Governor News Spring 2012

29222-12 Governor News E_18375-07 Governor News Aut 07 23/02/2012 10:27 Page 1

GOVERNOR NEWS ISSUE 28

SPRING 2012

School & Governor Unit Staff Update I joined City and County of Swansea on 1st December as the School and Governor Unit Manager following Jain Watkins’ retirement. At the time of writing I am still relatively new in post but so far I am finding the role to be diverse, challenging and very interesting.

I am looking forward to the new experiences I am sure it will bring. I have had a very warm welcome and am enjoying getting to know my new colleagues in the School and Governor Unit and in the Education Department as well as the headteachers, teachers, associate staff and, of course, governors of Swansea schools.

I hope to have the opportunity to meet as many of you as possible in the near future and I am looking forward to supporting you in the valuable work that you do.

Kate Phillips School & Governor Unit Manager

The School and Governor Unit is made up of the following staff members: Kathryn Thomas

School, Governor and Student Support Manager Kate Phillips School & Governor Unit Manager Claire Abraham Deputy Manager/Schools Admissions Officer School & Governor Unit Paul Henwood Child Protection & Safeguarding Officer Ruth Rolfe School Governors Officer Martin Rodwell Administrative Assistant Alma Lodwick Clerical Assistant Chantal Bideleux Clerical Assistant

Officers of the Management Committee of the Swansea Association of Governing Bodies are as follow: Chair Mr Jeff Bowen • Penyrheol Comprehensive • Casllwchwr Primary School Vice Chair Mrs Debbie Lloyd • Gowerton School

Treasurer Mr. Peter Meehan • Manselton Primary • Brynhyfryd Junior School Governor Wales Representative Mrs Carol Sayce • Bishop Gore Comprehensive

CITY AND AND COUNTY COUNTY OF OF LEARNING LEARNING •• DINAS DINAS AA SIR SIR O O DDYSG DDYSG AA CITY

29222-12 Governor News E_18375-07 Governor News Aut 07 23/02/2012 10:27 Page 2

Governor Training The importance of training for governors is becoming increasingly significant following the Education (Wales) Measure 2011 and we would actively encourage all governors to attend regular training to update their skills and knowledge. The world of education is constantly developing, changing and progressing. New initiatives are introduced on a regular basis. As such training is essential for all governors irrespective of how long they have held their term (or terms!) of office. So, take another look at the Training Guide and put your name down for that course you have been thinking about.

In his speech on the 2nd February 2011 the Welsh Minister for Education, Leighton Andrews stated that Chairs of Governors are responsible for ensuring their governing bodies have discussed the family of schools data and other relevant performance data and that they have an understanding of how to analyse and use this data to inform the strategic work of the Governing Body. Are you confident that at least one member of your governing body is able to do this?

To help governing bodies achieve this City and County of Swansea are running training sessions on Understanding School Data for both Data Data awareness is a key training primary and secondary schools. The issue for governors currently. details are as follows: Knowing, understanding and using Our aim is to ensure that at least school performance data effectively one governor from every to improve learner outcomes should governing body has attended Data be central to a school’s self Training. We will be contacting all evaluation. Data is more than just Chairs of Governors to identify knowing the figures, it should inform, which governor from their enhance and aid strategic planning governing body already has or will and be reflected within School be attending training. Governing Development Plans and School Self bodies can send as many Evaluation documents. Governors governors as they like on a data should be using their knowledge of training course but we would ask their schools data to inform their that, as a minimum, one governor work and to enable them to challenge from every school attends. and support schools in their role as a critical friend.

Kate Phillips School & Governor Unit Manager A CITY AND COUNTY OF LEARNING • DINAS A SIR O DDYSG

29222-12 Governor News E_18375-07 Governor News Aut 07 23/02/2012 10:27 Page 3

Understanding of School Data (Overview of School & Pupil Performance Information) Facilitator: Mike Jones – Information Officer - Education Department PRIMARY SCHOOL TARGETING Date: 20 March 2012 Time: 3.30 p.m. – 5.30 p.m.

