MINUTES   February 18th 2008

Sec: Shona

 

PRESENT: Nikki Pugh,  Shona Bluhm, Clare Russell, Sally Jones, Rachael Gee, Linda Pritchard, Frances Williams, Lucinda Parish, Julie Southan, Liz Abberley, Ally Green.

 

1.         Apologies: Ruth Williams, Ian Kidd, Helen Wood, David Wilkinson, Lawrence Bluhm

 

2.         Minutes from last meeting.

 

3.         Situation so far: Situation has changed little since last meeting. There are 3 meetings this week:

 

 

 

Nikki unfortunately unable to speak in the pre-booked slot at the scrutiny meeting. Clare has offered to speak in her place. Will meet with Nikki to arrange question/ statement.

 

4.         Working Group. Malcolm Pate leader of the SCC Cabinet has commissioned a cross party working group to look at the whole process of the Schools Organisation Policy.

5.         Newsletter and Information to public.

 

6.         Printed T shirts – Lets wait until they are needed

 

      Next Living Lydbury Meeting:  MONDAY FEBRUARY 25th 6.30pm Powis Arms

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MINUTES    February 11th 2008

Sec: Shona

 

PRESENT: Nikki Pugh, Lawrence Bluhm, Shona Bluhm, Ian Kidd, Pascoe Needle, David Wilkinson, Clare Russell, Sally Jones, Rachael Gee, Matt Knight, Linda Pritchard, Colin Clarke, Naomi Payne, Helen Wood, Ruth Williams, Frances Williams, Nick Howell, Rachel Hawes.

 

1. APOLOGIES: Liz Abberley, Polly and Andy Peters.

 

 2. Situation so far: Nikki stressed the importance of the scrutiny meeting on the 20th February. We should know the decision of the scrutiny panel on the same day. The scrutiny panel will consist of the same people as at Craven Arms.

 

3.

a)      File of events (school / school and community) to include photos. Shona has lots of photos – will put on disk for Liz.

b)      Press Clippings- Shona and Ian to collate

c)      Slogan / logo printed T-shirts. Sally has found an internet supplier who will print at £4.79 for a minimum quantity of 25 – 52. Nikki will enquire about price from the BC Triathlon organiser.

d)      PR Campaign to attract new pupils. We don’t know the exact no. of pupils due to start next year as some parents have put LN as second choice. It was mentioned that having an “acting” headteacher may be disturbing to prospective pupils’ parents. Nikki and Nick stressed that Jane Langton is committed as headteacher for at least 2 years, and is proving to be very successful in this post. It was suggested to write to all prospective parents – Nick said he will inform the Governors at the next Governors meeting.

e)      Press releases – Lydbury North Big Dig has been reported on this half term week. Article from Shona regarding SOS campaign was in Shropshire star and Journal (via Julia Parker) this week. Liz Abberley also interviewed on Beacon Radio.  Ludlow Advertiser also had photo (and article concerning amalgamation) of LN schoolchildren on Jan 30th Protest this week.

f)        Notice Board does not need planning as long as it is a temporary structure.

g)      Travel Survey. All the roads are regarded as hazardous unless they have pavements so all those in the 2 mile zone without pavements will need to be bussed to school. Still waiting to get return slips from parents travel survey in school newsletter.

h)      Pre School – Clare needs a list of prospective pupils. Need to ask Polly.

i)        Analysis of schools on list and draw comparisons –Polly

j)        School and community event – Bingo was very successful – Easter next big ‘event’.

k)      BBC / National Press – quiet.  Nikki suggested inviting a VIP ‘big name’ from government e.g. Jim Knight or Ed Balls to Lydbury North for publicity and answering questions.

l)        Watch government for school funding issues.

m)     Polly to watch Minutes from SCC cabinet meetings and CYP scrutiny meetings and report back.

n)      Nick to analyse figures from last 10 yrs to see what average % of out of catchment area pupils we have had.

o)      Sally suggested a Primary School reunion. She has had some response from ex pupils. Nick to enquire if school can be used for a reunion function. Matt Knight (ex pupil) has set up a group on ‘Facebook’ with ex pupils of Lydbury North and is happy to liaise with them.

p)      Pascoe to look at financial figures. Nikki has data.

q)      Investigate impact of loss of school on community – not done yet.

r)       Liz, Ian and David.  David reported back from NASS (National Association of Small Schools) meeting at Shirehall where he received lots of relevant information  and support from Mervyn Benford. From documents received Liz, Ian and David produced a bulleted list, a model letter to parents and letter for newsletter. David stressed the importance of mounting a mass letter writing campaign to make the scrutiny panel and cabinet answer questions considered crucial by the NASS. The NASS claims it has saved 8 out of 10 schools from closure and that Lydbury North has a good case against closure.

s)       Shona (with Polly as Editor) has produced a double sided A4 newsletter containing information for the community. Pearson Print (Craven Arms) will charge £140 for 300 copies and will not charge VAT. Friends offered to fund this cost. It was suggested that the letter writing sheet, if reduced to a double side of A4 could be photocopied and attached to the newsletter.  Members of the group offered to deliver the newsletter throughout the parish. One of our group has generously offered to get the newsletter printed free of charge.

