Agenda item

Claire White presented the report on the schools formula 2015/16.

The West Berkshire school formula 2015/16 consultation with schools closed on 11^th September. There were 2 responses. The Ilsleys commented on their disappointment regarding the non use of the sparsity factor criteria where despite lobbying the DfE there have been no changes to the two mile distance criteria in the regulations that benefit West Berkshire’s very small schools. The Willink submitted a case for funding exceptional premises costs for the leisure centre.

In order to provide schools with stability in their funding for a third year it was recommended that the formula factors remain the same as 2014/15.

The funding cap placed on schools with a per pupil increase was introduced in 2013/14 and was supposed to last two years the same duration as the minimum funding guarantee (MFG) that it was part funding. Many schools receiving the cap did not budget for it past the two years. Although the MFG will now continue it is recommended that the funding cap is removed. Some members did not understand the change of policy on the cap but did not disagree with its removal. 

The funding rates for each formula factor are to remain the same, including the rates used for deprivation and prior attainment, and therefore more eligible pupils will result in more funding.

Once the schools block funding allocation 2015/16 is known any additional funding available will be distributed through the basic per pupil rate.

The Willink has a leisure centre on site which is run by Parkwood Leisure but the school has use of the sports hall during school hours and use of the swimming pool several times a week and the leisure centre has use of the school gym after 5pm on weekdays and at weekends and during school holidays. No charges are made to the leisure centre for the use of the gym but the school is charged £55k for its use of the facilities and its share of the utilities bill. The Willink meets the criteria for the exceptional premises factor on this basis, which if approved by the EFA will enable the school to receive support if the exceptional premises costs are in excess of 1% of the schools’ budget. The situation would be reviewed every year to see if the school’s costs were still in excess of 1% of their budget and affect less than 5% of schools.

The three options considered by the Heads Funding Group were:

Fund 100% of costs

Fund 50% of costs

Fund costs in excess of the 1% of school budget.

The HFG view was that funding 50% of the costs supported the school but did not remove the incentive to control costs where possible and that this reflected that most schools incur costs for the use of leisure facilities in some form. There was a heated discussion over the level of funding that The Willink should receive while it meets the exceptional premises criteria. There were questions regarding Parkwood not being charged for use of school facilities, negotiation of the contract with Parkwood Leisure and payment of energy costs.

The preferred options of funded 100% or 50% were put to a vote:

100%  6 votes

50%    5 votes

DECISION: The Schools’ Forum agreed by a majority vote that the exceptional premises factor would be funded at 100% and a submission be made to the EFA.

DECISION: The Schools’ Forum agreed to recommend to the Council Executive the formula 2015/16 as set out in the report for approval.

ACTION: Submission to be made to the EFA

ACTION: Recommendations to be reported to the Council’s Executive.

Action

C White

C White & I Neill