Venue: Committee Room 1 Civic Centre

This session will focus on the following: • Pupil database systems and what they contain  SIMS in Schools  ONE in LA  National Systems and data collections • Local Schools and Pupil Performance Date: 22 March 2012 Information produced by Swansea LA Time: 3.30 p.m. – 5.30 p.m.  Teacher assessment results Venue: Committee Room 2 Civic Centre  Target Setting  School Profiles Date: 24 April 2012  Key Stage 4 and Post 16 results Time: 3.30 p.m. – 5.30 p.m.

(Secondary Session Only) Venue: Committee Room 3 Civic Centre • National School & Pupil Performance Information produced by WG SECONDARY SCHOOL TARGETING  Core Data Packs  DEWi System Reports Date: 26 April 2012  Summary of Secondary School Time: 3.30 p.m. – 5.30 p.m.  Performance (SSSP) Venue: Committee Room 3 Civic Centre (Secondary Session Only) N.B. This course is repeated from last year. • Value-added Measures (Pupil Progress) To book a place contact Ruth Rolfe,  Fischer Family Trust  Standard Tests School and Governor Unit 01792 636550

Quality Mark for Governing Bodies The Quality Mark – Bronze Award is centred on an audit of policy and procedural information, with governing bodies required to build up a portfolio of evidence based upon a checklist. The Quality Mark acts as a governing body self-review, providing a benchmark against which governing bodies can assess their effectiveness.

Find out more about the Bronze Award, feedback from the pilot that took place in 2011 and the next steps in the process at the Swansea Governors Association Conference on Thursday 15th March 2012. Look forward to seeing you all on the 15th!

Some comments from the pilot: ‘The Quality Mark is an excellent tribute to and celebration of, the dedication and commitment of the governing body.’

‘Preparing for a submission for the Quality Mark has really provided a great opportunity for the governing body to focus on what we do and to think about how we can do things better..’

‘The process was rigorous and provided valuable opportunities for us to reflect upon and refine our practices. We look forward to the next challenge!’

Jane Morris Director - Governors Wales

A CITY AND COUNTY OF LEARNING • DINAS A SIR O DDYSG

29222-12 Governor News E_18375-07 Governor News Aut 07 23/02/2012 10:27 Page 4

School Budget Forum & School Budgets The School Budget Forum is a statutory group that includes representatives from the Council, Headteachers, Governors, Unions and others.

The Governor representatives are Jeff Bowen (Penyrheol Comprehensive), Peter Meehan (Brynhyfryd Juniors), Rose Amesbury (Llanrhidian Primary) and Debbie Lloyd (Gowerton Comprehensive).

The Forum is key to developing informed, confident dialogue and trust between the Local Authority and its schools on: • Budgetary issues, including schools’ funding levels for the coming year • Pressures on future years’ budgets • Changes to the local funding formula • Reviewing contracts/Service Level Agreements for services to schools The School Budget Forum has been considering levels of delegation to schools. At present around 74% of the Education budget in Swansea is delegated to schools. Welsh Ministers are keen to increase this to 85% delegation to schools for all Local Authorities in Wales in the next few years – and with extra delegation comes extra responsibility.

A large amount of additional funding (over £6m) is proposed for delegation in April 2012 for pupils with Severe and Complex Needs and this has been out to formal consultation with schools as a formula change from 16th December 2011 until 2nd February 2012

(http://www.swansea.gov.uk/formulaco nsultation for details). Further areas of delegation will be considered by the School Budget Forum for April 2013.

The Minister has protected the overall amount delegated to schools for the next few years. This means that the overall budget for delegation to schools (the ISB) must be increased by at least 1.58% for 2012/13.

A similar protection applies for 2013/14 at 2.08% and for 2014/15 at 1.27%.

However, it is recognised that schools continue to face tough budget decisions and the outlook going forward remains challenging for schools.

The non-delegated Education budgets also face challenges as they are not covered by the funding protection. The overall settlement from the Welsh Government to Swansea is an increase of 0.5%.

