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AVISHAYES PRIMARY SCHOOL & EARLY YEARS CENTRE ACADEMY TRUST, CHARD
MINUTES OF BOARD / FULL GOVERNING BODY MEETING
HELD ON MONDAY 27th APRIL 2015 at 6.00 pm
MEMBERS / DIRECTORS / GOVERNORS PRESENT: Diana Goldsmith, Richard Prosser
(Chair)., Darryl Sunnick .
GOVERNORS / DIRECTORS PRESENT: Natalie Beresford, Mike Berrisford, Tony Gray, Sandra
Leggett (Headteacher).
IN ATTENDANCE: Chris Bartlett (Clerk / Company Secretary), Clare Gage and Jodie Blain
(observing / potential governors).
NOTICE GIVEN: The date for this meeting was set at Full Governing Body / Board Meeting on
15th July 2014; this was confirmed in the Minutes which were circulated on 28th July 2014 and at
the meeting held on 23rd March 2015. The Agenda was circulated to all Governors on 20th April
2015.
Richard opened the meeting, welcoming Clare and Jodie observing as potential governors.
ACTION
1. APOLOGIES & CONFIRMATION OF QUORUM: Apologies were received
prior to the meeting from Angela Sunnick, Carolyn Waterstone and Jeff
Williams which were accepted. There being seven governors present at
the start of the meeting, the required quorum (5 governors) was met.
2. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS & NOTE OF CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS:
None were declared nor noted.
3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING – MONDAY 23RD MARCH 2015: (sent to
GB on 7/4/15 & 21/4/15). Minutes of meeting were approved by
governors and signed by the chair.
4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES: Action points were updated.
Notice board to be reviewed at next meeting.
Governor minutes Sept – Jan are now on website.
Chair /
Clerk
5. HEADTEACHER’S REPORT (sent to GB on 22/4/15):
Sandra pointed out that she had quoted from David Townsend’s report,
before she received the final version, in which a change she requested
was accepted.
Governors discussed attendance, commenting on the very good
attendance in Reception; however Year 3 is low. Reception attendance
looks high because some children legally do not have to attend until the
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ACTION
term after their fifth birthday and therefore their attendance is coded as ‘x’
whether they are present or absent. This makes the % look high. Sandra
explained that persistent absentees are those whose attendance is 85% or
lower. The number of persistent absentees is now 8 (down from 17 last
academic year). Unauthorised absences are followed up by stages: a
letter of concern; request for medical evidence; warning penalty
notice/penalty notice/request for Education Welfare officer
involvement/parenting contract. When parents fail to pay fines court action
can follow.
Governor question: Has court appearance made a difference? Sandra:
No, some parents did not attend court and so the court will issue a warrant.
Governors asked about punctuality, Sandra explained that a child is late
after 8:50 (often the fault is with parents, rather than child). If they are later
than 9:20 then it counts as an absence (unauthorised), recorded as ½ day.
If a child is late 8 times, a letter is sent to remind parents about punctuality.
Governor question: What is meant by “risk”? Sandra: RSC (Regional
Schools Commissioner) asks DfE adviser to go to schools where there is
an area of concern. Data from last summer (SATs) is a risk.
Governor questions: If Ofsted come this term ...? Can we show
progress? Mike: we hope it will be after SATs. Sandra: Last year’s SATs
did not show progress. Externally marked test data is needed, schools
own data may show improvement, but it is not marked externally.
In response to question about Numicon, Mike demonstrated the maths
equipment, explaining that children use it to deepen their understanding
(eg percentage also as fraction). Next year SATs will test “mastery” –
deeper understanding.

SEF (Self Evaluation Form):
Sandra explained that the SEF is written using the same headings as
Ofsted. Overall the school is making good progress and is on the cusp of
being good.

