Global Schools Association
YHGSA Board Meeting Minutes
Tuesday February 3rd 2009
1.00pm at the Friends Meeting House, York
Notes of the meeting and action points
Present:
Board Members:
Charlotte Hunt - Chair
Sylvia Usher
Yvette Fox
Gavin Townsend
Anne Barker - minutes
Ray Kirtley (YHGSA Co-ordinator)
1. Welcome and Introductions
The meeting was chaired by Charlotte Hunt who welcomed those present including Sylvia Usher after her illness
2. Apologies
Margot Brown
Mike Smith
Sue Tite
Gill Sanderson
3. Matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting 18th November 2008
The minutes had been approved prior to the meeting.
Proposed AB; seconded CH – accepted as a true record.
No matters arising not covered by agenda.
4. Reports from Consultative Committee. (CH; YF; RK attended.)
Resources and Communications:
Newsletter to be circulated by February half term.
WEBSITE :- to be maintained by worker from NW (with DEC experience) until July. In this period any info to be uploaded needs to be very specific as worker does not have educational background.
New contract needs to reflect need for appropriate background for webmaster. Website could possibly be hosted by, but not responsibility of, one of DECs. Would be linked contractually to the lead organisation of the Working Group.
Evaluation of website to take place.
Helen – DECSY – to update Global Artists to include wide range of artists available. Please can colleagues email Helen recommendations so more names can be added. RK liaising with Creative Partnership initiative to investigate links across curriculum. To report back at next meeting.
RK reported that YHGSA is creating a new database of all who had contact with the organisation: members, course attendees, GSA schools etc. This can be used for marketing and easier communication.
ESD boxes are to be updated but would not include index cards reflecting contents – these would be displayed on website in PDF format. As there is no budget to update resources Board proposed that use of boxes needs to be evaluated and report made to Board who will reassess and discuss if it is necessary to assign financial support in next ToR.
Proposed that slight underspend could be used to produce video clips of good practice within LA’s to celebrate good practice within YHGSA Global Dimension Schools.
LA Dissemination Conference – June 29th or July 9th 2009 – venue – Sheffield / York – to be confirmed. Representatives from LA’s and schools – RK to liaise regarding Primary/ secondary focus as majority of schools supported through our LA initiative are from primary sector.
Curriculum and CPD:
Members of group expressed concern that too much time at last group meeting was given to discussion taking place between Leeds DEC and Oxfam/RISC re compilation of documentation for secondary schools with SEF links to Global School benchmarks. Board agreed that:-
Other bodies could have access to YHGSA documentation as an example of good practice but that YHGSA GSA benchmarks should NOT be adapted for any purpose,
Priority of this group should be to support schools who are working towards GSA. Noted 29 new registrations which should be main priority of support from Curriculum/CPD.
Board agreed that there is no need for schools to be asked to pay for support of GSA as there is adequate funding to do this at the moment and for the next contractual period.
Noted 16 courses approved and budgeted for up to July 2009
North South Linking:
4 Linking Networks established: - York; East Riding; South Yorks. Plus possibly Osset – Wakefield - initially part of British Council regional programme.
Sometimes difficult to get schools to attend meetings and linking networks as no supply cover available consequently C. Dell deals directly with some individual schools to give support and advice.
RK – will attempt to involve British Council in developing links between their new programme, Connecting Classrooms, YHGSA and DECs.
Proposed Conference – June 17th – North South Linking demonstrating links with GSA.
5. Funding Update
RK circulated budget sheets showing remaining Balances:-
Resources and Communications:- £24 238
Curriculum and CPD:- £19 562
North South Linking:- £23 668
Discussion took place about redistribution of any underspend of budgets and the possibility that some of this money could used to establish a sustainability budget.
Board recommended-
RK to contact those who had attended recent Curriculum/CPD meeting and request that there is follow up of all schools who have registered an interest in GSA and an offer of support to enable these schools to achieve success. This does not exclude schools which have already achieved Level 1 – they should be helped to progress onto Level 2.
RK to contact all Working Groups to update request predictions for final balances in July.
6. Submissions to DFID
CH thanked RK on behalf of the Board for hard work in preparing DFID submission for 2009/10. Some minor changes were suggested these are to be actioned by RK before plan submitted in February.
RK has submitted application to DFID for additional funding to enable appointment of GSA ambassadors who would work with local schools to demonstrate good practice and encourage more schools to become involved with GSA and work towards achieving the award. If approved this training and contract will be open for applications from teachers who have co-ordinated their school's submission for the Award.
RK (as part of the national EES network) also responsible for producing an outline application to DFID for a national Peer Mentoring and Evaluation scheme.
7. Transition to new 2 Year contracts.
Discussion took place re timetable for drawing up of new contracts, which need to address sustainability. It is also important to ensure this time that there is a contractual relationship with all partners in the group.
To enable working groups to consider and review contracts it was agreed that RK would draw up outline terms of reference for each Working Group which could be presented and discussed by them on the morning of April 27th and comments could then be brought to the full Board meeting in the afternoon. Groups would have further opportunity for discussion at their meetings.
RK outlined meeting to take place re. new contracts with LA s – April 23rd in York, when 4 DECs would be asked to attend with their prospective partners. RK to contact and discuss situation with Craven as to area to be covered. The four existing projects have used different approaches i.e. – AST/ Lead Professional/ Consultancy / adviser time.
Members of Board to attend: -
Mike Smith, Sylvia Usher, Charlotte Hunt ( A. Barker if CH unable to attend.)
8. UNICEF RRC
CH outlined her involvement with UNICEF Rights Respecting School Award and how this impacted on GSA. And consequently the work of the DECs in the region. Board agreed that CH to organise a half day conference in York in early May to which DEC representatives would be invited. CH to action and report back.
9. New YHGSA members.
In Gill’s absence new members will be sent to CH by post for formal approval.
10. A.O.B.
SU proposed that Chris Bulman North Lincs LA, now on the Consultative Committee – should be invited to join the Board – Agreed.
Sustainability CH enquired re Sustainability report. It was agreed that this should be an agenda item at the April meeting when Board will consider the report and reassess the situation studying different models, considering membership of Sustainability Group and the possibility of setting up a sustainability budget.
10. Date, time and place of Board meetings
Mon 27th April 2009 1.00pm
Tues 7th July 2009 1.00pm
Wed 23rd September 2009 1.00pm
The above meetings all take place at the Friends Meeting House, York.
All will be preceded by Consultative Committee meetings starting at 10.00.
