Global Schools Association
YHGSA Board Meeting Minutes
Wednesday July 9th 2008
1.00pm at the Friends Meeting House, York
Notes of the meeting and action points
Present:
Margot Brown (Vice Chair)
Yvette Fox (Board Member)
Charlotte Hunt (Board Member)
Ray Kirtley (Coordinator)
Anne Barker (Secretary)
Mike Smith (Board Member)
Bob Huey (Treasurer)
Apologies:
Sylvia Usher (Chair).
Alan Holmes (Board Member)
Gavin Townsend (Board Member)
1. Welcome and Introductions.
In The absence of SU, Margot Brown, Vice Chair, chaired the meeting.
Noted – resignation of Alan Holmes from Board – Consultative
Committee chaired by Yvette Fox.
2. Matters arising from minutes last meeting.
• Item 3 – CH asked that her apologies be noted for Consultative
meeting.
MS to attend next meeting – September 23rd.
• Item 6 – Noted operational issues have been settled.
• Item 7 – Coordinators contract completed.
BH drew attention to fact that new treasurer would need to be elected
at AGM.
Also noted that SU covering as line manager for RK in interim. Successor
needs to support RK re finance and sustainability as his role in YHGSA
is only a part time post and extremely time consuming.
• Noted venue for Conference November 7th – Bar Convent York.
3. Feed Back from Meeting with DFID / EES
RK attended meeting with DIFD – London 24/6/08. Informed that offices
to be moved from East Killbride to Communications Division in London,
with new contacts appointed by March 2009. Raised issues re change of
vision from one of delivery to one of influence. RK reported that discussion
had taken place at EES meeting re change of agenda by DFID – no
real answers. CH asked if representation could be made to DFID to clarify
this point. Query role of Harm-Jan Fricke (EES Adviser); BH queried as
YHGSA 2 years into 5 year plan, would support be continued?
Proposed that contact be made with Dianne Dalton about relocation and
sustainability. Query effect changes will have on delivery of and will
funding still be guaranteed. How do changes of direction impact on plans
already in place?
Agreed: - email to be sent ASAP – to be actioned by SU/ MB.
RK also reported on EES Coordinators Meeting (30/06/08) these meetings
are more cohesive and profitable than those convened by DFID. Discussion
had taken place re relocation of DFID and impact on plans for future.
4. Report from Consultative Committee.
Noted – Meeting chaired by Yvette Fox.
• YHGSA Sustainability – Group considered questionnaire drawn
up by Bob Hirst – some amendments: - re LA / types of school/curriculum
responsibilities. Otherwise accepted.
• Noted conference planning in place – Theme – Active
Citizenship.
• Reports from working groups:-
Resources: - new website up and running- good feed back.
CPD Group:- Noted under spend – suggestion that courses need to
be repeated in other regions e.g. – Conflict Resolution –
excellent feedback could be repeated in other areas where DEC does not
have capacity to offer courses. Hull DEC prepared to invite representatives
from other regions to present courses in area.
Query CH/YF what can count as CPD spending e.g. if courses on offer include
students in workshops etc.
CH – UNICEF quoted model of working in cluster groups which can
then undertake work in schools and then report back to cluster.
Recommendation from Board: - CPD group need to look at strategy for spending
which ensures good geographical coverage of courses.
Proposed :- panel who meet to discuss courses need to carefully consider
geographical spread and DECs to investigate expertise available throughout
YHGSA region and ensure even distribution of courses. DECs to be circulated
to ask if they would like other available courses run in their area and
the opportunity to enhance funding if necessary. Investigate more twilight
and half day courses.
Global School Award:- No list available for schools beginning award in
next 6 months. Noted pressure of work in schools such that they often
find it difficult to achieve levels.
Recommendation from Board: - Suggest that the Award is promoted by AST’s
and leading teachers.
Develop network of support for schools that are doing award at range of
levels.
Continue to develop portfolio of good practice.
To look into links between ISA/ Right Respecting Schools and Global Schools
Award and therefore reduce workload in schools.
North South Linking :- Conference confirmed October 14th.
Recommendation from Board: - Networks of support like that established
in York to be established in other areas
Noted: - interim reports – Working groups and LAs - due to RK by
July 15th.
