Shrewsbury Colleges Group

Minutes of the Board - 20 May 2024

Group Minutes of the Board
Location ROOMS H.E. 3 & 4, LONDON ROAD CAMPUS, SHREWSBURY AND BY REMOTE ACCESS VIA TEAMS
Date 20th May 24
Time 5.30pm
Minutes Membership In attendance
A Benghiat, R. Harrison, A Hodson, J. Hoyland, A Robertson, W. Saveker, C. Sharp, J. Staniforth (Principal/Chief Executive), M. Thompson, P. Tucker and R. Wilson.

In attendance
F. Chalk, CEO, FE4Governance, External Review of Governance Partner.

Also present in person
J. Vernon – Quality, Standards & Curriculum Committee co-opted member.
In Attendance Members of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT):
M. Brown, Vice Principal, Quality, Apprenticeships & Information (VP – Q, A & I)
S. McAlinden, Vice Principal, Students (VP, S)
P. Partridge, Executive Director of Finance (EDoF)
C. Sears, Vice Principal, A Levels Studies (VP, AL)

T. Cottee - Clerk to the Board
Apologies Prof. J. Barratt, A Caesar-Homden, S. Greco, M. Hartland, M. Laws, Vice Principal, Technical & Vocational Education (VP – T&VE), D. Lucas, Vice Principal, People (VP – P), G. Mills, A Prichard and R. Sartain.

PART I – OPEN ITEMS

R. Wilson in the Chair.

16/24. Declarations of Interest

The following interest was declared at the meeting

  1. J. Vernon declared an interest in Minute Number 21/24. She left the meeting during consideration of the relevant item and did not speak or vote thereon.

17/24. Matters Arising

None.

18/24. Chair’s Announcements

The Chair made the following announcements:

      1. External Review of Governance
        Fiona Chalk, CEO, FE4Governance, the Board’s External Review of Governance Partner, was in attendance as a silent observer. The Board Chair updated on the progress of the External Review of Governance and thanked governors for their participation so far. Ms Chalk would present the Final Report to the next scheduled Board meeting on 15 July 2024.
      2. Governor Stakeholder Engagement Activities – Events
        Governors were invited to the following event this Term:
        1. 11am – 12.05pm - Maths and Law
        2. 12.05pm – 12.50pm - Lunch with staff and some students
        3. 12.50pm – 2pm - Criminology and Law in more Maths.
        1. ‘Legally Blonde’ The Musical – 4 – 6 June 2024, Theatre Severn
        2. STAR Awards 2024 – 13 June, London Road Campus
        3. ‘The Show’ Private Viewing and Fashion Show – 14 June, English Bridge Campus
        4. Maths & Criminology Learning Walk - 01 July 2024, Welsh Bridge Campus. The itinerary was as follows:
        5. HE Graduation – 05 July 2024, St Chads, Shrewsbury.
      3. The Board Chair reminded all Link Governors that they were required to undertake a visit this Term and complete a Link Report Form and submit it to the Clerk.
      4. The Student Union Executive (SUE) had submitted a Valid Nomination to the Student Governor (16 – 19) position, which would become vacant from 31 July 2024. Maia Llewellyn would be appointed as the Student Governor (16 – 19) for a One Year Term from 01 August 2024 to 31 July 2025. She would commence Induction during June and July, with the support of the current Student Governor and Clerk.

Resolved that: M. Llewellyn be appointed as the Student Governor (16 – 19) for a One Year Term from 01 August 2024 to 31 July 2025 and be appointed to the Quality, Standards & Curriculum Committee as a co-opted member.

Action: Clerk to support newly appointed governor in Induction from 18/06/2024.

      1. A gift of appreciation was presented to A Hodson, the Academic Staff Governor, who would be leaving the college and the Board at the end of the 2023/24 Year. The Board Chair thanked her for her service to the Board and wished her well.

19/24. Recommendation from Search & Governance Committee (Agenda Item 6)

The Chair of the Search & Governance Committee verbally presented the following recommendations.

20/24. Application for Governor Opportunity

Further to S&G Min. No. 11/24, regarding the current vacancy for an Appointed Governor, having assessed the Skills Audit and Succession Plan,
Having considered the skills and experience of the candidate, particularly their experience on the Board, the future skills requirements of the Board and to maintain quality governance, it was

Resolved that: J. Barratt be appointed as an Independent Appointed Governor for a Four-Year Term, with effect from 21 May 2024 and be appointed to the Audit Committee and Quality & Standards Committee.

