Agenda and minutes

Mr Tim Moralee was elected Chair of the Schools’ Forum for the ensuing year.

Mr Tony Gelsthorpe was elected Vice-Chair of the Schools’ Forum for the ensuing year.

ACTION: The Forum representatives asked Jenny Lawrence to write, on their behalf, to Mr John Herbert to convey their thanks for all his support and work over the years. 

Apologies were received from Mr Ould CC, Heather Sewell, Brian Myatt and Brenda Carson.

Tim Moralee referred to the previously circulated membership list.  The Forum noted there were currently 4 vacancies in the academy secondary group and it was agreed that the membership should be split equally between headteachers and governors.  Academy members were asked to seek nominations via their respective groups.

Jenny reported that the two vacancies for an early years member and post 16 provider were currently being sought.  The maintained primary heads would progress their vacancy in order for the vacancy to be filled.

The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 20 June 2013 were agreed as a true record.

Karen Allen expressed her disappointment and for it to be minuted at the way primary behaviour partnerships were represented at the last meeting and how the LA could have evaluated the comment made which under-valued their role. 

Purpose

To set out the position in regard to school balances for all schools that were maintained by the Local Authority on 31 March 2013 and the 2012/13 financial year.

Issues Raised

Jenny Lawrence reported that this report presented the annual position on school balances identifying individual schools.  Jenny added that the number of schools in deficit was decreasing as schools convert to academies.  The analysis of school balances is shown in Appendix 1.  The figures include all schools maintained between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013.  Schools who converted on 1 April are shown as those balances remaining with the Local Authority until conversion and would be included within the nationally reported school balances.

Jenny said that most discussions had been on the level of school balances and should the control mechanism be inactive.  There is no control mechanism as Schools’ Forum chose to remove this. 

David Thomas asked if those schools in deficit had an agreed deficit plan.  Jenny explained that the vast majority have agreed deficit plans and were working with some schools to define their deficit plan or the LA was actively working with them.

David Thomas asked what the impact was of schools remaining in deficit.  Jenny said that if the school converts to a sponsorship academy that deficit rests with the Local Authority.  Jenny added that £2.5M worth of DSG was available should the Local Authority pick up any deficits.

Jenny said that we still see some schools with high balances and there is a need to question why they are like that.  Karen Allen asked if the money was claw backed where would it go.  Jenny said that it had to be used for the same purpose as DSG.

Decision

The Schools’ Forum noted this paper.

Purpose

The report presents the outcomes of the school funding formula working group commissioned by the Schools’ Forum to review the 2013/14 school funding formula and the approach to funding age range changes in academies and maintained schools.

Issues Raised

Jenny Lawrence introduced Dave Green from Woodbrook Vale High School, Andy Winter from Wreake Valley and Tina Hudson-Goater from Limehurst Academy who had been invited to the Schools’ Forum as representatives of the working group who worked with the Local Authority to review the 2013/14 school funding formula and the approach to funding age range changes in academies and maintained schools.

Jenny explained the working group looked at the following issues:-

-       Is there a rationale for a change?

-       Note there will be changes in 2015/16

-       Whether we should change the underlining data to deprivation

-       The introduction of the sparsity factor

Jenny said that the working party looked at the sparsity factor and discussed the impact of this and the movement of deprivation funding.  The proposal was that no changes are made to the formula for 2014/15 and this was supported by the working party.

On funding age range changes Jenny said that the Local Authority needed to respond to individual changes and have challenged the EFA considerably and the initial consultation had been around timelines.  The Local Authority was not aware until 8 July that the EFA could take money away from the Authority to expanding academies. 

Schools’ Forum have discussed this twice on the 20 June 2013 and 8 July 2013 and at that meeting it was agreed with the Local Authority that the implications of doing nothing were not acceptable.  Jenny summarised the proposal as outlined in the paper to be submitted to the EFA by 30 September in order to fund maintained schools and academies for the impact of age range changes.

Two additional papers were circulated ‘Leicestershire Age Range Changes – EFA Position Statement’ which had been received by the LA the previous day and ‘Financial Implications of Changes to School Age Range’ tabled by Andy Winter.  Andy Winter gave a verbal summary of the working group’s findings and concerns and stated that observations were not driven by their own interests.

Points being made by Schools’ Forum:

-       Tony Gelsthorpe asked for clarification regarding a request to change pupil numbers, is it in fact the Local Authority’s decision and not the Schools’ Forum.  Jenny confirmed it was a County Council decision but the information was brought to the Schools’ Forum as a major stakeholder.

-       Tony Gelsthorpe asked what happens as a result of age range change with a rising roll that is to be fully funded.  Is there sufficient headroom with regard to the DSG settlement to fund fully?  Jenny said that all DSG is not for schools.  Jenny added that the LA’s requirement all the schools block of DSG to be delegated and is the case.  The headroom is within the high needs block, because there were uncertainties around the changes to post 16 and SEN.  Funding not delegated to schools.  Now things are more certain the risks are reduced, this will transfer money to schools to fund this proposal.  It has a risk with growing concern regarding SEN. 

-       Is this a non-sustainable model?  Jenny commented that it will be sustainable and have a hierarchy of where it came from.  Analysis of formula our cap on gains on – very generous – schools will see a gain in the formula but not as quickly.  JL there is a possibility deprivation data changes in the formula result in changes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Purpose

To agree the items contained the draft work programme and to add any further suggested agenda items.

Decision

-       To add County Council budget as an agenda item to the February meeting.

-       To add membership to the February meeting.

Tony commended an EFA document on Schools’ Forum powers and responsibilities which was supported by Schools’ Forum as a practice document.  Jenny agreed to circulate as a link with the minutes.

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/financialmanagement/schoolsrevenuefunding/schoolsforums/a0070290/guidance-for-schools'-forums-on-their-role

The next meetings were agreed as:

Tuesday 26 November 2013, 2.00 – 4.00 pm

Thursday 13 February 2014, 2.00 – 4.00 pm

Monday 16 June 2014, 2.00 – 4.00 pm

Thursday 18 September 2014, 2.00 – 4.00 pm

Venue for all at Beaumanor Hall.