 

4. Other Business

a)      Living Lydbury was voted for as our group slogan.

b)      Lucinda Parish is allowing the group to use notice board. Frances Williams is ready to paint it.

c)      Shropshire Star – A day in the life……..

 

Future Meeting: WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 20th, Scrutiny Meeting @ 2pm Shirehall, Shrewsbury.

 

Next Living Lydbury Meeting:  MONDAY FEBRUARY 18th  3.20pm

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MINUTES    February 4th 2008

Sec. Andy / Polly 

 

1.         Welcome

2.         Purpose of meeting

3.         Situation so far

4.         Outline position of key players

 

NIKKI PUGH outlined the result of the cabinet meeting on January 30th and the next steps. She explained the suggestions under 6 had been collated and proposed from various sources to form a concerted focus for: continuing to oppose the policy, opposing amalgamation on the grounds that it equals closure, keeping the profile of the campaign high and documenting the role of the school in the community. Nikki explained the idea of having a campaign ‘branding’, hence her initial suggestion of ‘Team Lydbury’. She invited other suggestions to focus on the cohesive and community nature of the action group. Further suggestions that have been offered are ‘Living Lydbury’, ‘Lydbury Alive’ and ‘Lydbury Alive P.A.C.T {Parents and Community Together}’ – To discuss at next meeting.

 

 5.        Appointment of Team Lydbury personnel: ANDREW PETERS & SHONA BLUHM TO SHARE ROLE OF SECRETARY

 

 

6.         We need someone to:

 

a)      Prepare a file of events at school to include pictures, details of event and community involvement – LIZ to begin this process. She will request info to go into newsletter with her email address.

b)      Collate press clippings – SHONA has already collated many press clippings on the website and also on school notice board. She agreed to continue this in formalised way.

c)      Price printed T-shirts and protest material – SAL JONES will look into pricing.

d)      Organise a PR campaign to attract new pupils – JULIE SOUTHAN

e)      Organise press releases for events at school – try to get something in the Journal every other week – SAL JONES & LIZ ABBERLEY to co-ordinate press coverage, with help from CHRIS MURPHY when available

f)        Come up with ideas for more community involved events – suggestion for school notice board. LINDA to ask Douglas in village and/or Pete Green

g)      Find out how far it is exactly from each child’s home to each school and find out whether the roads to Clunbury are designated as ‘dangerous’ – put message in newsletter to ask parents to measure distances and report back – to Ian Kidd to collate

h)      Co ordinate pre school families to keep them involved – CLARE RUSSELL

i)        Analyse schools on ‘the list’ and draw comparisons POLLY

j)        Link school and community liaison – ensure the community is invited to each school event – next one Easter? VIA FRIENDS?

k)      Keep an eye on BBC news etc to see what is being said about out county and other counties – everyone to do this

l)        Watch government for school funding issues – everyone to do this

m)    Watch minutes from both SCC cabinet meetings and also CYP scrutiny meetings and report back on relevant information – POLLY to examine ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda - ? to keep up with minutes on SCC website?

n)      Analyse figures from the last 10 years to see what average percentage of out of catchment area pupils we have had - ? No volunteers

o)      Write to ex pupils for help SAL JONES to co-ordinate

p)      Be a financial guru – analyse all the figures produced by SCC against school budget – ANDREW PETERS to follow this up and ask PASCOE if he is interested in helping

q)      Investigate impact of loss of school on the community – how much does the shop/housing assn. houses rely on the school etc? – SHONA & NIKKI to contact Parish Council and Helen Ward {?} Possibly to co-ordinated discussion with shop. Extend this into community info leaflets and questionnaires. LINDA willing to deliver leaflets and other info round Brockton. CHRIS MURPHY willing to deliver flyers round L.N

r)       Organise a letter-writing afternoon at school:– date to be organised for letter writing after Scrutiny, list of who to write to suggestions of what to write: suggested draft ‘points you might like to consider are…’ bullet points for letters DAVID WILKINSON, SHONA AND LIZ

s)       Organise an info leaflet for distribution: SHONA AND LIZ

 

Future meetings:

· 6th February – Wednesday – Broseley Victoria Hall – meeting organised by Morville school to discuss the next steps for all schools ANDREW AND LAWRENCE

· 7th February – Thursday – Liberal Democrats organised meeting with Mervyn Benford National Association of Small Schools @ Shirehall DAVID WILKINSON {PP can’t attend due to Ofsted}

· CYP Scrutiny meeting 20th Feb 2pm @ Shirehall

· Team Lydbury meetings – 11th Feb? (half term) 6.30 at The Powis Arms or church or v hall?

· 18th Feb 3.20 school

· 25th Feb 6.30 ?

 

Any other business

SUGGESTIONS: all schools to send a rep to Scrutiny and Cabinet. Polly to email

IAN KIDD suggested banners for outside the school – NAOMI to follow up.

Also – approach Parishes re use of board in their field. NIKKI to follow up.

Info to be provided to Clunbury on ways of responding – LIZ will provide info to Clunbury toddlers/ playgroup