AT the December meeting of Sandford Parish Council, John Jolliffe (Executive Head Teacher, Exe Valley Federation) spoke on the proposal, by Sandford School, to join the “Exe Valley Federation”.

He gave the reasons behind this proposal. Also the benefits this would give for further opportunities for collaboration and how this would ensure that Sandford School remained sustainable for the future.

For the existing schools in the Exe Valley Federation there were benefits from working with another school through sharing good practice and achieving greater economies of scale.

In addition to this, there would be the following benefits for all the schools including Sandford:

• Sharing strong and proven leadership

• Sharing teaching expertise

• Availability of teaching resources

• Increasing opportunities for the children to mix with a wider group both academically and socially

• Greater access to a wider range of resources (human and physical), and opportunities to make some savings to reinvest in children’s learning

• Joint planning and curriculum development opportunities for staff

• Joint training of staff to impact on children’s learning

• Provide the children with even wider opportunities to prepare them for a more secure transition process as most of the other schools in the Federation feed in to QE School.

There would be one Executive Headteacher (John Jolliffe) with a Head of School within each school. The Heads of School would be enabled to focus their energies on teaching, learning and standards.

James Akhurst would continue to lead Sandford School on a day-to-day basis until a Head of School was appointed to take the school forward.

The membership of the single governing board included representation for parents and staff, foundation (church) governors, co-opted governors and a local authority governor.

Together this group of people would take overall responsibility for all the schools within the Federation. Each school within the Federation had two or three "home school" governors who lead Learning Walks and spent time in their school to get to know the staff and children there.

The election of parent and staff governors would take place at the end of the consultation period if both governing boards agreed to proceed with the new federation.

The proposed size of the Federated governing body would be 15, this would include: two Parent governors, two Staff governors (including the Executive Headteacher), one Local Authority appointed governor, three Foundation governors (to include an Ex-Officio) and seven Co-opted governors.

Both John Jolliffe, and James Akhurst then took questions from those present. They were thanked by the Chairman for attending and then left the meeting.

Later in the meeting it was agreed that Sandford Parish Council would support the proposal for Sandford School to join the Exe Valley Federation. A request was added that the community links between Sandford School and the Parish should be maintained to continue and flourish.

Open Forum - Planning application 20/01525/OUT

Land at NGR 279649 103561 Fairview New Buildings. Outline for the erection of a dwelling with all matters reserved.

A number of New Buildings parishioners spoke on this application. They thanked the Parish Council for Objecting to this application.

There was concern over the way this application had been dealt with by Mid Devon District Council and concerns were expressed over the anxiety and worry this was causing in the area.

Precept for 2021/2022

It was agreed to increase the current year Precept of £19,491 by two per cent to £19,880.

Matters reported to the Clerk

a) Dog attack – A dog, belonging to a MDDC property tenant, had attacked another dog. There had previously been issues with this dog and the owner had been requested to muzzle his dog.

MDDC asks for any sightings of the dog without a muzzle to be reported to the council (time and date).

b) Creedy View 2 – Heavy machinery had been carrying out earth works in the field, prior to the developer acquiring the land. Concern had been expressed by a resident of Creedy View that no Warning/Safety notices had been placed along the footpath which was in use by walkers and children walking to Sandford School.

The next meeting will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday, January 7, 2021. Format/venue of the meeting to be agreed nearer the time.

MJV