Agenda item

Melanie Ellis introduced the report (Agenda Item 10), which provided details of the five schools which were requested to submit license deficit applications for 2022/23. Historical data for these schools was detailed under table one on page 152 of the agenda pack.  Following a review of the applications for each school all were licensed. The total value of the fives licenses came to £123,118. All the schools had plan underway for how to address their deficits. Table two provided budget forecasts for each school. Some of the schools were in the very early days of their deficit and therefore some of the figures were prior to any mitigation taking place. Once mitigations and actions were put in place it was likely some forecasts would reduce. Meetings took place with each school and monitoring would take place throughout the year with updates brought to the Schools’ Forum. 

Keith Harvey queried if there was an indication of how many schools would expect to fall in to deficit given the huge increase in costs facing schools and if there was anything the Schools’ Forum could do to mitigate this. Melanie Ellis reported that she did not have an answer on how many schools however, quarter two data was expected soon, which would be more informative.

Ian Pearson reported that there had been supplementary funding, which had been fed in to the formula however, the percentage increases in school budgets did not match inflation increases. Ian Pearson reported that the plan was to carry out a survey across schools so that schools could offer a view on their positions. Ian Pearson reported that he was unable to comment on what possible national decisions might be made regarding school funding going forward.

Richard Hawthorne reported that as a Schools’ Forum member he was concerned about the moral element of balancing the need to reduce the deficit with the needs of pupils. He was concerned that cutting FTE was being considered by some schools and the impact this would have on provision. He queried if there was opportunity when meeting with schools to have realistic conversations regarding how far FTE could be cut.. The need to balance the deficit needed to be balanced with providing quality provision. Ian Pearson reported that constructive conversations took place with schools as part of deficit reduction meetings. The majority of costs went on staffing and realistic conversations took place to try and find a way forward. Equally there were often different things about the way each school was structured and the people it employed. The earlier issues were identified the earlier incremental changes could be made to balance the budget. Secondly Ian Pearson explained that it was important to recognise that not all savings required could be made in a single year. Conversations were always sensible and focused on bring a school back in to balance in a planned and orderly way.

(Chris Prosser joined the meeting at 5.50pm)  

RESOLVED that the Schools’ Forum noted the report.