meetings - Doubled Up

We had a full governing body meeting yesterday. It was a bit of a marathon - there were immense amounts to discuss. However, it was really well handled by the new Chair of Governors, and it was the first meeting I have been to in which everyone contributed without going off on ridiculous tangents. It was really refreshing.

The chair also made a suggestion that before each meeting we all go and look at one aspect of the school, to keep us in touch with what is going on. Particularly useful for the community governors who don't get to see the school in action as much as us parent governors.

We have four new governors this year, and all of them were keen to take things on. For the first time in a meeting, training was mentioned and eight governors said that they would attend a course on finance if one were to be organised. I don't think that it is just the fact that there are new, keen governors. I think it is the fact that expectations have been raised already. I'm not quite sure how she has done it, but one thing I can put my finger on is that instead of a response to a suggestion being; "Well, we tried that a couple of years ago and it got nowhere", the response now is "Yes. If you could organise something to put to the governors, then we can look into it.' Much more motivating all round!

Last week, a representative of Investors in People came to judge whether we had maintained the standards over the past three or four years. Somehow I had managed to get myself involved in this and was one of three governors to meet with the representative. Not sure why I was asked, considering the fact that I suffer from Foot in Mouth Syndrome - it was a high risk strategy on behalf of the Head if you ask me.

I did my homework and read through the SDP one more time the night before the interview. I also had a think about training opportunities I know have been given to all staff and to governors. I then made a pact to myself that I would let our Vice Chair handle the difficult questions and that I would speak only if directly spoken to.

I suffered my first panic attack when I arrived at the front desk shortly before 9am and there was no sign of the other two governors. The reception staff were both busy with umpteen parents handing in school uniform requests/holiday forms/forgotten lunch boxes etc, so I couldn't ask if I had got the wrong time/place, so I sat and sweated quietly for a bit. I needn't have worried - everyone but me was running a bit late - my life had turned itself on its head for a wee while.

When the interview did start, my heart started racing again when my baby (don't ask!) reached down from my lap and tried to pick up the vice chair's keys. At this point I tried to surrepticiously check my pockets for my keys, found them missing and decided that I had left them in the front door.

Much of the interview passed me by as I sat imagining burglars emptying my house and driving off with my belongings in the back of my own car. The interviewer must have thought that I was either on speed or suffering from OCD as, red in the face with panic, I couldn't sit still for checking my pockets again and again. However, apart from it being obvious that we hadn't done anything in the way of succession planning, I don't believe I said anything too blonde.

At least, nothing I said completely blew things, as I heard the next day that we had been re-awarded the IiP badge.

And my keys? Oh, they were in the baby's buggy in reception.

Below are a few questions and answers that I prepared for a governors' meeting tonight, in which we discussed the Primary Capital Programme.
How much money is available?
150 million pounds in 2008-09. Rising to 500 million for the following two years.
How long will schools get funding?
It is planned to be a 14 year programme. However, the government documents are quick to point out that this is subject to future funding decisions.
What are the aims?
To put primary schools at the heart of the community.
To ensure that buildings are fully equipped for 21st century learning.
What will the money be spent on?
Updating schools, rebuilding the worst schools, ensuring that services such as childcare and extended services are available to all.
Who will benefit most?
Schools in deprived areas. Schools with a backlog of building works. Possibly rural schools (with regard to extended services).
What about the schools who won't get extra funding?
They will continue to receive their Capital Funding as usual.
What do LAs have to do?
Our local authority is currently having a consultation period of about 10 days (Hmmm). LAs will, presumably, all put in a bid for a share of the money. The bid has to show what they will do to meet the DCSF requirements I listed in my last blog.
What do schools/governing bodies have to do?
I guess that this depends on your school/LA. I would suggest looking at your LAs bid (I found ours on the LA website) and responding if you have strong feelings for or against their plans. But you will probably have to do this quickly as, if our LA is anything to go by, the consultation period is very short. My advice would be, if you are a school in a deprived area or with excess places (particularly if these are more than 10%), or if you have temporary classrooms then look into it as a matter of urgency - you could benefit greatly.
Who can respond?
Our LA wants responses from parents, teachers, governors, service providers, primary care trusts, to name a few.