5. Sustainability Group.
RK reported on meeting with MB/SU/Kae Sinclair with Bob Hirst.
Drafted questionnaire and timetable drawn up.
11/6/08 Meeting with YHGSA Sustainability Group BH,YH
By9/7 Agree brief and arrange contract BH,YH
Develop methodology and draft questionnaire (for Board mtg) BH
Early July Trial and revise questionnaire YH,BH
Late Aug Mail out questionnaires YH
September Interviews with 2 LAs BH
September Telephone interviews with 5 DECs BH
Late Sept Analyse questionnaires from members BH
23/9 Brief progress report sent to Board meeting BH
Sept/October Analyse interview scripts and prepare report BH
Mid-October Meeting with YHGSA Sustainability Group to discuss report
BH,YH
7/11 Presentation to AGM BH
BH to collect and collate information from stakeholders using range of
methodology to include face to face interviews; questionnaires etc Groups
to include:- YHGSA members; AST; LA; lead professionals; Conference and
course attendees. The Board asked if some LAs (other than those involved
in the partnership programme) could also be included. RK agreed to ask
Bob Hirst.
Information to be collect in early September and report to be made to
AGM November 7th.
Proposed appointment of consultant be appointed to further develop ideas
for sustainability after 2012 when report had been completed by Bob Hirst.
6. Operational Issues.
Short Tenders: -
• Noted thanks to RK/SU for doing this at short notice.
• Global Schools Promotion: - Taken up by 3 potential but only one
received.
• Case Studies: - to produce leaflet linked to Global Dimension
in Action – 1 bid received.
• School Linking Network – none received.
• YHGSA Display boards: - Hull DEC to produce; needs discussion
between DECs as to their individual needs. To include core material and
other material and case studies relevant to individual DECs.
Proposed new deadline for the Display Boards:- to be completed for AGM
and to be used at courses and meetings around the area.
Noted that there had been complaints that deadlines were too short.
RK to monitor progress.
Financial Matters
RK informed board of need for new Budget sheets as result of directive
from DIFD.
New balance sheets circulated – Board expressed their thanks for
all hard work undertaken by Gill Sanderson in updating budget sheets.
Agreed new sheets give clear record of spending for each working group.
Noted: - new treasurer needs understanding of new system to oversee budget
effectively.
Noted :- Any under spends from previous contractual period now allocated.
Noted :-
• Resources/communications – budget on target.
• CPD and North South Linking both show running under spends (although
within the FY) and the Board expressed their concern of the effect of
this on reporting outputs and outcomes to DFID for 2007/2008.
Proposed that Working Groups look at budgets and re- profile activities
for next year in order to address the under spends – these to be
completed and returned to RK by September 21st in order to report to next
Board Meeting.
Discussion took place re ideas and suggestions for new outputs which still
fit in with DFID EES aims and objectives:-
• See Report from Consultative Committee.
• Updating of resource boxes by DECs and duplication of boxes allowing
greater access.
• North South link networks allowing interchange of ideas across
the area and support for sustaining links.
• Consider Doorway Themes used in Schools by ESD.
RK – reported that LA support was making good progress and he had
made monitoring visits to DECSY and Leeds. York 10/7/08. Problems setting
up meeting with North Lincs as consultant temporarily out of the country.
7. Membership
No new membership applications had been received during this period.
Discussion took place re how membership could be increased. ASTs to be
asked to help develop membership as part of their work in schools. Any
new members wishing to join at conference to be encouraged to do so on
the day.
8. A.O.B.
• CB expressed thanks to Bob Huey for all his hard work over the
years for YHGSA and wished him every success in the future. The Board
made presentation to Bob in recognition of his work for the Board. In
reply BH said that he had enjoyed his time with YHGSA and hoped to maintain
contact with the group after his move to the south.
• Noted Coordinator Peer Mentoring to be included as agenda item
at next meeting.
• Noted that CH and SU were to stand down from board because of
three year rule noted. Both were free to stand for re election. Any problems
re line management for RK to be resolved at AGM.
• Noted - AB apologies for next meeting.
9. Date, Time and Place of next Board meeting
September 23rd 2008 – 1.00pm Friends Meeting House York
Meeting closed 4.00pm.
Anne Barker (Secretary)
