CGA AGM 2021

Report on the Work of Governors’ Association Management Committee 2020/2021

1. Introduction

1.1 During the year 2020/2021 the CGA has strengthened its membership base to 63 of the city’s schools from 55 the previous year. 1.2 We have kept the membership fee constant for another year. 1.3 Our sound management and prudent fiscal position has enabled us to build up reserves in a difficult year to allow us to plan a comprehensive programme of workshops, seminars and networking events for governors once conditions allow. 1.4 The advocacy role for governance and governors within the Local Authority, CSCJES and Welsh Government continues with contributions being made on boards, panels, fora and working parties. Representations have also been made to consultations affecting our schools such as Qualifications ; WG Evaluation, Improvement and Accountability. 1.5 This report sets out the salient features of the work of the Management Committee on behalf of the CGA. The role of governors becomes ever more complex and accountable and we aim to be agile in response to changing needs as we plan briefings, advice and training sessions to help us all discharge our duties effectively and efficiency.

2. Officers of CGA and Membership of the Management Committee

2.1 The officers of the management committee during 2020/2021 were:

Name School/Organisation Role OFFICERS (3 required) Karen Dell’Armi Cardiff West Community High School Chair High School Sarah Griffiths (resigned St Teilo’s CW High School Vice Chair December 2020) Llanedeyrn Primary School Mike Smith (resigned Cardiff West Community High School Secretary January 2021) Baden Powell Primary School NURSERY & PRIMARY (6) Ivor Gittens Mount Stuart Primary School Primary Ninian Park Primary School Andrew Skinner Marlborough Primary School Primary Jean Fudge The Rainbow Federation Primary Tony Rayer Thornhill Primary School Primary Whitchurch Primary School Jane Morris Allensbank Primary School Primary Baden Powell Primary School Karen Vasques De De Freitas Willowbrook Primary School Primary

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SECONDARY (3) Barbara Connell Cantonian High School Secondary Cllr Peter Wong Cathays High School Secondary Vacancy Secondary WELSH MEDIUM (2) David Saunders Ysgol Glan Ceubal/ Welsh Medium The Western Learning Campus Vacancy Welsh Medium VOLUNTARY-AIDED (2) Michael Howells St Phillip Evans RC Primary Voluntary aided St Peter’s RC Primary John Fellows St Cuthberts RC Primary Voluntary aided SPECIAL SCHOOL (1) Cllr Joel Williams The Hollies Specialist provision LA Officer (1) Ruth Lock Governor Support Services LA (Cardiff Council) TOTAL MANAGEMENT QUORUM OF 8 ALL COMMITTEE 15 REQUIRED Honorary Treasurer (1) Anthony Hicks Cardiff Council Honorary Treasurer Clerk (1) Bethan Jones Clerk

2.2 We bid a fond farewell to governor colleagues Sarah Griffiths (long-standing CGA Vice Chair and Chair of the School Budget Forum) due to a new job; Dewi Jones (Secondary Rep and long-serving member of the CGA) due to a well-deserved retirement and Mike Smith (new Secondary Rep) due to personal circumstances. We thank them all for their work and commitment and wish them every success in all they do.

2.3 The management committee has met six times over the past financial year on the following dates:

13th March 2020 (AGM) 20th May 2020 11th July 2020 1st October 2020 26th November 2020 (Annual Training Conference) 14th January 2021

3. Annual Training Conference

The CGA held its Annual Training Conference virtually on 26th November 2020 on the theme of “Virtually Redundant? Are schools in danger of becoming redundant with the rise of

2 virtual learning environments?” We were fortunate to enjoy a packed afternoon of provocations from the Children’s Commissioner Sally Holland; Future Generations Commissioner Sophie Howe; Cardiff Youth Council and our roving reporter Victor Ciunca; members of CSCJES and LA officers. We also welcomed Cardiff’s newly appointed Director of Education, Melanie Godfrey.

The management committee has held workshops to explore and refresh our vision, values and aims which we launched at the conference:

3.1 Our Vision:

WHY we do what we do: “Making children’s rights a reality and ensuring excellence in governance in all Cardiff schools”

HOW we plan to achieve this:

Strong awareness & understanding of all issues, challenges & opportunities facing the education system in Wales. Focus on local context

Making children’s rights a reality. Listening to CYP, actively seeking their views, advocating for them

Lobbying WG, CSC, QW, WJEC, LA for the best provision and outcomes for ALL our learners, especially the most vulnerable Well informed, impartial and professional body providing rigorous and robust support & challenge to all stakeholders in the system

A model of excellence in governance for Cardiff, Wales & beyond

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3.2 Moving on to our values:

Challenging

Creative

Child-centred

Collaborative

3.3 Within a complex and challenging environment given the pandemic, our context for governance was summarised as:

•Safeguarding •NCW readiness •Learning loss •Hybrid learning •Budgets •Local context •ALNET •Cardiff 2030 •Recruitment & •Child friendly cities retention

Covid Curriculum

Exams & Wellbeing Assessment •Headteachers/SLT •2021 series •Teaching staff •2022 & beyond •All staff •Professional learning •Pupils •Pupil voice •Families •Governors

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3.4 The event was our 1st CGA virtual conference. We had over 70 attendees as well as an impressive line-up of speakers to provide information, guidance, stimulus and challenge.

3.5 The Chair requested feedback and suggestions for future events.

4. Liaison with Local Authority

4.1 The Chair had met regularly with the outgoing Director of Education, Nick Batchelar to ensure governor voice was heard and we were represented in all consultations and decisions affecting education in Cardiff. The incoming new Director of Education, Melanie Godfrey has agreed to uphold the close working relationship established and we are grateful to her for that commitment to governance.

4.2 Members of the management committee have also attended briefings as available during this disrupted year. We very much hope these Chairs of Governors briefing sessions will shortly return to regular slots in line with Head Teacher briefings to keep governors abreast of all developments across education in Cardiff as well as providing a useful question and answer opportunity with the Director and members of the Education Directorate.

5. Review Bodies and Working Groups

Members of the management committee have continued to play an active role in serving on a range of steering groups, forums, advisory panels and boards over the past year:

Schools’ Budget Forum Karen Dell’Armi (Chair), Andrew Skinner, Ivor Gittens, Cllr Joel Williams and non MC member David Silver

Governors’ Steering Group; Central South Consortium Karen Dell’Armi (Vice Chair), Sarah Griffiths (vacancy)

SLA Standards Board Cllr Joel Williams, Andrew Skinner, Sarah Griffiths (vacancy)

ALN Working Group Michael Howells

Admissions Forum Karen Dell’Armi

LA Governor Panel Karen Dell’Armi

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