Schools Forums: The Big Picture

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Schools Forums The Big Picture
Margaret Judd Schools Funding Policy
Adviser Department for Children, Schools and
Families

• 30th November 2007 - Birmingham

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The History of Schools Forums - WHEN

• Regulations came into force in 2002
• BUT
• Many authorities had similar bodies in place
  prior to regulation

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The History of Schools Forums - WHY

• New Funding System Introduced (separation of
  budgets for schools and LEAs)
• More and more delegation including targets for
  passporting

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The History of Schools Forums - WHY

• Government wanted
• Effective partnership throughout the country
• To ensure that schools in every area have a voice
  in a range of matters directly relevant to
  schools funding
• David Miliband House of Commons debate 15th
  July 2002

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The History of Schools Forums - WHY

• The debate discussed the need for such statutory
  bodies, recognising some good practice in some
  places.
• Although LEAs will retain ultimate
  responsibility, it is time to give schools a
  sense of collective responsibility, in their
  partnership with an LEA, for the way in which
  their budgets are managed

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The History of Schools Forums - WHY

• Has that happened?

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Schools Forums WHO

• At least 15 members
• Schools Members
• Non Schools Members
• Observers

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Schools Forums WHO Schools Members

• At least primary and secondary reps
• Proportionate to ratio of pupils in each phase
• Special schools and nursery schools if the LA
  have any of those schools
• Discretion to divide to Headteachers and
  Governors
• Can divide further eg community, voluntary ,
  foundation

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Schools Forums WHO Schools Members

• Term of office to be stipulated at time of
  appointment, following published rules.
• The rules must be consistent for each member, but
  may take into account continuity of experience
  (so that you dont have a complete change of
  membership at a single point).
• Membership ceases if the reason for being
  appointed ends.
• Elected on the basis of procedures determined by
  the authority, but elected by the constituents.

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Schools Forums WHO Schools Members

• Will be possible for Headteachers to be
  represented by suitable, financially aware
  members of senior management teams including
  Bursars
• Will be requirement for LAs to consult the Forum
  on arrangements for allowing substitutes to
  attend meetings on behalf of schools members and
  non-schools members and to vote on their behalf.

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Schools Forums WHO Non-Schools Members

• No more than one fifth of the membership
  (although about to become no more than one-third)
• Currently not mandatory to have non-schools
  members.
• Education and Skills Bill

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Schools Forums WHO Non-Schools Members

• Where there are non-schools members these will
  need to include a representative of PVI sector
  and 14-19 partnership.
• Where there are non schools members must consider
  seeking nominations from the Church of England
  and Roman Catholic diocese (and any other faith
  bodies where they have schools).

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Schools Forums WHO Restrictions and Observers

• Restrictions
• Elected Members holding an executive role
• Officers with a strategic role
• Observers
• LSC
• Elected Members or Senior Officers (participate
  but not vote)
• An academy (if one or more in the LA area)

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Schools Forums WHAT
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Schools Forums WHAT

• Challenge
• Are you able to challenge your LA?
• What might you need to do to enable this (if you
  cant)?
• Partnership
• Do you have confidence in your LA?
• Are stakeholders properly represented?
• Context
• Is the Forum working in context its not just
  money
• Do the Childrens Services leaders value the Forum

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Schools Forums

• Bullet notes to all Headteachers highlighting
  decisions and actions with links to a Schools
  Forum page
• Networking opportunities with other local schools
  forums
• Training
• Placemat

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DCFS The Department for Children, Schools and
Families allocates resources to each Local
Authority or LA with responsibility for
Education. This is called the Dedicated Schools
Grant or DSG
CLG The Department for Communities and Local
Government gives a grant to each Local Authority
called the Revenue Support Grant, or RSG.
Together with the authoritys share of business
rates it is used to pay for a range of
services, such as the non schools part of
education, health and the police.
LSC The Learning and Skills Council
Local Authority for schools
Other revenue Local Authorities raise money
through the council tax. Some of this money may
support the Education Budget.
Standards Fund Money for specific initiatives to
raise standards in schools and other grants.
Dedicated Schools Grant (formerly Schools
Budget) The DSG covers all pupil provision.
LSC funds post-16 education in schools with 6th
Forms. Uses the LSC formula for distribution
School Standards Grant A cheque for every
Headteacher SSG(P) Personalisation Funding
Individual schools Most of the money goes into
Individual Schools Budgets, which are decided by
the LAs through their local funding formula. LAs
also devolve money from the Standards Fund and
other grants.
Schools Forums Each LA must consult its Schools
Forum on its Schools Budget plans and the central
expenditure limit (CEL)
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Schools Forums WHERE are we going?

• Schools Forum Review
• Launched in the new year
• Debate

Children's Services Funding ECM
Schools Funding - DSG