Action: Clerk to process appointment.

21/24. Application for Governor Opportunity

Further to S&G Min. No. 11/24, an Appointed Governor with a Term ending in July, had confirmed that they did not intend to seek a Second Term, which would leave a vacancy on the Board. Having assessed the Skills Audit and Succession Plan, the current co-opted committee member had been approached and invited to formally apply. The candidate had already passed Due Diligence Checks.
Having considered the skills and experience of the candidate, particularly their extensive experience in the education sector, incorporating learning and skills, the future skills requirements of the Board and to maintain quality governance, it was:

Resolved that: J. Vernon be appointed as an Independent Appointed Governor for a Four-Year Term, with effect from 01 August 2024 and be appointed to the Quality & Standards Committee and the Search & Governance Committee.

Action: Clerk to process appointment.

22/24. Vice Chair of Board – Succession Planning Strategy

The Committee had discussed strategies to support succession planning for the offices of Chair and Vice Chair.

Therefore, to:

      • Develop a secure succession planning and development strategy for the offices of Board Vice Chair and Chair;
      • Provide a succession planning solution if the Vice Chair had no desire/capacity to be Chair;
      • Support the current Board Chair and Vice Chair in their expanding workload; and
      • Provide enrichment and development opportunities for governors as part of the Board’s Succession Planning programme by offering a ‘mentoring opportunity’ to eligible governors to put themselves forward for the roles and to build capacity within the Board;

eligible governors would be offered an opportunity to develop the skills and capacity for the Vice Chair role by:

      • Acting as a deputy to the Vice Chair when the Vice Chair was unable to attend a meeting, function or matter of business requiring their involvement, including acting as an ambassador on behalf of the Board of Governors.
      • Where appropriate to offer both general and specific support to the Chair and Vice Chair where strategic, major or contentious issues were involved.

The Committee Chair presented for the Board’s consideration, the proposal, the method and timeline for implementation and when and how the appointment should be made.

      1. Governors would be invited to consider the proposal and submit any comments by 07 June 2024.
      2. After this date, eligible governors would be invited to apply for the opportunity by 28 June 2024.
      3. Any valid applications received would be considered at the 15 July 2024 Board for consideration and agreement that the successful applicants undergo a suitable induction and mentoring programme to support the Vice Chair.

Having considered the verbal report, the Board agreed that the proposal presented an effective succession plan.

Action: Clerk to send to all governors information on the proposal, inviting comments by 07 June 2024.

23/24. Governor Development Briefing – Preparation for OFSTED

The P/CEO explained that the college was in scope for inspection as part of the requirement that all schools and colleges be inspected by the end of 2024/25. A group of governors would be expected to meet an Inspector.

The Search & Governance Committee had discussed how the Board should both support the college’s preparation and prepare itself for Inspection. It had agreed that a development briefing be given to the Board, so that governors were aware of the inspection framework, the ‘The Big Listen’ consultation process currently underway and to decide on how they would wish to be prepared.

The VP, QI & A, the college’s Nominated Lead, provided a Development Briefing on:.

      • Inspection timings and arrangements, which had changed since the college’s last inspection;
      • The role of governors;
      • those likely to be involved in the Inspection at the college.

The Board considered examples of the type of questions being asked at recent inspections, discussed how it should prepare for the Inspection and agreed –

      • Governors, be identified to form the ‘team’ that would meet with the Leadership & Management Inspector. The Chair confirmed that several governors had been identified by the Search & Governance Committee and they would be approached from this point to develop support resources.
      • Staff support resources be shared with governors.

The Board also agreed that governors should continue to engage in learning walks, link visits and other engagement activities, and reflect on how these provided assurance to governors regarding the performance of the college.

24/24. “2025+ Vision – Towards the Next Strategic Plan”

At the recent Governor Development & Strategy Day, governors identified several key strategic themes to be developed further as a basis for the next college strategic plan. The themes included:

      • Curriculum (including HE and centres of excellence)
      • Quality
      • Financial strategy, estates development and the implications of demography

These themes were developed further at this meeting in group discussion.

25/24. Date of Next Meeting

Monday, 15 July 2025 from 5.30 p.m. Venue – Higher Education Centre, London Road Campus.

Ended at 7.42 p.m.