 report and agreed that the annual Healthchecks should now be discontinued.
09/10 Proceedings of other Committees
The Audit, Remuneration, and Search Committees had not met since the last Corporation meeting.
09/11 Principal’s Business
(a) Reports.
Governors received:
(i) the Principal’s diary, spring term 2009; and
(ii) the spring newsletter to parents.
(b) A level Certificates Presentation Evening 2008
Kathleen Tattersall OBE, Chair of the newly-established Ofqual, had presented the examination certificates on Thursday 18 December 2008.
(c) Visit to Aburi, Ghana
Catherine Cole would be leading a visit of 19 students to the Presbyterian Secondary School, Aburi, Ghana, in June.
(d) College spring/early summer events and ongoing programme of Farnborough Music Society concerts
The agenda had contained the programme. Dr. Guy commented in particular on the performance of ‘Acis and Galatea’ by the College Chamber Choir and Emerald Ensemble at St Paul’s on Friday 10 July.
(e) Press reports
Governors received copies
09/12 Information items considered by Committees
The Corporation received these items:
(a) Estates Committee
• 3 month LSC delay in approving new capital projects - College not directly affected
• Summer works 2009 – evolving £200k programme to create more tutorial etc. space
• Improved car parking arrangements for students - successfully introduced
• Use of resources - follow up to consultant report on water conservation, investigation of an energy monitoring system
• Environment, Health and Safety Committee minutes (there were no incident reports)
(b) Policy and Resources Committee
• Annual course costings – no substantial change so no action required
• Final Reconciliation Statement 2007/08 – non-refundable variation of £303,366 representing non-funded work undertaken by the College
• Corporate Governance Review – the College has responded fully and positively to the obligatory questionnaire
• confirmed closure of Oak Farm School – there were potential implications for alternative secondary school provision by Rushmoor Borough Council, one being formation of an Academy
(c) Curriculum and Quality Committee
• DCSF Achievement and Attainment Tables 2007/08 - very good results for the College, best score per student among Hampshire state educational institutions
• Reports on curricular developments - A* pilot, extended Project Years 3 and 4, and Assessed Lesson Observations
• Investors in People – review meeting took place on 23/24 February, IiP standards again achieved
09/13 Any other business
(a) Corporation Dinner, July 2009
The Corporation Dinner would take place in College at 7.30 pm on Monday 6 July, after the Corporation meeting.
(b) 2009 Governors’ Handbook
The 2009 Governors’ Handbook, in its customary neat format and slightly condensed, was being produced.
The Chair closed the meeting at 7.33 pm.
