Rushmoor Schools Plus (RSP) Steering Group
Notes of the meeting at the Blenheim Building – 29th March 2012
Jane Armstrong (JA)
Lisa Hogg (LH)
Richard Lane (RL)
Jo Riglar (JR)
Marilyn Penman (MP)
Fiona Hodgson (FH)
Tony McGovern (TM)
Paul Baker (PB)
Debbie Wall (DW)
Sue Hathaway (SH)
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Farnborough Grange Infant School and LCP Chair
Wavell School
Autodesk Ltd.
St. Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School
Manor Infant School (to item 6)
St. Mark’s CE Primary School
Rushmoor Schools Plus
Connaught School
Rushmoor Borough Council
Rushmoor Voluntary Services
1. Welcome and apologies
FH chaired the meeting. Apologies were received from Mark Sammes (MS), Liz Beckwith (LB) of
the Linden Education Centre, Don Cook (DC) from Cove School, Matt Smith (MSm) from First
Wessex, Richard Mann, and Corinne Martinez (CM) from Cove Junior School. TM took notes for
the meeting.
2. Notes from the last meeting and matters arising
These were agreed as accurate. Matters arising would all be dealt with as part of the agenda.
3. Funding update
i) Balance
MS reported that the current balance held by Manor Junior is £28,397. Additional funds are also
being held but these relate to The Paul Hamlyn Foundation grant for The PIER.
ii) Subscriptions update
The only outstanding contribution is Guillemont.
4. Community Interest Company (CIC) – Mission
TM circulated a summary working paper covering RSP’s strategic development, 2012-15. He has
been working on this with MSm. The mission is a revised version of previous work, intended to be
a simple flow through to the action plan so that a clear direction for RSP is agreed, with all actions
focused to outcomes that were measurable. The strategic objectives have been simplified, but
possibly too much.
The draft Terms of Reference (ToR) was also circulated. It has been drafted to make the
distinction between the Directors, who have ultimate responsibility for the management of the
company, and the Members Group who advise and steer the decisions to be made by the
Directors. RL suggested that a distinction be made between Members who attend Members Group
meetings and those who are associated to RSP via their annual subscription. This was agreed,
except that TM felt it important to retain the openness of this group, and therefore that associates
were welcome at any Members Group meetings and have voting rights at those meetings. It was
agreed that 5 Members were needed for a Members Group meeting to be quorate, and 10
Members for issues requiring a vote, (although this could happen with notice and in absence). JR
suggested that the ToR make note of working group sub-committees – this was agreed.
TM will circulate changes to the draft Mission statements and ToR, and requested that any
comments come back to him by the end of April.
5. Strategic Action Plan
TM circulated a summary of the strategic action plan, containing the two current strategic
objectives, the sub-objectives for each, and the actions that ensure the objective is achieved. The
full Action Plan will describe the Lead, costs, timescale, outcomes and measurement, plus a traffic
light system. An action plan summary, alongside the Mission statement, will be produced and
launched at the celebration on 31st May. The plan will form the base for future Members Group
meetings. RL suggested that an introduction including current data and context would be useful –
this would be included with the finished document. RL also suggested that the strategic objectives
feature measurable headline targets that the actions would contribute towards. TM agreed that
performance data needed to be used more proactively to ensure that the RSP’s effectiveness is
clear to see.
TM mentioned actions not currently included in the plan, including Speech & language therapy,
future ELSA provision, and Counselling, which required more consultation and costing.
FH complimented TM and MSm on the work done so far, and TM confirmed that the work would
be shared in greater detail as it is developed, with suggestions for improvement welcome from
Members.
6. Project Updates
i) The PIER / Emotional Literacy
The PIER
MS, FH, LB, Jen Hill (PIER teacher) and Anna Nolan (HEPS) had met earlier this week. Lots of
positive successes were reported, and some exit programmes in place. We are awaiting statistical
analysis data from HEPS service. Spaces are still available for now and for next year, and schools
should be considering potential pupils in Year R / Year 4 for next year.
MS has chased up the works to be undertaken to secure the garden area. A new LSA, Emma
Saunders, has been employed, but requires ELSA training. LB is looking into Team teach training
for all of the staff, and she will oversee the introduction of performance management procedures.
Emotional Literacy Support
There was a discussion about the need either to subsidise supervision groups for existing ELSAs
trained through the RSP funding, or to fund training to provide additional ELSAs in schools, as a
number of those originally trained have now left their schools. It was agreed that the latter
proposal was higher priority, and that the supervision of existing ELSAs remains a school issue.
