Agenda item

Edith Cheng introduced the report (Agenda Item 8), which sought approval of the proposed consultation on the updated Scheme for Financing Schools (SFS). It was proposed that the updated SFS go out to consultation with schools from 15th to 25th June 2026 and return to the next Schools’ Forum in July for approval.

Edith Cheng reported that Issue 17 of the statutory guidance had been published in March 2026 and that officers had reviewed the local scheme accordingly. It was confirmed that no substantive changes had been introduced by the Department for Education and that the proposed amendments reflected local practice, including clarification around deficit recovery expectations, financial monitoring arrangements and proposed changes to financial software. It was recommended that the updated scheme be issued for consultation with maintained schools, with responses to be reported back to Schools’ Forum for approval in July.

Brett Melvill-Smith queried whether the proposed consultation period should be adjusted, noting that although the consultation was stated to run from 15 to 25 June, it would not realistically be received by schools until the following day. Edith Cheng advised that the consultation dates could be amended to run from 16 to 26 June. Ashley Milum supported this suggestion, agreeing that this approach would be more practical and fair for schools.

The Chair drew the Forum’s attention to the recommendation in section 2.1 of the report, The recommendation was proposed and seconded by maintained school members and at the vote the motion was carried.

RESOLVED that the Schools’ Forum approved that the proposed SFS go out to consultation with all schools from 16^th June to 26^th June 2026, with adoption of the updated SFS scheduled for Schools’ Forum approval at the next meeting in July.