1

Minutes of last meeting

These were accepted as a true record.

2

Matters arising

There were no matters arising outside of agenda items.

3

BSF Updates (PG)

IntegratED now appointed as the preferred bidder.  At present completing the final detail of the contract.  Aiming to complete the design and specification issues for Phase 2 for the end of April.  This will entail a lot of hard work for Heads Designate around accommodation schedules and option appraisals.

It should now be possible to issue a firmer timeline.

Action – PC and RT to liaise with MJC and Chris Pritchard from the BSF team.

SG raised the concern of ensuring sufficient support for Heads Designate from the BSF team given that the Heads still have existing schools to run. PG/MC gave reassurance that things will be carefully monitored and added that the contractor and Glynne Freeth should pick up some of the work.

PG/MC thanked those who were concerned with the excellent communication of the appointment of the preferred bidder last week.  RT added that there had been interest in the announcement from some of the technical magazines but there was nothing in the TES.  Cllr Dale Smith was to be interviewed on Bradford Community Radio later that day.

4

Deaf Review/Implementation (PC for CH)

• Currently working on the management and governance arrangements involving managers from the current deaf provisions.
• The prescribed information has yet to be published.  PG – should be in a position to publish the notices after Easter.
• PG – Hanson School is now part of Phase 2, consequently there is an urgent need to factor in the design for deaf provision.  There will be a secondment opportunity to engage with this around half term.
• Still need to secure a primary school as host for DSP provision in the North of the District.

5

Sub-group Updates

Revenue/Finance – PG – All revenue requirements will be submitted to the Finance Strategy Group, as priority, in Feb/March.  Action: DW/RS to identify every possible cost through to 2008.  CD enquired about pupil transition costs.  Action: CD plus Trust member to attend a Pupil Transition Sub-group meeting.

Health – The group met in early January and the work is going well and on target.

Early Years – MM – Currently working on the change of configuration from Resourced Nurseries to Children’s Centres.  Notices were recently published for Thackley, Miriam Lord and Eastwood.  There are still issues around Barkerend.  CH/MM meeting with Kal Nawaz concerning future development in the Barkerend area/Delius site.

Communications – RT –

• A very useful second meeting has taken place on 18 January. Further meetings to be scheduled as and when necessary – probably very shortly.
• CH has suggested that relevant communications should be forwarded to other interested parties.  Action: CH to draw up a suggested list of parties.
• DW reported that 6 responses, thus far, had been received to an invitation to parents to join the Parents Forum/Forum Steering Group.  There is a need to draw up meetings with networks which already exist.
• Charlie Tebbutt, Beckfoot School has suggested a visit to a school in East Sussex, as a good example of a co-located school.  RT is willing to co-ordinate a visit for anyone genuinely interested although there may be travel difficulties due to the distance from Bradford.   RT will also pursue the St Helens visit.
• Concerning the future of the group, RT to meet with DW and PC to consider innovative ideas such as the production of a comprehensive guide to Reorganisation, possibly sponsored by the preferred bidder and with visual information from Partnerships for Schools.

HR – DW for DaW

Progress was continuing with the skills audit for special school staff.  Heads Designate at present looking at staff assimilation although there is still some way to go.  He added that there are strong union lines held concerning the process which are not endorsed by many school staff members.

Regular meetings held with Heads Designates and at present working towards the assimilation of Deputy Heads with a target date of 31 March for the completion of staffing structures for the six new special schools.

John Lambert raised concerns about the lack of equal opportunities created by the ring fencing around the two areas of Keighley and Bradford imposed by the trades unions’ belief that proximity to their members’ current workplace was a fundamental principle in the assimilation process.  DW also pointed out that, with regard to the issue of Deputy Heads assimilation, where there were issues of fairness about the numbers of posts that were available to staff at first preference, the trade unions had adopted a principle that there should be one assimilation process that should apply to all staff equally.

MC asserted that, in the interests of fairness, all geographical considerations should be removed so that there was equal access to all jobs, and added that this is unlikely to cause any difficulties because an earlier indicative survey suggested a good match between staff’s wishes for location and the probable available posts.  There was general agreement to this but SG added that nothing should be allowed to delay the timescale for assimilation as this might have detrimental impact on the level of staff morale and create retention problems.

Vision and Leadership – DW – The group will meet on 27 January and, as a sub-group of the Head Designate group, will report back to them on the progress made with school vision and staffing structures.  It is intended to bring in wider partners to consider the co-location vision on a site-by-site basis.

Training – PC for CH - CH and DW meeting with Bradford College on 25 January to discuss their role in helping manage the roll out of Team Teach training.  The next meeting of the full training support group is on 7 March and will include Heads Designate. 

DW stated that bidding will be made for training money again and also bidding for £42,000 for action learning in a School Leadership Development Programme.  This is breaking new ground as Bradford is the only Authority of its size involved.  BF suggested that this should be capitalized upon to help raise the profile of the Authority. 

MC confirmed that funding for training should be held by the Heads Designate since this has become available through the Reorganisation programme.

There is a possibility of another meeting for all staff similar to last summer’s Valley Parade gathering if a common training day can be agreed upon for 20 October.  TP suggested a neutral venue.

Pupil Transition/Transport – PC for CH – Glenn Allgood, Education Bradford to reconvene the group and to include Heads Designates.

DW – the major issue continues to be year 6/7 and the option of remaining in the primary school for an extra year.  It is important that all parental wishes are taken into account and that the issue is treated on a case by case basis.  SG added that parents of pupils in other year groups are also concerned about the placement of their children and that parents will benefit from the publication of a firm timeline.  DW stated that a Roadshow for parents could also help.

6

AOB

There was no other business.

7

Date and time of next meeting

The next meeting will be on Friday, 3 February at 10.30 am at Future House.