LIVERPOOL GOVERNANCE FORUM

Minutes of committee meeting held at 10:00 on Tuesday 24th September 2019 at:
Notre Dame College, 180 Great Homer Street, Liverpool, L5 5AF

Guest speaker: 

Jonathon Dickson, Head of Resonate Service presented an update on the Liverpool Resonate Music Hub and developing the school music curriculum (Refer to Appendix A)

1.0 STANDARD ITEMS:

1.1	Welcome and Apologies

Present: Dave Cadwallader (Acting Chair), David Blythe (Honorary Secretary), Dave Owens, Cliff Barton, Pauline Warrington, Cynthia Carmichael, Marlene Taylor, Howard Harris, Amanda Patmore, Avril O’Brian, Michael Morris, Andy Chadwick, and John Thornhill 

Apologies: Kathy Desmond (Chair), Frank McFarlane (Vice Chair), Barbara Murray and Mary Donohue
                                    
1.2	Declaration of Pecuniary Interest
As this was the first meeting of the 2019/20 academic year, members were asked to complete the annual declaration form. 

      1.3 Minutes of the July Meeting       
The minutes of the meeting held on 9th July 2019 had already been agreed by email and posted on the LGF website. 

1.4	 Matter Arising

There were 3 items requiring actions: 

The first item was the 2018/19 Annual Review which DB confirmed had been circulated to our partners and key educational specialist: The Chairs of LASH, LPHA and ALSSH for distribution to Headteachers and a request to circulate to their respective Governing Boards. Copies had been sent to Steve Ready, Heather Duggan, Malik Killen, Lesley Chadwick and Elaine Rees. 

Only two acknowledgments, coupled with a thank you for our hard work, have been received from Paul Anderson (LPHA) and Ania Hildrey (ALSSH). 

DB also highlighted that DC has included a copy of the report in the current issue of the Termly Governors News, which will help to ensure we achieve a wide circulation to Liverpool Governors and Trustees.

The second item was the issue that some members who serve on the Liverpool Schools Forum committee were not receiving any documentation in advance of meetings. DB advised that KD had contacted Sandra Tie advising her with details of our current LSF representatives. Indeed, this was evidenced when all the representatives present confirmed they had received the necessary paperwork to be able them to plan for the next scheduled meeting which was tomorrow the 25th September. 

The third item was the November conference topic and speaker, however, it was agreed to discuss this further under Item 2.3 Future events.

2.0 LGF Matters and Events

2.1 Finance
DB advised the year end financial situation was as detailed in the 2018/19 Annual Review i.e. Bank account at 1st September 2019 was £4,059:42. However, there has been a delay with the LASH payment of £800 due to some banking issues, but this payment is now imminent.

DB also confirmed the ‘2018/19 Year end statement of account’ would be circulated to committee members in advance of our AGM next month.

    2.2 Feedback from Events 
There have not been any events to report. 

     2.3 Future Events
The first issue of the 2019/20 academic year meeting schedule had been circulated by DB to members in advance of the committee meeting. An urgent decision was required on the topic and speaker for the November conference, which is scheduled for the morning of Saturday 16th November at Partnership for Learning. 

After some discussion, it was agreed we should move forward with ‘Teacher workload and wellbeing’. It was clear from the discussion the topic could be tailored to address a number of strands and that a sub-committee would draft some proposals. It was agreed KD, DC, DB & DO would form this group. 
  
     2.4 Website
Over the summer break, there have been 183 hits making a total of 1571 hits for this year to date.

      2.5 Twitter Account
 AO’B advised the account remains very active and we have increased our followers to 495. 

      2.6 Others  
There were no other matters arising for discussion.

3.0 Feedback from Representatives
			
3.1 Liverpool Schools Forum
As mentioned earlier in the meeting, the first meeting of the main LSF committee was scheduled for tomorrow (25th September) afternoon at Lace. However, CB and DB had attended the Formula Funding Working Group meeting held on 18th September. The key message from the meeting was that although the government had announce increased educational funding of £14bn (£2.6bn for 2020/21, £4.8bn for 2021/22 and £7.1bn for 2022/23) this would have limited impact or benefit for Liverpool schools due to the level of protection that Liverpool schools already have. 

All primary schools would receive at least £3,750 per pupil for 2020/21 rising to £4,000 per pupil in 2021/22 and all secondary schools £5000 per pupil from next year. There will be additional funding for High Needs from which Liverpool should benefit when details are advised.

3.2 LLP Executive Board
No meetings had taken place since our last committee meeting, however, it was noted the next meeting was scheduled for 8th October. 

3.3 LLP All Learners 
KD had attended a meeting on the 18th September, which was the first meeting of the new academic year. Two documents had been circulated in advance of today’s meeting:  (1) a ‘daisy doughnut’ document showing an overview of LLP’s proposed key priorities for 2019/20. 

The second document was a feedback report on the ‘Liverpool Children’s Festival of Reading’ event which ran from 22nd June to 12th July. The key aim was to introduce Liverpool children and young people the opportunity to read for pleasure and introduce them to a diverse range of literary role models. The overall feedback on the event was very positive and committee were advised that further information was available on the LLP website. 

In view of KD being unable to attend today’s meeting, it was agreed to delay any detailed discussion until next month when Elaine Rees was our guest speaker and this would give the opportunity to raise any questions on the plans.

3.4 LLP LWNM
No meetings had taken place since the last committee meeting.

3.5 LLP Maths Group
No meetings had taken place since the last committee meeting

3.6 LLP Employment and Skills Group
There is still nothing to report from this group. 
(NB: Following subsequent discussions by KD & DB with Elaine Rees, it was agreed to remove this item from the agenda. We understand this group had not progressed due to the potential duplicate of work being carried out by the council)
    
3.7 Liverpool Safeguarding Partnership Forum
No meeting had taken place since the last committee meeting in July. However, it was noted the next meeting of this group was scheduled for tomorrow 25th September 2019. 

3.8 SEND Joint Commissioning Board (JCB):
A paper explaining the aims and purpose of this proposed new JCB had been sent out to members on 17th September 2019 for consideration as an LGF representative was required to serve on the committee. It was agreed that Marlene Taylor would represent LGF on this Board and DC would advise the secretary co-ordination the group. 

   3.9 Other: 
3.9.1 School Admissions Forum
AO’B was appointed the LGF representative sometime ago and as these meetings will be ongoing on a more regular basis, it was therefore agreed this should now become a standard agenda item for reporting back.

AO’B attended a meeting on the 20th September and explained the Local Authority wanted to implement a uniform model of admissions for both primary and secondary schools, which would allow the Local Authority to ensure tighter compliance with the Schools Admissions Code. Furthmore, it would improve safeguarding arrangements for new families new to the Local Authority. The aim was to introduce the proposed changes so that they take effect from January 2020.

It was agreed the documents presented to the Schools Admissions Forum would be circulated to all LGF committee members for their perusal and to feedback any comments to AO’B to enable her to coordinate an LGF response at the next meeting. 
   
4.0 Other Items for Mention

      4.1 NGA 
There was nothing to report. However, members present confirmed they were receiving the weekly email news letter and the bi-monthly Governors News though the post. 

         4.2 Other
DB was asked to provide an update of the various meetings on which LGF have representatives.  

The Chair closed the meeting at 11:40 am.
      
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS FROM TODAY’S MEETING	
No	TOPIC	ACTION BY	
1	Summary of various schedule of meetings which LGF have representatives
	DB	
2	Arrange meeting for the November Conference sub-committee
(KD, DC, DO & DB)	KD	
3	Notify the SEND Joint Commissioning Board (JCB) that Marline Taylor will be the LGF Representative 
	DC	
4 	Circulate the Schools Admissions Forum papers for comment 	AO’B & DB

Next meeting: 

The next LGF meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 15th October at 10am when we hold our AGM, which will be followed by our October committee meeting and is to be held at:

Archbishop Blanch CE High School, 80 Earle Road, Liverpool L7 6HQ
Guest speaker: Elaine Rees, CEO, Liverpool Learning Partnership

APPENDIX A

Guest Speaker:  Jonathon Dickson, Head of Resonate Services:
Summary of presentation on ‘Update on Liverpool Resonate Music Hub and 
Developing the school music curriculum’

DC welcomed Jonathan Dickson our guest speaker who had also kindly arranged for Notre Dame to host today’s committee meeting.  

Jonathan had previously been our guest speaker back in May 2016. However, with changes to the school curriculum it was an opportunity for Jonathan to provide an update, particularly as Amanda Spielman the Ofsted HM Chief Inspector of Education has stressed schools need to deliver a broad and balance curriculum.   

JD advised that Resonate is one of a number of hubs across England. Its main aim is to work with partners and provide a comprehensive, high quality music education for Liverpool’s children and young people, delivering music, both in and out of school, and providing flexible outreach support for individuals, schools and other structures operating in adjacent areas. 

The hub delivers its programmes in accordance with the document: ‘The importance of music – A National Plan for Music Education’, which has been jointly published by the Department for Education and Department for Culture. 

Resonate was originally funded by the ‘Department of Education’ but now receives it from the ‘Arts Council’.

Last year Resonate Liverpool engaged with: 16,000 students, 400 students used its 2 studios (Bellerive & Notre Dame) and had 55 staff across Liverpool delivering music. 

JD emphasised the role governors and trustees could play to encourage their respective schools to encourage music as part of the curriculum and provided committee members with a copy of ‘Music Education, a guide for Governors’. The document highlights the important strategic role we have in ensuring our schools offer a board and balanced, high quality curriculum. JD talked members through the document which included some challenging questions to ask our schools.

New offers and support provided by Resonate included an ‘A’ level music course for all schools which did not have the resources to deliver the course and is supported by Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Music Leadership Training delivered by Gill Lawson from SIL

Finally, members were provided with a self evaluation for evaluating the impact and effectiveness of music in our school. 

NB: Further information can be obtained from the website: www.resonatehub.co.uk 

DC thanked Jonathon for an interesting and informative presentation.