The document summarizes questions that will be asked of the Mayor of Bristol during their scheduled 30 minute visit to the Association of Bristol Governors Meeting on July 17th, 2013. The questions cover a range of topics regarding the Mayor's vision and role in education in Bristol, including their views on school standards, academization, support for special needs students, education funding allocation, and the skills and qualities of well-educated students. Specific questions are asked about the Mayor's involvement in the education support service following an Ofsted inspection, consultation with governors, impacts of senior staff departures, and ensuring attention focuses on fundamental issues beyond parking.

1. Association of Bristol Governors Meeting
17th
July 2013, Conference Hall, City Hall 6.15 to 8.15pm
Mayor scheculed to attend 30 mins 6.30 to 7pm
Questions for the Mayor submitted by Bristol governors
Mayor’s involvement and role in relation to education in Bristol;
How many schools have you visited?
What do you think of Standards in Bristol schools?
What role will you play in the future of Bristol education?
Where is the vision for ensuring a positive, proactive approach towards building
upon the best Bristol schools and supporting those that need it? The strategy for
bringing us together as a city at a time of great uncertainty. I feel that our Mayor,
by messing around with the fluffy bits such as tree planting (though important) is
in danger of continuing to fuel the myths surrounding Bristol schools - that we
are not serious about providing the best educational experiences in the country. I
know from working closely with PHAB (Primary Heads Association of Bristol) and
outside of Bristol that we have made immense progress... does he and his team
know this? How aware is he of our developing strengths (Such as partnerships
like the Malago Learning Partnership) and how is he going to take this forward as
our Mayor?
What do you think about forced academisation of Bristol primary schools which
are deemed to be 'failing', when there is no real evidence that academisation is
the right solution for primaries? What is your vision of Bristol’s education
‘system’ in a context of growing central government control and self-contained
academies and free schools?
Given that the vast majority of media attention during your tenure as Mayor has
focused on parking, what will you be doing differently from now on to ensure that
attention switches to the more fundamental issues of education, health and care?
What influence do you have in shaping the way the education support service will
work following the recent Ofsted multi- school inspection?
Do you intend to consult with our governors association to form a view on what
education strategy and multi agency partnership should look like? We would like
to be involved especially as we have so much statutory responsibility.
Schools Finance;
If it is the case that Bristol allocates a higher proportion of school funding based
on deprivation than other similar LA’s do you think this is a cause for concern and

2. that funding should be shifted from the most deprived to the least deprived areas.
Senior LA officers leaving the authority;
What do you think headteachers of LA maintained schools think about the future
of Bristol in light of the departures of officers?
Specific questions related to children with Special Educational Needs;
Recent changes to funding for SEN children means that schools have to buy in
EP (Educational Psychologist) assistance. The can buy this assistance, (vital for
receiving funding) from any source to enable them to get the best price and
reduce costs to schools. Unfortunately the local authority panel that decides on
funding will only accept EP reports from Bristol based EP’s, thus creating a
closed shop. Will he look into this to ensure that schools can genuinely get the
best value for money?
What future do you see in the workplace for ASD students? Can Bristol City
Council provide some form of employment, at least for the most able?
And finally…
And can you tell us what, in your opinion, a well-educated student has in their
tool box when they emerge from school to adult life, is it exams passes or is
there more to it than that?