Minutes Meeting with Parishioners 19 May 2025
Notes from the Scamblesby with Cawkwell Annual Parish Meeting 19 May 2025 at 7.00pm
(These notes are a record of the meeting and are not accepted as formal minutes until duly signed on behalf of the Parish Council)
Chair: Russ Gleeson – Chairman of the Parish Council
Present: Cllr Gleeson, the Chairman, Cllr D Simpson (also ELDC councillor), Cllr J W Turbin, Cllr P Myers.
In attendance: ELDC Cllr Simpson. Viv Davies, (Clerk)
Present: There were 0 residents present.
1. Approval of the minutes of the last meeting (15 May 2024) – Approved with no changes
2. Annual report from the Parish Council Chairman –
Report from Chair of Governors Scamblesby Primary School
All in all it has been a challenging year. The Head Teacher, Mrs. Tacey, moved on with our best wishes to a larger school at Christmas, seeking "a final challenge before retirement". Our plans were to seek a like for like, full time, replacement and we were well on the route to do so. However, it became apparent that budgetary pressures on the school were preventing this from being a viable option. Budgetary funding seems to increase at a slower rate than the additional demands on the school require and many schools are struggling to keep their head above water. In addition we are facing some 'falling birth rate' years and we face a challenge trying to keep our numbers up each year. Given that budget is based mainly on the number of children on the school roll, this in turn increases the financial pressure.
In the short term, with the support of LCC Education Authority, we appointed an interim Head, Mr. Ola, in January for the remainder of the school year. Mr. Ola has done an excellent job in tricky circumstances and is well thought of by all stakeholders. With a view to the longer term we hope to appoint an Executive (Joint) Head, possibly in federation with another school. Again, we are receiving support from LCC in this and we hope to have positive news very soon.
We are aiming to be more proactive with school promotion. The adjoining Piggywigs nursery is doing well, indreasing its numbers since moving to the village, and we hope that this will feed through to our school numbers. In the short term, we are considering restructuring options internally and we think this will restore a greater degree of stability.
The school has undergone both Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) and SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) inspections over the year, both of which produced pleasing results. Our overall Ofsted grading was 'Good' and whilst SIAMS no longer results in a grading, we received a positive report. As a Church of England school, we continue to maintain a good working relationship with St. Martin's church, holding several end of month Celebration services in church. Whilst finding school governors is an ongoing challenge, we do have a full quota of three Foundation (Church) governors who were part of the SIAMS inspection.
The Year 6's have sat their SATS exams in the last week, and whilst there is always a nervous wait for results, the school is quietly confident.
In the short term, with the support of LCC Education Authority, we appointed an interim Head, Mr. Ola, in January for the remainder of the school year. Mr. Ola has done an excellent job in tricky circumstances and is well thought of by all stakeholders. With a view to the longer term we hope to appoint an Executive (Joint) Head, possibly in federation with another school. Again, we are receiving support from LCC in this and we hope to have positive news very soon.
We are aiming to be more proactive with school promotion. The adjoining Piggywigs nursery is doing well, indreasing its numbers since moving to the village, and we hope that this will feed through to our school numbers. In the short term, we are considering restructuring options internally and we think this will restore a greater degree of stability.
The school has undergone both Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) and SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) inspections over the year, both of which produced pleasing results. Our overall Ofsted grading was 'Good' and whilst SIAMS no longer results in a grading, we received a positive report. As a Church of England school, we continue to maintain a good working relationship with St. Martin's church, holding several end of month Celebration services in church. Whilst finding school governors is an ongoing challenge, we do have a full quota of three Foundation (Church) governors who were part of the SIAMS inspection.
The Year 6's have sat their SATS exams in the last week, and whilst there is always a nervous wait for results, the school is quietly confident.
FINANCE
All payments are subject to approval by the Parish council and are supported by an invoice.
The c/f figure into 2024-25 is £555.31
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Open forum –
No questions raised as no parishioners present.
The meeting closed at 07.03 pm.