MINUTES
HMIE Management Board
Thursday 3 June 2010 at 2pm
Boardroom, Denholm House, Livingston
Present:
Bill Maxwell, HMIE (WSM)
Kenneth Muir, HMIE (KBM)
Gill Robinson, HMIE (GNR)
Neil McKechnie, HMIE (NMM)
Stuart Robinson, HMIE (SAR)
Frank Crawford (FC1)
Chris McIlroy (CM1)
Laura Burman, HMIE (LB)
Sir Andrew Cubie (AC)
Gary Kildare (GK)
Shirley Young (SY)
Linsey Wilson (LW)
Apologies for absence:
Alastair Delaney, HMIE
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Minutes of meeting held on 17 March 2010
1.1
Two changes were made to the minutes of the previous meeting. On
page 1 item 2, ‘Boards agenda’ should be read as ‘Board’s agenda’,
and on page 2 item 4, the last sentence should be amended from
‘regulations do’ to ‘regulations does’.
2.0
Matters arising/action log
2.1
The paper copy of the IRSG policy, which had been approved at the
last Board meeting, was provided to the non-executives. It was agreed
that WSM will hold a further discussion with Leslie Evans regarding her
attendance at Management Board meetings, possibly attending only
one meeting per year.
2.2
New Scrutiny Project
NMM updated the Board on the progress of the new scrutiny project.
The Change Delivery group has identified a range of strategic risks
along with mitigating actions which can be taken. Strategic risks relate
to HR, financial and operational matters.
3.0
Update on HMIE ‘Shaping Up’ Review
3.1
WSM updated the Board on the key issues that have arisen out of the
‘Shaping Up’ review. The sessions have been very structured initially
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focusing on the mission and purpose of HMIE. An ‘extraordinary’
Management Board meeting has been arranged for 2 September 2010
where the Board will receive a full account of progress made. GK
noted that the staff survey results are strong and that a concentrated
effort should be made to remind staff of these strengths and not simply
focus on the weaknesses or areas for improvement. GK noted that the
current list of ‘issues’ should be condensed, focusing only on the key
issues for the organisation.
4.0
Schools (Consultations) Issues
4.1
GNR provided a summary to the Board on the process of Schools
(Consultations) activities. District Inspectors are working actively with
authorities to identify where consultations are going to take place. A
precise tally of the time spent on this activity is being monitored to alert
Scottish Government in case more resources are required. GNR noted
that by October there will be sufficient information to analyse and raise
any potential concerns with policy colleagues. Training will take place
for all colleagues involved in this activity on 28 June.
Action: GNR to provide the Board with an update report on
Schools (Consultations) for the next meeting on
29 September 2010.
5.0
School Inspection Framework
5.1
KBM updated the Board on the ongoing review of the School
Inspection Framework model. The Project Board and Project Team
have been established. The first meeting of the Project Team and
External Reference Group has already taken place, with a meeting of
the Project Board scheduled for later today. The second stage will be
to prepare a revised inspection framework; this will be piloted from April
2011 and implemented from August 2011 onwards. WSM noted that it
would be important to have an engagement strategy in place for taking
the Review forward.
6.0
HMIE Annual Report and Accounts/Report from Audit and Risk
Committee
6.1
Audit Scotland provided unqualified assurance of the Annual Accounts
and no issues have been brought to the Chair’s attention. Although the
Internal Audit report was produced late for the Committee, ‘substantial
assurance’ was given to both areas covered by the programme. A
work plan has already been put in place for 2011-12. The Board
formally approved the Annual Report and Accounts 2009-10.
Action: AC to be provided with a full copy of the report.
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7.0
Support for Curriculum for Excellence
7.1
GNR updated the Board on the progress made by HMIE in supporting
Curriculum for Excellence implementation. District Inspectors have
engaged with all education authorities to determine what kind of
engagement would provide the most value for them. A Project Board
and Team have been established, which includes two directors of
education and partner representation from LTS.
Action: Corporate Risks to include an overarching HMIE support
for Curriculum for Excellence risk.
8.0
Role of HMIE Management Board
8.1
SAR updated the Board on the Management Board terms of reference
paper. Board members noted that the paper was a useful start.
Action: Board to send comments on the paper directly to SAR.
9.0
HMIE annual reports to SFC
9.1
KBM provided the Board with an update on HMIE’s two annual reports
to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). HMIE are expected to prepare
reports annually to the SFC on our activities in the sector.
Management Board noted that the reports represented a significant
range of work undertaken by HMIE. GK commented that it would be
useful to provide a 15 minute ‘spotlight’ on other areas of HMIE’s work
at each MB meeting.
10.0
Any other business
10.1
No other business was discussed.
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