Agenda item

Local Authority Appointments to School Governing Bodies

The report of the Director of Children Services informs Members of current Local Authority Governor vacancies within Cheshire East maintained schools

Minutes:

The Panel considered the Department of Education’s consultation on the Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools – Proposed Changes to Regulations.

 

The Government was currently consulting on making reconstitution under the new regulations mandatory for all maintained school governing bodies by the end of the academic year 2014-15.  This would have a significant impact on the number of LA governors as the new regulations only allowed for one LA governor per school.  It would also impact on the role of the Panel as its role as an appointing body would not continue.  The consultation document was attached to the report.

 

The aim of the proposals was to improve the standard of school governors, with greater emphasis being placed on required skills.  The Chester and Shrewsbury Dioceses had welcomed the proposed changes.

 

The Panel then considered the Director’s report on vacancies within Cheshire East maintained schools and the applications received for appointment or re-appointment to identified posts.

 

Additional information was tabled at the meeting in respect of two new appointments and one re-appointment.

 

Finally, the Panel noted that the Council had been invited to nominate an individual to the governing body of the new Church Lawton free school for children with autistic spectrum disorders, which would be opening in September.  The officers were preparing a person/role specification for the appointment and would be discussing the matter further with the National Autistic Society before reporting back to the Portfolio Holder and the Panel.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)       That the direction of Government policy as set out in the consultation document ‘Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools – Proposed Changes to Regulations’ be endorsed;

 

 

(2)       That the following appointments be made:

 

(a)       New Appointments for a four year term of office with effect from
7 February 2014:

 

            ASTBURY ST MARY’S CE PRIMARY SCHOOL

            Mrs K S Moore and Dr R D Mort (for one vacancy) – Decision deferred for further discussion between the Liaison Manager, Schools, Settings and Services, the School and the Diocese, with the decision delegated to the Chairman and Portfolio Holder.

 

 

 

            DISLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL

            Mr C Jackson - Decision deferred to allow the Liaison Manager, Schools, Settings and Services to discuss with school

 

            HIGH LEGH PRIMARY SCHOOL  

            Mrs R J Blackburn

 

            LOWER PARK SCHOOL

            Mrs C A Kenyon

 

            PEOVER SUPERIOR ENDOWED PRIMARY SCHOOL

            Mr J G Croxton - Decision deferred to allow the Liaison Manager, Schools, Settings and Services to discuss with further with applicant

 

            PUSS BANK SCHOOL

            Mr C D Steiger

 

            SANDBACH PRIMARY SCHOOL 

            Ms C Lawton

 

            VERNON PRIMARY SCHOOL

            Mrs H A O’Sullivan

 

            WILMSLOW GRANGE PRIMARY SCHOOL       

            Dr R C Small

            In the interests rest of openness Cllr Mahon declared that he know Dr Small

 

(b)       Re-appointment from the day after their term of office comes to an end or from 7 February 2014 if their term has already ended:

 

            BROKEN CROSS COMMUNITY SCHOOL

            Cllr C M Andrew, Decision deferred to allow further information to be sought by the Liaison Manager, Schools, Settings and Services, with the decision delegated to Chairman and Portfolio Holder

            In the interests of openness, all Members declared that they knew
C Andrew as she was a councillor colleague

 

            ELWORTH CE PRIMARY SCHOOL         

            Cllr G Merry

            In the interests of openness, all Members declared that they knew
G Merry as she was a councillor colleague

 

            MABLINS LANE COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL

            Mr L Simm

 

            MIDDLEWICH HIGH SCHOOL

            Dr C Chapman

            In the interests of openness, Cllrs R Bailey and M Hardy declared that they knew Dr Chapman

 

            MONKS COPPENHALL PRIMARY SCHOOL

            Mr A Guildford - Decision deferred to allow the Liaison Manager, Schools, Settings and Services to seek further information

 

            RUSKIN SPORTS AND LANGUAGES COLLEGE

            Mr Gordon Fyfee - Decision deferred to allow the Liaison Manager, Schools, Settings and Services to seek further information

 

            SANDBACH COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL

            Miss R Darlington

 

            SHAVINGTON HIGH SCHOOL

            Mr A R C Pierre – decision deferred to allow the Liaison Manager, Schools, Settings and Services to seek further information

 

            SOUND PRIMARY SCHOOL         

            Cllr R Bailey

In the interests of openness, all Members declared that they knew R Bailey as she was a councillor colleague

 

            ST MARY’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, MIDDLEWICH

            Mr J P A Williams

 

            THE MARLBOROUGH PRIMARY SCHOOL

            Mr A Mierzejewski

 

            WRENBURY PRIMARY SCHOOL

            Mrs R Bulkeley

 

(c)        Nominations as Local Authority Governors for appointment by School:

 

            AUDLEM ST JAMES’ CE PRIMARY SCHOOL

            Mrs J Furber

            In the interest of openness, Cllr R Bailey declared that she knew Mrs Furber

 

            MARTON AND DISTRICT CE PRIMARY SCHOOL

            Mrs S Kent

 

(d)       Nominations as Local Authority Governors for re-appointment by School:

 

            GORSEY BANK PRIMARY SCHOOL

            Revd P A Smith

 

            PARK LANE SCHOOL

            Mrs T M Palmes

 

 

 

(3)       That the position with regard to the appointment of a local authority governor at the new Church Lawton Free School be noted.

Supporting documents: