Global Schools Association
YHGSA Board Meeting Minutes
YHGSA Board Meeting
7th July 2009
1.00pm at the Friends Meeting House, York
Notes of the meeting and action points
Present:
M. Smith (Board Member) S.
Usher (Board Member)
Y. Fox (Vice-Chair) A.
Barker (Secretary)
M. Brown (Board Member) R.
Kirtley (YHGSA Co-ordinator)
G. Sanderson (Minutes)
1. Welcome and Introductions
The meeting was chaired by Yvette Fox.
2. Apologies
C. Hunt (Chair)
G. Townsend (Treasurer)
S. Tite (Board Member)
3. Matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting (27th April 2009) (not included on the agenda).
There were no items for discussion.
4. Reports from the Consultative Committee
Curriculum and CPD Group: The group had expressed concerns over the process of the bid, the timescale and the guidelines in the Terms of Reference. It was felt that there was no opportunity for discussion and they would like YHGSA to be more responsive to the needs of the group. The other items discussed by the group had related to the programme of courses and the forthcoming GSA panel.
North/South GSP Group: This group were agreement with the short notice for submitting their 2 year plan. The operational issues discussed by this group were mostly concerned with DFID’s plans to expand the GSP programme and the implications for the region.
Resources and Communications Group: The group had reported on preparations for the summer dissemination conference.
The Board felt that the Groups should be more aware of the expectations from DFID and also that the timescale had been acceptable for the groups. It was however much shorter for the LA Partnership bids. RK explained that the main reason was that some DEC/LA partnerships needed assurances that their bid was acceptable in order to initiate recruitment of Lead Professionals (or similar). See also Item 6.
However the Board decided that the bids for the ‘Sustainability fund’ should be more transparent with a meeting for discussion.
There were no further issues from the Groups with all courses and conferences running.
5. Operational Issues
RK made the Board aware that funds had not yet been received from DFID both for the period April to June and for the advance for July to September. As a result of this, the quarterly invoices from the University of Hull to cover the YHGSA co-ordination costs were unable to be raised or paid. RK is to meet with DFID on 16 July and will raise this issue. The Board was extremely concerned and gave SU authority to contact DFID while RK is away over summer should the need arise.
RK confirmed that (in respect of the Action Plan for FY 2009 -2010) the DFID requirements had been addressed. These had been discussed at the Board meeting of 27th April.
RK also reported that DFID is clearly looking for the YHGSA (and the other regions/countries) to give greater attention to evaluation. It was decided that an agenda item for the next meeting should be to look closely at the evaluative comments coming from the LA reports and (where appropriate) from the Working Group reports.
6. Report from the Working Group and LA Partnership Adjudication Panel.
The small group drawn from the Panel had looked at three Working Group
applications and four Local Authority partnership applications on June 3rd.
This group had made recommendations for all of the Working Group applications
and all the LA Partnership applications with the exception of the one submitted
by DEC(SY). In order to clarify one Working Group’s application RK
was asked to meet with the group leader.
7. YHGSA Sustainability Fund: rationale, eligibility, application
and reporting.
It had been decided the (school year) underspend from the Working Groups
and unallocated money in the next two year period could be used as a “Sustainability
Fund”.
A number of possible projects were discussed in detail and it was decided
that the idea needs expanding. It was suggested that a subgroup should
produce a paper outlining the various themes and requesting responses to
each. The four themes that were decided upon were:
• Curriculum changes (KS3)
•
A Review of the GSA
•
Development Awareness Projects (dissemination and spin-offs)
•
Initial Teacher
Education
The Board Proposes that the above activities are taken forward over the next two years, RK will produce a paper for the Consultative Committee and the Board and await response.
8. Annual Report to DFID
RK has produced a framework for both the Working Groups and Local Authority Partnerships to use in order to construct their individual reports. RK will use this information plus additional material to write the Evaluation Report for DFID, due on 11th September. This will be completed for the next meeting.
9. Approval of new YHGSA members by the Board
There were no new members for approval.
10. AoB
There were no items for discussion.
Date, time and place of Board meetings to the next AGM:
(Wed 23rd September 10.00 – 2.30: Consultation meeting re the DFID Review)
Tuesday 6th October 2009 10.00: Board meeting
At the Friends Meeting House, York
