Agenda item

The Forum discussed a report (Agenda Item 11) to provide an update on the maintained schools that had set a deficit budget for 2015/16. The details were as follows:

John O’Gaunt School was reviewing options to significantly change the way it was structured and managed in order to reduce the deficit and be able to balance its budget in year, whilst at the same time improving performance.  The school’s financial position continued to be monitored by the Corporate Director for Communities, Head of Finance, and key Members of the Council.

Long Lane Primary School’s deficit recovery plan showed the school returning to a balanced budget again in 2016/17.

Kintbury Primary School was expected to achieve a balanced budget by the end of 2015/16.

Purley School was anticipated to return to a balanced budget in 2019/20 but had not supplied additional information to the Finance team. .

Out of the 29 schools showing a deficit in 2016/17 when submitting their three year plan in Summer 2015, four primary schools still expected to set a deficit budget in 2016/17 and four primary schools were unclear whether or not they will set a deficit in 2016/17 (this excluded the schools already in deficit and the PRUs and special schools). Of these schools, none had requested support from the Finance team; however two schools (not referred to above) had made contact.

Peter Hudson noted that the deficit budget at Long Lane Primary School was caused by a reduction in pupil numbers and asked if there was a fund which could be utilised to assist the school. Claire White advised that there was a Falling Rolls fund, however it was designed to assist a school with a temporary reduction in pupils numbers but Long Lane was not eligible to access that funding because it was part of a longer term plan to downsize the school.

David Ramsden noted that Purley School was upsizing from an infant school to a primary school and noted that they had not been forthcoming with additional information. He asked what action could be taken. Claire White suggested that she could draft a letter to the school to be signed by the Chair of the Schools Forum. John Tyzack (Chair) agreed that would be appropriate action.

RESOLVED that the report be noted and a letter be sent by the Chair on behalf of the Schools Forum to Purley School requesting additional information on its budget position.

(Post meeting note:

A letter was sent to Purley School, the following response was received on 9 January 2016:

Purley has grown from 78 pupils in 2014/2015 to 100 pupils in 2015/2016.  The school has also had to absorb the growth from infant to primary from 2013/2014.  The intakes have not met the costs of supplying an extra teacher per class.  We also have a high intake of SEN children also contributing to the financial strain.  Redundancies are being considered and may take place in 2016/2017 which should enable the school to recover by 2019/2020.  Currently, the school is forecasting a slightly better financial year end position than predicted in 2014/2015, and will continue to spend and monitor funds carefully.

End of post meeting note.)