Agenda item

Melanie Ellis introduced the report (Agenda Item 8), which set out the proposed budgets for additional funds for 2021/22 and to agree the criteria for accessing these funds to go out to consultation with all schools.

Melanie Ellis referred to the recommendations within the report and suggested that the Schools’ Forum consider the funds under section 3 a, b and d of the report and that the Schools’ in Financial Difficulty Funding (section 3d) be considered as part of Item 10 (Delegations report).

Melanie Ellis reported that the information included within the report linked to the previous report on the Schools’ Funding Formula and that agreement was being sought for the information to be included as part of the consultation with schools. The proposals were included in detail under section four of the report. Melanie Ellis reported that it was not being proposed that the Falling Rolls Fund should be reinstated.

Jonathan Chishick noted that funding for schools with disproportionate numbers of high needs pupils had been underspent in 2018/19 and 2019/20 and queried why this money had not been spent. He was surprised that there was not a need to increase this fund in line with inflation. Melanie Ellis reported that she would look into this and carry out an analysis and report back.

Reverend Mark Bennet queried why the Growth Fund was be allowed to increase year on year. Melanie Ellis reported that Growth Funding was allocated to local authorities by the Department for Education (DfE). Reverend Bennet queried if there was any intention to use the funding. Melanie Ellis reported that any under or overspends of the Growth Fund formed part of Dedicated School Grant (DSG) balances. Bids had not yet been requested to Growth Fund for 2020/21 however, more information would be available on this by the end of the year. 

Catie Colston referred to section 4.1(a) and noted that the Growth Fund was based on the growth in pupil numbers, which was taken from school census information. Catie Colston queried whether Covid had the potential to impact on this. Ian Pearson reported that the Department for Education (DfE) had produced guidance on this and there had been an allowance based on Covid absences to ensure schools were not negatively impacted on. The same principle was applied to free school meals.

Ian Pearson commented on the high costs associated with opening new schools and added that the Growth Fund had been allowed to strategically grow in anticipation of these costs. This was explained in more detail under section 4.1(a) of the report.

The Chairman invited the relevant Members of the Forum to consider the recommendation under section two of the report.

Catie Colton proposed that the Schools’ Forum agree recommendation 2.1 and this was seconded by Antony Gallagher. At the vote the motion was carried.

Jonathan Chishick proposed that the Schools’ Forum agree recommendation 2.2 and this was seconded by Jon Hewitt. At the vote the motion was carried.

RESOLVED that:

• Melanie Ellis would look into underspends in funding for schools with disproportionate numbers of high needs pupils and report back at the next meeting.
• The Schools Forum agreed recommendation 2.1 that the proposed budgets for additional funds (the Growth Fund (a) and Funding for schools with disproportionate numbers of high needs pupils (c)) for 2021/22 as set out in section 2.1 of the report (The Schools in Financial Difficulty Fund (b) would be considered under agent item 10).
• The Schools’ Forum agreed recommendation 2.2 that the criteria for additional funds go out to consultation with all schools.