Update on progress data for Years 2 and 6
Sandra and Mike have been moderating Year 2 and books show work that
agrees with test results.
Year 6 have to get level 4 in reading, writing and maths. In reading and
writing 22 have made 2 levels progress; 23 in maths. Four children are still
being targeted; 26 of 28 children need to be in line or exceed national
level. One child out of the 28 does not attend Avishayes school (Long
Sutton Base) and another has high SEN needs. 22 children will be in line
with or exceed national.
Governor questions: Will results be so in SATS? Mike: Conditions are
different in tests, so may not be.
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ACTION
6. DAVID TOWNSEND REPORT (sent to GB on 23/4/15): Sandra reported
that Actions have been addressed: Pupil Premium, completed; Teaching &
Learning quality is on-going; school to school support with Acorn MAT and
Willow Trust will be maintained; robust mechanisms for external
accountability - external advisers visit termly.
Governor questions: Does this report go back to RSC office? Sandra:
Yes. Does Ofsted have access to it? Sandra: They say not.
7. REVIEW GB MONITORING PLAN – SPRING TERM (sent to GB on
21/4/15): Richard explained that the Plan had been reviewed and tasks
completed. There is another plan for Summer Term
8. SEN COMPLIANCE: Mike attended a course and clarified that compliance Mike to
is part of LA Offer:
send info
to Clerk
 The Local Offer is the responsibility of the Local Authority but the CoP
states that schools must cooperate with the LA (section 4,14 – 4,15)
 Schools must publish a SEN information report as detailed in section 6,79
of the CoP
 The report should be co-produced
 The LA Local Offer should have a link to the school's website to enable
parent/carers and CYP to find the school's SEN information report
 Schools should check that the questions used to structure the SEN
information report meet the requirement of the CoP
 There is no need to have a separate SEN information report and report for
the Local Offer. The Local Offer and Schools information report are
effectively the same.
9. FEEDBACK FROM TRAINING:
 SELT Chair of Governors Course – Richard - this is leadership training,
run across 3 days. He had to choose units to use with governors, and
then write up the work. He obtained a certificate.


Health and Safety Management Course – (sent to GB on 23/4/15): Tony
reported that the school has good systems in place. Accidents, near
misses and bumps in the playground should be reported to GB. Tony
will plan H&S inspection with other governors. Academies are being
targeted on asbestos – Simon deals with annual asbestos inspection.
Tony
Clerk’s briefing (sent to GB on 21/4/15): Clerk pointed out that in
seeking support from other schools, eg, with exchange of governors to
serve on staffing / appeals panels, Academies can only collaborate with
other Academies.
10 GOVERNOR SELF EVALUATION: Richard will put together questions
(using examples on The Key for Governors) and it will be sent to all to
complete.
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Richard
All
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ACTION
He will also prepare a 360° review of Chair for all governors to complete
and send to Clerk who will collate replies and then send to Gill Winston
who will feed back to the Chair.
11. AGREE PROSPECTUS FOR 2016-17: Sandra has this in hand, not much
needs to be changed.
Richard
All
Clerk
Sandra
12. REVIEW ANTI-BULLYING POLICY (sent to GB on 24/4/15): Sandra has
reviewed this policy. Staff have been consulted. It will be shared with
parents via the newsletter and shared with children in assembly.
Governor question: Are staff having training? Sandra: All staff have seen
the policy and an incident form has been set up to tighten procedures.
There will be an item in the newsletter. Governors agreed to adopt the
policy.
13. DELEGATED POLICIES REVIEWED:
 Charging and Remissions – Sandra has checked this and considers the
policy to be fit for purpose.
 E-Safety & Sex and Relationships – Sandra has sent them to
coordinators, as more work is required. These 2 policies deferred to
future meeting.
Sandra,
Chair,
Clerk
14. WILLOW SCHOOLS CO-OPERATIVE TRUST (sent to GB on 24/4/15):
Richard, Sandra, Carolyn and Tony have attended meetings. The Trust
will allow schools to offer mutual support; shared purchasing will offer
economies of scale. Co-operative values match Avishayes values. The
election outcome is likely to require all schools to be in Multi Academy
Trusts (MAT); and would have to include good and outstanding schools.
RI (requires improvement) schools MAY have to be sponsored.
After discussion of options / possible ways forward Avishayes Governors
agreed that, at the next Willow Trust Board meeting, those attending will
agree that Willow Trust should submit an Expression of Interest to become
a MAT. Sandra read out the application for Avishayes to become an
Associate Member and governors agreed to apply.
Sandra
15 DATE OF NEXT MEETING confirmed as Monday 15th June 2015 (Finance
Committee Monday 18th May 2015).
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 7:50 pm
Draft minutes prepared 30th April 2015 by Chris Bartlett, Clerk to Governors. Amended 1st May
2015.
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