Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Andrew Fowler, Clive Wisby, Martin Flowers, Cllr Sheila Gallagher, Cllr Gary Haley and Steve Horne.

The Forum is asked to approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting held on 11 February 2021

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

Matters Arising

The Vice Chair welcomed David Brophy to his first meeting of the Schools Forum. David is the newly appointed representative for Secondary Academy Governors.

Carole Smith, Resources and Digital

The Forum received a report proposing to increase Special School top up weightings by 2%. Special School Headteachers have been consulted and no objections were received.

It was suggested that the same level of detail be provided for the Special School funding formula as is provided for mainstream schools. It was noted that this is not as straightforward as in mainstream schools however if the Forum was interested in receiving this information it could be provided.

RESOLVED    -           That the Schools Forum approved the 2% increase in the

Special School weighting for Special School top ups.

Carole Smith, Resources and Digital

A report was received proposing that mainstream high needs top up rates be increased in line with mainstream MFG of 2%.

The point was made that as a benchmark this does not reflect what schools actually get. It was also suggested that it would be helpful to understand how the funding is used in mainstream to better understand the continuum of support to see the funding following the child.

It was noted that this is an allocation model only although it was agreed that it would be helpful to share the special school models as it would be worth looking at models for all sectors. It was also noted that it is applied differently per child.

RESOLVED    -           That the Schools Forum approved the mainstream banding

proposal.

Carole Smith, Resources and Digital

A report was presented highlighting the need for a Fixed Cost Formula review for River Tyne Academy (RTA) following the move from three sites to two. The Academy is now based at Millway and the old Ravensworth Terrace sites.

It was proposed that a sub-group of the Forum be set up to develop a fair and transparent fixed costs formula.

Volunteers for the sub-group were; Christina Jones, Michelle Richards, Brendan Robson, Andy Ramanandi and Steve Haigh.

RESOLVED    -           That the Schools Forum agreed to the forming of a Schools

Forum sub-group to undertake a formula review of RTA’s fixed costs and that interim arrangements be put in place until the new fixed costs are agreed and approved by Schools Forum.

Terence Appleby, Resources and Digital

The Forum received a report on the budget for DSG for 2021/22.  It was reported that there is an increase in the maintained schools budget share to £5.128m, an increase in the High Needs Block of £1.099m and a net reduction in the Central Services Schools Block of £0.032m.

It was requested that a breakdown on the High Needs Budget be provided and it was noted that this would be looked into for the next meeting.

RESOLVED    -           That the Schools Forum agreed the budget for 2021/22.

Carole Smith, Resources and Digital

AnThe Forum was advised that the DfE High Needs National Funding Formula Consultation was open for responses and that the deadline for any responses is 24 March 2021.

It was noted that the Local Authority will be responding to the consultation and the Forum was asked whether it wished to respond.

The Forum agreed to use the Local Authority response.

RESOLVED    -           That the Schools Forum considered the information in the

report and agreed that a response be made in the Forum’s name.

The Chair advised that he would be stepping down from his role on the Forum when his term as School Governor ends in September.

Thursday 13 May 2021 at 2.00pm

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 13 May 2021 at 2pm.