MINUTES OF MEETING ON TUESDAY, 24 AUGUST 1999 AT STOCKBRIDGE PRIMARY SCHOOL, AT 7.00PM.

Present:            Graham Bodenham (Chair), Alison Blamire, Kate Jones, Maggie Darling, Gregor Henderson 

Apologies:         Anne Logan, Pat Langridge-Smith, Fiona Fraser, Helen Cox                                                             

In Attendance:   Jacqui Horsburgh (Head Teacher), Elizabeth Duncan (Clerk), Joe Slater (parent), Julie-Ann Wellstead (parent).
PTA members: Amanda Burton, Mary Caird, Barbara Cartwright, May Cook, Faith Turner, Jane Garven, Bruce Gow, Julie Martin, Jeanette Veitch.   

1.0          WELCOME and apologies: Graham Bodenham (Chair) thanked all those present for attending and extended a welcome to the PTA who were attending this joint meeting of the School Board. He introduced Mrs Jacqui Horsburgh and wished her well in taking up her new appointment as Headteacher. He acknowledged the attendance of parents at this meeting and confirmed that all parents are encouraged to attend both Board and PTA meetings. 

1.1     Approval of the minutes of the meeting of 1st June1999, having been proposed by Alison Blamire and seconded by Kate Jones. 

2.0          MATTERS ARISING

2.1           John Burton was proposed as an adjunct member of the Board by Graham Bodenham and seconded by Kate Jones. 

2.2          After School Care. The questionnaires completed by parents have now been collated and the results will be circulated along with the School Board's Annual Report, which should be available shortly. A copy of the report is being sent to the After School Club, along with an invitation to meet with the Communications Sub-Committee to discuss the findings. Alison Blamire commented that it was a good report which give detailed information and identified the needs of parents.  Funding is required to make further progress and perhaps a Lottery application might be considered.            top

3.0     HEAD TEACHERS ANNUAL REPORT                                               

Due to the recent change in the post of Headteacher, it was not possible for the Headteacher's Annual Report to be heard. This will involve Mrs Horsburgh in time consuming research and preparation. However, she hoped to be able to present her report at the next Board meeting. The Headteacher's Annual Report will cover the following headings: 

Devolved School Management                             Staffing

School Roll                                                        Building and Grounds

Attainment Levels                                              School Development Plan

After School Care                                               School Services

Partnership with Parents                                     Excursions (Both curricular and extra-curricular)              top

Mrs Horsburgh outlined the process involved in the formulation of the School Development Plan, which is already underway. 

          a) Reviewing the past 3 year plan with Staff, Board and PTA

          b) Preparation of the plan for the coming three years, which will embrace seven SOEID Performance Indicators thus: 

       1)  Curriculum

       2)  Attainment

       3)  Learning  & Teaching

       4)  Support for pupils

       5)  Ethos & Resources

       6)  Management Leadership

7)       Quality Assurance                                                                                                              top

The process is not purely theoretical as it involves the actual examination of evidence to support the findings. The plan also includes certain elements which are already stated as objectives of the School Board and PTA. Mrs Horsburgh emphasised that consultation with parents would be essential and this would be possible via both the School Board and PTA.  In addition, specific areas of the plan would involve consultation with the wider parent body. e.g. a homework questionnaire or a circular about extra-curricular activities.

Mrs Horsburgh confirmed that the Staff were already working on the plan and this would evolve over the next few months. However, consultation and review of the plan would be an ongoing process throughout the 3 year period - from now until June 2002. 

4.0                    OTHER BUSINESS                                                                                  

4.1          BOARD’S OBJECTIVES FOR 1999-2000

Sub-Committees- standing orders, objectives membership and reporting

Graham Bodenham (Chair) circulated a document itemising the Board's objectives and those of the sub-committees. As there were so many PTA members present, it was possible to update the current membership details of the various sub-committees and to recruit new members where necessary. The following list may not be exhaustive and any additions or new volunteers should be notified to either the Chair or Elizabeth Duncan (Clerk).                           top

Links:                               Helen Cox, Maggie Darling and Jane Garven

School Meals:                   Kate Jones, Jeanette Veitch and Carron Stoker 

Communications:               Belinda Dewar, Alison Blamire, Fiona Fraser and one other PTA member

Environment:                     Gregor Henderson, Julie Martin, Faith Turner & any additional volunteers

Resources:                       Graham Bodenham, Pat Langridge-Smith, Helen Cox, John Burton, Mary Caird and Elizabeth Duncan (see item 4.4) 

With regard to the Environment Sub Committee it was recognised that the main issues fell into two categories: Those which were internal to the school e.g. the pond & playground games and those which were of a more external nature involving outside agencies e.g. the need for a crossing, drainage problems which cause flooding in the playground, lack of outdoor sports facilities. It was agreed that all people involved in the PTA campaign for a school crossing, those active members of the environment group who painted the playground games and were concerned with the pond, including Faith Turner, Julie Martin and any other parent volunteers, would join forces under one Environment group. This group would then sub-divide into external environment issues and internal issues as outlined above.                                                 top

Issues to Raise with the Authorities: As a member of the Environment sub-committee, Gregor Henderson agreed to take on board the investigation and discussions regarding the drainage problems. Anyone with any prior knowledge, previous correspondence or relevant skills which might be helpful should contact Gregor as soon as possible. Mrs Horsburgh agreed to enquire about the source of the problem and to try to identify who would be responsible for the cost of rectification. Gregor also expressed an interest in researching the improvement of the playground surface and outside sports facilities. 

4.2              Schedule for Board Meetings

Graham Bodenham (Chair) circulated a schedule of the meetings for this session to which the 5th Oct was added as an additional meeting. On this date the Headteacher's Annual Report would be given along with a report from the Environment sub-committee. The Board also accepted Graham Bodenham's suggestion that the report from the Resources sub-committee should be heard on 29th Feb and the Communications sub-committee report heard on 30th May and not vice versa as shown on the schedule. 

4.3     Jane Garven advised the meeting of the proposed dates for the PTA meetings. These are as follows: 8/9/99,  13/10/99,  24/11/99,  12/01/00, 16/02/00,  22/03/00,  26/04/00, 31/05/00 with the PTA AGM to be on 30 June 2000.

It was agreed by both the Board and the PTA, that in the interest of good communication, a representative from the respective organisations would be present at each other's meetings.  Both organisations agreed this was desirable but that no one person need be the representative at all the meetings. Kate Jones agreed to attend the PTA meeting of 08/09/99.  

4.4                    Resources Sub Committee Report                                                                                      top

A brief report (attached) was circulated by Graham Bodenham, who appealed for new members to join the sub-committee. Suggestions for specific projects were sought, which the Friends of Stockbridge School could promote, by fund-raising. Various ideas were discussed as potential projects and John Burton, Mary Caird and Elizabeth Duncan agreed to join the Resources sub-committee. 

4.5                    Open Evening 16 September

All parents are encouraged to attend. As in previous years, Class teachers will hold a short meeting  for parents in each classroom to give details of the curriculum for the session and this will allow parents a chance to see some of the resources to be used and to ask questions.  In previous years the PTA and School Board had been given an opportunity to meet the new P1 parents and it was agreed that both organisations should be represented in the Hall during the open evening. Gregor Henderson offered to provide name badges and display boards to encourage as many parents as possible to introduce themselves. Jane Garven agreed that the supply of a glass of wine from the PTA would be economic on a donations basis. Julie Martin agreed to provide some photographs to attract attention to the display.

Alison Blamire agreed to update the Welcome Pack for Parents for early distribution throughout all classes. The PTA have proposed a coffee morning for P1 parents in September. 

4.6                    AGM -Attendance and format                                                                                             top

It was generally agreed that the attendance and format were good. Particular praise was expressed with regard to the performance by pupils and it was agreed to retain the same format for the coming year's AGM. 

5.0                    CORRESPONDENCE 

The following correspondence has been received since the last Board meeting: 

a)         CEC Education Committee 

1.       Minutes of meeting of Consultative Committee with parents (26 April 1999)

2.       Minutes of meeting of Consultative Committee with parents (21 June 1999) 

b)         CEC Education – Education Support Services 

1.       Notification of Seminar for potential School Board members wishing to stand for election under the Autumn timetable: 7.00-8.30pm Broughton High School, Tuesday 14 September 1999. Contact School Board Unit, Tel 0131 469 3137/8. John Burton, Gregor Henderson and Kate Jones expressed an interest.  Details will be circulated via the noticeboard as this is open to all parents and would be of particular interest to anyone wishing to be elected to the School Board.

2.       Notification of timetable for Consultative Committee with Parents Neighbourhood meetings to be held in November 1999: North West Neighbourhood, 7.00-8.30pm Broughton High School. Contact School Board Unit, Tel 0131 469 3137/8  As Chair, Graham Bodenham has agreed to attend meetings.                                                           top

3.       Education Appointment Committees: Recruitment and Selection. Summary outline new arrangements approved by the Education Committee and the Consultative Committee with Parents.

4.       Copy of Head Teacher Guideline No.8 - School Board Procedures. (circulated to Board) 

c)       CEC Education  

1.       Issue 12 of Education News (June 1999)

2.       Copy of Education Service Plan 1999/2000

3.       Issue 6, Summary Digest of items discussed at meeting of Consultative Committee with Parents (21 June 1999)

4.       Notification of The Edinburgh Conference 1999: “Quality in Education – From Vision to Reality”, EICC, 5^th November 1999; contact Fiona Harvey, Tel 0131 469 3095, FAX 0131 469 3311. Conference registration fee £135, Deadline 1^st October 1999.

5.       Issue 18 of School Board Unit newsletter (July 1999) (circulated to Board)                                      top

6.0          ANY OTHER BUSINESS.

None raised.

Meeting closed at 8.55pm 

7.0                    DATE OF NEXT MEETING:            (Tuesday 5 OCTOBER 1999 at 7:00pm, School Library)