Agenda and draft minutes

Andrew Downes was nominated as Chairman.  This was seconded and the nomination was agreed.

David Bridger was nominated as Vice-Chairman.  This was seconded and the nomination was agreed.

RESOLVED that Andrew Downes be appointed Chairman and David Bridger be appointed Vice-Chairman for the 2013/14 academic year.

Apologies were received from Anna Bosher (Non-School Representative – Catholic Church), Nick Cross (Secondary Academy Head Teacher), Matt Rampton (Primary Academy Head Teacher) and Councillor Stephen Wells (Portfolio Holder for Education).

Apologies were also received from Sam Parrett (Non-School Representative – 14-19 Partnership) and John Hunt attended as her substitute.

There were no declarations of interest.

In considering the minutes of the previous meeting, Colin Ashford noted that he had sent his apologies for the meeting and requested that this be reflected in the minutes.

The Head of Schools Finance Support confirmed that the parent who had contacted the Chairman of the Schools’ Forum with concerns about the current primary Age Weighted Pupil Unit level compared to the secondary level had been advised to submit a formal Freedom of Information request.

RESOLVED that, subject to the correction set out above, the minutes of the meeting held on 18^th July 2013 be agreed and matters arising be noted.

Report ED13098

Members of the Forum considered a report outlining the progress of the planned expansion of Glebe school.

The number of children diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Borough was growing, and it had been identified that there would be a projected shortfall of 120 specialist ASD places for young people aged 11-16 years and 36 places for young people aged 16+ years by 2021.

On 25^th July 2012, the Council’s Executive gave ‘in principle’ approval to the expansion of Glebe School by 2 forms of entry (16 pupils) from September 2014, with 12 additional pupil places in Years 12 and 13.  This would be subject to statutory consultation and would provide a total of 104 additional places at the school which could be used to provide places to both new pupils and existing Bromley pupils who currently received schooling out of the Borough.  At the meeting, the Council’s Executive requested that the outcome of the consultation be reported back and, subject to a satisfactory outcome, that the Executive approve a loan from the Council’s reserves of £4.8m to complete the necessary building works to be repaid by the Dedicated Schools Grant over 6 years and the procurement of the consultancy relating to the building.

The consultation for the proposed permanent expansion of the school had run from 11^th January to 15^th February 2013, and produced 36 responses which were largely supportive of the proposals.  The Governing Body also supported the proposed changes to school organisation, as did the School Council, which accepted the reasons for expansion and the subsequent increased student numbers but expressed a number of concerns that would be addressed by the school on an ongoing basis.  In consideration of this, the Portfolio Holder for Education had resolved to proceed with formal statutory proposals to implement the permanent expansion of the Glebe Foundation School from September 2014. 

On 12^th June 2013 a statutory notice was published in the News Shopper, inviting comments or objections to the proposal to enlarge the school by 16 places per year from September 2014. This was displayed as required on the school gates, in local libraries and circulated to all interested parties, as well as published on the Bromley Council website, for a six week period ending 24^th July 2013.  No objections to the proposals had been received, and this was reported to the meeting of the Education Portfolio Holder on 21^st August 2013.  Following consideration, the Education Portfolio had resolved that the expansion of the Glebe Foundation School with effect from 1st September 2014 be approved as set out in the statutory notice. 

In considering funding of the expansion of Glebe School, it had been identified that there was an underspend of £5.4m of the Dedicated Schools Grant for 2012/13, which would be carried forward into future years until required and would negate the requirement for the loan from reserves.  The expansion would therefore be funded from an £800k contribution to capital  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Report ED13099

Members of the Forum considered a report outlining the final Dedicated Schools Grant allocation for 2013/14.  Following the deduction of the academy and high needs recoupment, Bromley’s final allocation had been confirmed as £129,123,000.  The Local Authority expenditure was unchanged with the exception of academy and high needs expenditure which was now showing as recoupment and was therefore offset against the income. 

A surplus of income over expenditure had been identified which totalled £1,085,452.  This was mainly due to the increase in the number of pupils used to calculate the Early Years Funding, which was likely to be offset by an increase in in-year expenditure on these pupils, and a decrease in the amount of funding that had been recouped from the Local Authority for academies, relating specifically to the adjustment for Special Educational Needs funding for the period April to August 2013.