Information provided by my team that will help schools to plan for the future include the following documents, which are provided to the headteacher: • Pupil projections (at least 70% of funding must follow pupils so it is important to know if the school roll is changing) • Budget projections for 3 years • Benchmarking figures for primary schools (so that you can compare spend with other schools) • Financial Analysis (to compare staff employed by staff funded etc)

A CITY AND COUNTY OF LEARNING • DINAS A SIR O DDYSG

29222-12 Governor News E_18375-07 Governor News Aut 07 23/02/2012 10:27 Page 5

Annual Report for Parents requirements state that they should include “a financial statement including a Section 52 Statement provided by the Local Authority”. The Section 52 Budget and Outturn Statements are produced each financial year by my team and are published on our website http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?a rticleid=4736. The Statements include how much funding has been provided by the Local Authority to each school, the funding formula used and the level of reserves of each school. I would suggest that your Annual Report for Parents includes the above link to these documents to ensure that you comply with the requirements.

For your information, Nicola Maliphant (Principal Procurement Officer) and myself have organised workshops on the important area of procurement in January/February 2012 for headteachers and bursars/office staff.

The workshops cover areas such as tendering for services and goods and how to ensure that schools are protected when making purchases.

Finally, you may have heard about a ‘pupil premium’ of around £450 per pupil entitled to free school meals in Wales.

The details of this additional funding are likely to be finalised after the school budget shares are issues for 2012/13 and the Local Authority will keep schools informed as soon as details are known.

I hope to issue indicative school budget shares to schools at the end of February/early March with final budgets being confirmed by the end of March 2012. Schools then have to set their budget plans by 31st May 2012.

Kelly Small School Funding & Information Manager Tel: 636686 kelly.small@swansea.gov.uk

Online School Admissions Go Live!

A new hi-tech system has made it easier than ever before for Swansea parents to secure a secondary school place for their child. For the first time, Swansea parents have been able to go online to complete an application for their year six pupil's school of choice.

In its first year the new system has seen over 90% of parents making their applications online, leading to a more efficient allocation of places.

Those who didn’t have home access

to the web or who needed additional support were able to make applications at their local school, local library or at the Contact Centre.

For further information on the new process and for answers to any questions you might have please go to www.swansea.gov.uk/admissions Claire Abraham School Admissions Officer Tel: 01792 635381 or email Claire.Abraham@swansea.gov.uk

A CITY AND COUNTY OF LEARNING • DINAS A SIR O DDYSG

29222-12 Governor News E_18375-07 Governor News Aut 07 23/02/2012 10:27 Page 6

Performance Licences In addition to the work the School and Governor Unit does in guiding, advising and supporting governing bodies and organising governor training the unit has a number of other functions and responsibilities.

One important aspect of the unit’s work is issuing Performance Licences. Performance Licences play an important role in ensuring child performers are adequately safeguarded and supported. It is important that governors are aware of this process and it is particularly relevant for governors with responsibility for child protection.

Legislation The legislation governing children in entertainment covers children from birth to statutory school leaving age and requires a Performance Licence to be issued to children, living in the authority, who take part in the following: • A live broadcast or recorded performance for example, a television or radio programme or film.

• A theatre performance where a charge is made.

• Any performance on licensed premises.

• Child modelling and sport where the child or any other person is paid (other than payment for expenses) Education If a child has to miss school in order to take part in a performance permission from the headteacher of the school the child attends is required before a licence can be granted, this is because the Licensing Authority has a duty to only grant a performance licence when they are satisfied that the child’s education will not suffer through taking part in the performance.

Health A child should not perform, or be licensed to perform, if they are unwell or are at risk of becoming unwell due to the nature of a performance and so performances of 3 days or more in any 6 month period will require a letter from the child’s GP clearly stating that the child is fit to perform.

Welfare The Licensing Authority may refuse to issue a licence if the performance is believed to be detrimental to the: health, care and/or education of the child (1968 Act Section 39(6)).

The Licensing Authority may acquire additional information from the applicant before a licence is issued and in some cases may include certain provisos or refuse a licence altogether.

