Issue - meetings

·        Any feedback from schools following the last STB meeting

·        Appointment of a Choice and Diversity Champion

The board were advised that the next stage of activities planned for Choice Diversity and Fair Access was the appointment of a Champion. This was not critical in terms of timescales but it was expected to be at an advance stage by the Summer term. The board were advised that discussion on CD&FA at governing boards may or may not take up a full meeting .The board noted that the Council was willing to provide support to governing boards when discussing this issue and could provide persons to facilitate dialogue.  Noted that the BSF team could either attend any special meetings organised on this issue or attend arranged governing board meetings. To note that there was yet a response to be received to the Council’s submission for Schools For Change 2.

The board sought clarification on whether discussion on this significant issue of CD &FA would be held in the private or public part of a governing body meeting. The board discussed the principals of transparency, public knowledge of the balance of information considered by the governing body when reaching a view, responsibility for public monies and being open on a subject which had local public interest.  The board recognised that there cannot be an imposition of a view on this subject .It was also prudent to take into consideration that there were legal requirements followed when deciding what should be considered in an open and private part of a governing body meeting. The board agreed that the Chair discuss this with the governing support unit.

The board noted that it would be of public interest to show how the decision of funding the post for a Choice and Diversity Fair access champion, costing 60k had been reached.