Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was submitted from Corrina Gillard.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive and consider the 2024/25 DSG Schools Block Budget Update report.

Katherine Vernon, Schools Finance Manager presented the 2024/25 DSG Schools Block Budget Update report.

Katherine Vernon informed that the income to be received per Primary Unit of Funding (PUF) and Secondary Unit of Funding (SUF) had been reduced since this was last reported to Schools Forum. The report contained details of the changes.  The final allocation would be confirmed with the October census figures and reported to the January meeting for sign off.  Provisional figures would be reported to the December meeting.

Schools Forum was requested to vote on the request for dis-application for the all-through school, prior to its submission to the DfE.  Schools had been consulted about this proposal and were in support of the request for dis-application for the all-through school.

Upon being put to the vote, Schools Forum members voted unanimously in favour of the request for dis-application for the all-through school.

RESOLVED That:

1)     The Schools Block Budget update be noted; and

2)     The request for dis-application for the all-through school be approved.

To receive and consider the Requested Transfer of 0.5% DSG Schools Block to the High Needs Block 2024/25.

Ming Zhang, Assistant Director for Education and SEND explained that a consultation had been carried out with schools, requesting schools support to the proposal of a request for a 0.5% transfer from the DSG Schools Block to the High Needs Block (HNB) for 2024/25.

Ming Zhang thanked school leaders for their support in reaching a proactive solution to the challenges faced in relation to the HNB.

Jonathan Wilding informed that 58% of all schools had responded to the survey, and 92.5% of schools were in favour of the new proposals.  The feedback from headteachers was that the new formula was now more affordable for primary schools.

Upon being put to the vote, Schools Forum members voted unanimously in favour of the requested transfer of 0.5% from the Schools Block to the HNB.

During the voting, the following comments were made:

·           Members asked that an annual report be presented to Schools Forum, detailing how the 0.5% is being used and what impact this has had;

·           Members asked what would happen to those schools that were already in deficit, what would be the impact for those schools?

·           Katherine Vernon explained that further analysis was needed to work out how those schools would be affected.  This would only be known when the final allocation was confirmed.  The current modelling showed that those schools currently in a deficit position were not contributing to the transfer;

·           In response to a question Jonathan Wilding stated that cash values would be known in December and shared with Schools Forum then;

·           It was confirmed that the cost to schools would not be higher than what had been previously presented.

Councillor Bray, Executive Member for Children’s Services wished to thank school leaders for their collective support.  It was hoped that improvements would start to make a difference for schools in the near future.

RESOLVED That the requested transfer of 0.5% DSG Schools Block to the High Needs Block for 2024/25 be approved.