About Govas
GOVAS works closely with the Stockport Children and Young People Directorate, but we are a fully independent association of governors affiliated to the equally independent National Governors Association. Every governor in Stockport is automatically a GOVAS member (as long as your institution pays their subscriptionof £10.00 PA)and our Management Committee is made up exclusively of serving volunteer governors in Stockport’s schools – nursery, primary secondary and special. Our biggest strength is our links with all the school governors in Stockport through our newsletter, special communications, and this website.
Schools Forum Newsletter - September 16
The School Forum who are they and what do they do click here for further information
Welcome to the 16th edition of the Schools Forum Newsletter…….
In this issue, we are including key points from the Schools Forum meeting held on 29 September 2016 particularly; Staffing ratios in Nursery Schools and classes, Terms of Reference Review/Membership Update, DfE Consultations on Early Years and Free Schools and 2017/18 Funding Arrangements. A full copy of the minutes will be made available via the Council web-site in due course, see section 9 below.
Schools Forum Meeting 29 September 2016 – Key Points
1. Matters Arising from 19 May 2016 Meeting minutes
No key issues to report.
2. STAFFING RATIOS IN NURSERY SCHOOLS AND CLASSES
Report presented as tabled
Discussions: Glenda Brocklehurst presented a paper which provided insight to the Local Authority (LA) plans to change the staff ratios in nursery schools and classes in line with statutory guidance.
Decisions: Schools Forum members supportive of the proposal.
Actions:
1. Glenda to proceed with the proposal and provide any further updates to Schools Forum members as appropriate.
3. TERMS OF REFERENCE REVIEW / MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Report presented as tabled
Discussions: Peter Hughes presented the report and its content along with any additional information now available post report publication which included:
John Law the current special school Headteacher representative is to be replaced. Further information relating to the new Forum representative to be provided at the next meeting.
Anne Rogowski has accepted one of the primary governor vacant posts.
Decisions: Recommendations as per the report accepted and approved.
Actions:
1. Terms of Reference document to be updated with the proposal in section 4.5;
2. Chairperson to formally write to all Schools Forum members marked (**) accordingly on Appendix 3 in relation to non-attendance at two or meetings in the 2015/16 academic year cycle; and
3. Peter Hughes to re-contact all academy leaders to seek information on who will become the third sector representative.
4. DFE CONSULTATION – FREE SCHOOLS FUNDING
“Education For All: the Implications for School Structures & Governance in Stockport”
GOVAS Autumn Conference
“Education For All: the Implications for School Structures & Governance in Stockport”
Cheshire Conference Centre, Edgeley Park, SK3 9DD, Thursday October 6th, 11am-3.45pm
Powerpoints for reference, if you do not have powerpoint installed on your computer you can download a free version either libre office of open office, google to download
The Local Context: Phil Beswick, Director of Education Services, Stockport LA
The Regional Context: Vicky Beer, Regional Schools Commissioner
Understanding Multi-Academy Trusts, Mark Blois, NLG and Head of Education Browne Jacobson LLP
MATs – Thinking Differently: Janet Myers, Consultant, National Governors Association
Coasting Schools
Hundreds of coasting schools will be targeted for improvement after Education Secretary unveiled a new measure which for the first time will identify those schools which are failing to push every pupil to reach their potential.
These schools, which have been deemed to be ‘coasting’ for a number of years, will be offered help from the best education experts in the country to improve their results and will be required to produce a clear plan for improvement.
May bank Holiday News
Dear Colleagues,
We had planned for this newsletter to be with you before the half term holiday, but events have overtaken us and so i hope that receiving this does not spoil your break too much!
There has been so much going on in the governing world recently, that sometimes it seems the best way to deal with it is to lock the door and turn off the internet for a couple of weeks, and then wait for the latest initiatives to be ‘u-turned’.