Chaperones Children taking part in a performance need to be accompanied by a parent or registered chaperone at all times. A licence cannot be issued without the applicant providing details of a suitable adult to act as chaperone. The parent / chaperone will be responsible for ensuring the welfare needs of the child are met. Chaperones, other than A CITY AND COUNTY OF LEARNING • DINAS A SIR O DDYSG

29222-12 Governor News E_18375-07 Governor News Aut 07 23/02/2012 10:27 Page 7

when they are the parent of the child, require a license and these are also issued by the Local Authority School and Governor Unit.

Inspections and venue checks The Licensing Authority has the right to inspect any performance to ensure that the conditions of the licence are observed, that the venue of the performance is deemed suitable and that the child’s needs are met. Venue checks are made as part of the licensing process and to ensure child performers are safe.

Performances in Swansea This year over 600 Performance Licences have been issued in Swansea to enable children to perform in a diverse range of productions from Aladdin to Pobol y Cwm Do any children at your school participate in performances and require a Performance Licence? If you would like more information regarding Performance Licences please contact the School and Governor Unit on 01792 636550

The Governors’ Annual Report The Welsh Government has recently revised information in relation to the Governors’ Annual Report. These Regulations replace and revoke the School Governors’ Annual Reports (Wales) Regulations 2001 as amended.

The new regulations: • Require the inclusion of a comparative report of results in end of phase teachers assessment and external examinations (where applicable), provided by the Welsh Government.

• Require schools to engage with the community and be community focused.

This will involve forming links with agencies such as the police.

• Update the information to be included to reflect the requirements of the Welshmedium Education Strategy, namely to publish details of how Welsh is used as the medium of instruction separately for each key stage (and the Foundation Phase if appropriate), and to provide more information about the language of instruction and any limitations that may limit the parents’ opportunity to choose the language of instruction.

• Better reflect engagement with sporting activity at the school.

• Reflect requirements to ensure accessibility to and safety of toilet facilities as well as cleanliness.

These updates are in addition to a list of requirements for all the items to be included in the annual report. The School and Governor Unit have an updated checklist for you to follow which reflects the changes.

Kate Phillips To request a copy of the checklist please contact The School and Governor Unit School & Governor Unit Manager on 01792 636550.

A CITY AND COUNTY OF LEARNING • DINAS A SIR O DDYSG

29222-12 Governor News E_18375-07 Governor News Aut 07 23/02/2012 10:27 Page 8

Governors SW Wales Regional Conference 2011 On Thursday 18th October 2011, the second regional conference for governors in South West Wales was held at Margam Orangery.

The conference was organised by Governors Wales in partnership with Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea Local Authorities.

The theme was ‘Effective Governance’.

The Deputy Minister for Education and Skills, Jeff Cuthbert delivered the keynote address which was followed up with a question and answer session.

In addition there was a ‘Question Time’ involving a panel of leading educationalists. The panel members were: • Anthony Jordan, Welsh Government • Anna Brychan, Director, NAHT Cymru • Karl Napieralla, Director of Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning, Neath Port Talbot • Clive Phillips, HM Inspector, Estyn A full conference report, including the Ministers speech and details of the question and answer session can be found on the Governors Wales website: www.governorswales.org,uk under the “publications” section.

Presentations were made to schools who had achieved the Governors Wales Bronze Quality Mark for Governing Bodies in the pilot scheme.

The programme will be rolled out to all schools in spring 2012 and an article by Jane Morris of Governors Wales is included in this edition of Governors News detailing the new award.

The morning finished with a programme of music performed by The West Glamorgan Youth Orchestra. The music was played beautifully and I am sure was appreciated by all the conference delegates.

It is intended to introduce the Quality Mark in Swansea in 2012.

Jane Morris is attending the Swansea Association of Governing Bodies Conference on 15th March 2012 in the Civic Centre and will provide further information on obtaining this award.

All governors are invited to attend the Conference which will start at 6.30 pm for refreshments and 7.00 pm start. Please come along to find out more.

Kate Phillips School & Governor Unit Manager

A CITY AND COUNTY OF LEARNING • DINAS A SIR O DDYSG