In considering the surplus of income of expenditure for 2013/14, the Head of Schools Finance Support confirmed that this funding could only be utilised in the Early Years or High Needs funding blocks for the 2013/14 year, however this restriction would not apply if the funding was carried forward as a surplus to 2014/15.

Alison Regester highlighted the importance of ensuring the Special Needs supplement, which provided support for children in Early Years settings who had been identified as having additional needs, continued to be funded.  The Vice-Chairman confirmed that any proposal to reduce or discontinue this supplement would be provided to the Schools’ Forum for its consideration, at which time alternate funding options could be explored. 

In discussion, Members of the Forum noted that surplus of income of expenditure for 2013/14 might be utilised in part or in full by the increase in the number of pupils used to calculate the Early Years Funding, and that no alternate funding options should be considered for the 2013/14 financial year.  Any remaining surplus should be carried forward to 2014/15, when the use of these funds could be considered across all three funding blocks.

RESOLVED that:

1)  The final Dedicated Schools Grant allocation for 2013/14 be noted; and,

2)  The surplus of income of expenditure not utilised in-year to fund the increase in Early Years pupils be carried forward to 2014/15.

Report ED13100

Members of the Forum considered a report providing an update on the proposed changes to the Local Authority Funding Formula based on the outcome of consultation undertaken with schools.

The Department for Education had recently issued further guidance to assist local authorities and Schools’ Forums in planning the local implementation of the reformed funding system for 2014/15.  Changes included a reduction in the upper limit of the lump sum to £175,000, the potential use of a different lump sum for primary and secondary schools, and the attainment measure for secondary schools changing to target pupils achieving Level 3 or below in either English or Maths rather than in both.

The way that these changes to the funding system would impact Bromley had been considered by the Schools’ Forum at its meeting on 18^th July 2013.  It had been agreed that the lump sum provided to secondary and primary schools would be adjusted to £175,000, but that there would be no other changes for primary schools.  For secondary schools the changes would be more significant as the number of pupils eligible for funding under the new attainment measure had increased from 1249 to 3441 pupils.  As a result of this, and following consultation with the Schools’ Forum Working Group, it had been proposed that the per pupil sum for attainment be adjusted to reflect the increased demand with the allocation of £2,500 for pupils not attaining in English and Maths in 2013/14 reduced to £1,250 in 2014/15 for any pupil not attaining in English or Maths.  It had been thought that pupils who were not attaining in both subjects would receive £2,500, which was equivalent to the 2013/14 funding allocation, however recent guidance from the Department for Education advised that the same amount of funding would be allocated to each pupil, whether they were achieving Level 3 or below in English, Maths or in both.  Additional funding in excess of £1m would be required to support the proposal to allocate £1,250 as the per pupil attainment measure, and the Schools’ Forum Working Group had considered whether this funding could be taken from the Age Weighted Pupil Unit or from the lump sum.

In considering how to fund the change to the attainment measure for secondary schools, seven consultation responses had been received from schools in the Borough.  One response from a primary school supported funding the change through the Age Weighted Pupil Unit and noted that primary schools could not afford a further reduction in budgets.  A late response to the consultation had also supported this option.  Two responses from secondary schools supported the use of a zero lump sum.  The remaining four responses highlighted that Bromley Head Teachers did not support either of the proposed funding mechanisms and requested that the Schools’ Forum consider the issue in more detail.  Mrs Karen Raven had subsequently circulated an alternative solution to secondary schools which proposed that the secondary lump sum be retained by schools and that the existing £250,000  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

There was no other business.

The venue for future meetings will be confirmed prior the meeting.

Thursday 21^st November 2013

Thursday 23^rd January 2014

Thursday 13^th February 2014

Thursday 20^th March 2014

The venue for future meetings will be confirmed prior the meeting.

4.30pm, Thursday 21^st November 2013

4.30pm, Thursday 23^rd January 2014

4.30pm, Thursday 13^th February 2014

4.30pm, Thursday 20^th March 2014