The Education White Paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere, has now been replaced with the ‘Education For All’ Bill. The headline change was the removal of the forced element of the academisation programme. The direction of travel on this has not changed, however. There is still an expectation that all schools will be academies by 2022. GOVAS therefore intends to host a mini-conference in late-September/early-October, to present to governors, trustees and senior leaders the latest position on the bill, which covers much more than just the academisation programme and give the people responsible for governance in stockport the opportunity to discuss and debate, with each other and the guest speakers. The LA will be there to present their position and we have also invited Vicky Beer, the Regional Schools Commissioner.
Schools Forum Newletter -May 2016
The School Forum who are they and what do they do click here for further information
Welcome to the 15th edition of the Schools Forum Newsletter……..
In this issue, we are including key points from the Schools Forum meeting held on 19 May 2016 particularly; update on Early Years consultation matters, Administration changes relating to High Needs Funding, National Fairer Funding Formula consultation (phase 1), School Balances, 2015/16 out-turn and SFVS update. A full copy of the minutes will be made available via the Council web-site in due course, see section 10 below.
Schools Forum Meeting 19 May 2016 – Key Points
- 1.Matters Arising from 17 March 2015 Meeting minutes
Minutes accepted as true and correct record.
Matters arising:
Item 13 DSG Review Group - PH informed members that due to the imminent release of the phase 2 consultation document relating to implementation of a new National Fairer Funding Formula (NFFF) from April 2017, that the next meeting of the review group would now be deferred to September so that the content/context of the consultation can be reviewed and impact on Stockport funding levels assessed.
End of another Term "seemed like a never ending one"
Dear Colleagues,
Firstly, thank you to all of you who attended the recent 2016 Stockport Governor Conference. This was the best attended conference that we have hosted with the LA, which was one of our key objectives. Considering we clashed with the NGA North West Regional Conference (attracting some 50% more delegates!), this was an impressive turnout. See to the right (image)- opening of the conference by Phil Beswick (director of education)
Unfortunately, we fell well short on another one of our aims, which was to get representation from every governing board in Stockport. Undertaking continuing ‘professional’ development should be a key part of being a governor/trustee and we will continue to encourage representation from as many governing bodies as possible at these events. The expectation on governance in the White Paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere, will only reinforce this.
We have yet to fully analyse the feedback from the conference, but what was expressed to us on the day was overwhelmingly positive and we hope that you all found it useful. We would welcome any additional comments that you would like to make through the website.
Read more: End of another Term "seemed like a never ending one"
Schools Forum -Quick update-
Fairer Funding for Schools:
Government has finally started a Consultation aimed at providing a fairer funding formula for schools. It intends to deliver a transparent funding system where the funding children attract for their school is based on need and will be consistent across the country. It is intended to implement this national formula from 2017/2018. Stockport has until 17April2016 to respond. A sub group (called the DSC Review Group), comprising Officers. Governors and Teachers will meet on 28March2017 to discuss Stockport’s response which will be put before a meeting of Schools Forum before this closing date.
Water and Sewerage Charges.
It has become known that there is a significant disparity between areas of the country with regards to how the new water and sewerage charges are being applied to schools. For example, schools in the North West pay on average £33 per pupil whilst those in the South East pay £13 per pupil.
It is intended to lobby North West Water to reconsider their charging mechanism.
All Schools, Governors, Local Councillors, Local Authorities and Local MP’s are to be contacted by letter to make them aware of this issue, and for them to write expressing concern using a draft letter prepared for such use. Governors are encouraged to raise this issue at school level and consider using this draft letter, suitably amended, to highlight concern and seek a review.
School Insurance.
The current School Insurance Scheme is to be altered to include for an administration charge of £4,900 to simplify operation of the Sickness Insurance and Balance of Risk cover.
This charge will come out of existing budgeted funds and so will be a no cost option for schools. It will appear in school costs during the 3rd quarter of each year. In addition it will now included, at no extra cost, cover for Teachers Lap Tops, so where this cost is currently covered externally by schools this could be as useful annual saving.
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