MS reported in absence that the EP Service is requesting the need to offer further Boxall training,
particularly to ELSAs. The training will be free to schools, funded by our agreement with them. MS
suggested that schools individually determine the most appropriate individuals to attend the
training, rather than just target to ELSAs.
ii) Motivating our Middle Years
TM reported that the 6th Form College has kindly offered to host this year’s event, and free of
charge, on 12th and 13th July. He is still waiting to hear from three primary schools about their
involvement, so about 700-800 pupils were so far confirmed. Unfortunately Wavell are unable to
attend, but Connaught will be sending pupils for the first time.
iii) Fundays
Planning meetings for the three events are being coordinated by Heather. There was a recent
issue with the Aldershot group because of low numbers able to attend planning meetings, but the
event is still taking place. There has been some success with funding from a Rushmoor
Community grant, and TM is pursuing support from the Military Covenant funding Rushmoor BC
has received for community cohesion events.
iv) Celebration
TM and MS have been planning for the Celebration evening on Thursday 31 st May at the Holiday
Inn, Farnborough. About 45 acceptances have been received so far, and MSm, RL, Jen Hill and
Andrew Lloyd have agreed to make presentations.
v) Parent Support Advisers
There was no new information, except that the PSAs have recently met with First Wessex HA to
consider ways they can work together, and this meeting also included a discussion about future
sustainability. JR also reported that Linda Graham had attended a recent governors meeting to
talk about her work and this had been received very positively.
vi) Business links
RL reported on the following activities:
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A careers fair at Samuel Cody School, which also involved Cove and Linden pupils.
Careers day presentations at St. Mark’s and Linden, these had gone very well.
Cove, Wavell, Fernhill and Linden have signed up for the robotics programme, and
Connaught is likely to come on board.
An all girl Cove team attended the O2 Big Bang robotics challenge in Birmingham in March
and was shortlisted for an award. This was covered by the Farnborough News.
RL is supporting two work experience students, one from the Linden.
RL’s new job from March focuses on Autodesk’s reach to primary and secondary education.
He thanked representatives for their input while he researched the new post.
Autodesk is likely to have 10-15 iPads available for school loan shortly.
RL queried progress on The PIER’s signage, sponsored by Autodesk. LH suggested FH talk to
Martyn Baxter at Wavell as signage around the site is about to be updated.
vii) Collaborative leadership
RL reported that he is still to confirm dates with his colleague Ian Mitchell for the series of
workshops for up to 12 potential middle leaders. RL did attend a Patch headteachers meeting in
February and there had been a positive reaction to the offer of training. MP confirmed that she
already has a list of 7-8 candidates.
MP has begun developing other parts of the collaborative leadership project, particularly the
support of individual leaders, with success. There had also been a meeting with Tracey Clough at
Flight Safety International and we await a response to that.
viii) Funding opportunities
An application to the MOD Schools Support Fund application went in last week for Partnership
Manager and PSA sustainability funding. We should have a result for that in late April. A Big
Lottery (Reaching Communities) meeting has taken place. The group agreed that the focus be a
management / PSA sustainability bid. TM will now meet with PSA line managers and MS to
ensure the bid is appropriate and covers all of Rushmoor.
ix) Children’s Centres
It was confirmed that Action for Children has won the contract to manage Rushmoor’s children’s
centres. FH suggested they be invited to attend a future RSP meeting and talk about their plans
for Rushmoor.
Action: TM
7. Local Children’s Partnership (LCP) Update
DW reported that, on Rushmoor’s behalf, she is facilitating an update of the LCP Plan for
Rushmoor, initially tying in separate agency plans with the six County priority objectives we are
familiar with.
TM had produced a report following a Schools’ Support Services audit of Rushmoor and Hart
schools. One recommendation he will action is a small file of information for schools detailing the
support services available to schools and their contact information.
JA reported that a Youth consultation has been taking place, coordinated by June Bing of HCC
with support from DW and TM among others. They have visited Connaught, Fernhill, 6FC, plus
Hart schools, across Years 7-10, with Wavell to be visited early next term. Using keypads, the
consultation asks about issues for young people and how they access information. Survey results
will go to individual schools, with Rushmoor combined results also being produced. TM reported
two striking early impressions – the impact of family money issues being felt differently in different
schools, and the power of the internet, with 30% of pupils reporting that they access the internet
for 5 or more hours every day. This led to a discussion about training for teachers about the use
of technology in the classroom. LH suggested that Carol Giblen at Wavell would be a potential
source for this.
8. Partner contributions
PB reported a noticeable dip in the career aspirations of their Year 10 pupils, linked to attitudes
around the qualifications needed for entry into careers such as learning support. There was
discussion about the heightened need for pupils to have access to businesses to understand the
range of careers accessible.
JR reported from a peer challenge she had attended, the strength of feeling about the delay in
accessing speech and language therapy in schools.
TM made an offer to secondary schools thinking about providing a government-supported
Summer school for transition work. TM suggested that schools might be able to buy-in to the
Megarider bus pass scheme for Year 6 children attending their Summer school.
9. Date of next meeting
Wednesday 11th July at 9.30am, at the Blenheim Building. It is Farnborough Air Show but this
shouldn’t affect transport around the town.