Agenda item

Report EDU13073

Further to Minute 37 of the last meeting, consideration was given to a report on additional guidance that had been issued by the DfE to assist local authorities and Schools Forums with planning the local implementation of the reformed funding system for 2014-15.  The Head of the Schools Finance Team introduced the report and highlighted the nine main changes, the majority of which did not have a major impact on local arrangements.  The DfE had also issued a new Authority Proforma Tool to allow the local authority to model funding for 2014/15 on a school by school basis and the local authority was then required to submit a provisional 2014/15 school budget proforma by 31^st October 2013.

The Forum went on to discuss the two main changes that would have an impact on local schools funding i.e. i) the upper limit for the lump sum which would be reduced to £175,000 in 2014/15; and ii) the change to the attainment measure for secondary schools to target pupils achieving level 3 or below in either English OR Maths as opposed to English AND Maths in 2013/14.  Regarding the change to the lump sum in the case of primary schools this would mean a proposed reduction from the £180,000 to the capped amount.  It was suggested that as no Secondary School representatives were present there would be discussion with Secondary Heads on this change and full consultation carried out with all secondary schools on proposed models based on a lump sum of either £175,000 in line with primary schools or no lump sum at all.

In respect of the second issue relating to the attainment measure this was more complicated and two papers were circulated at the meeting showing the percentage increases for schools and data comparisons.  It was noted that for secondary schools in particular in terms of pupil numbers the new change would more than double the amount of pupils in 2014/15 attracting this funding and have considerable cost implications.  It was proposed that more modelling be done to show the full impact and that discussions be held with Head Teachers about the approach to be taken.  In order to deal with this within the time available it was proposed that a Working Group be set up to meet during the summer to draw up proposals which could be circulated early in the Autumn term.  Arising from queries concerning the attainment measure change and whether it resulted in some pupils being counted twice the Head of Schools Finance advised that she had spoken to the DfE to clarify the matter and confirmed that this assumption was correct.  The Chairman requested that the additional papers circulated at the meeting be emailed to all Forum members not present which the Officers undertook to do.  It was also agreed that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman would be members of the Working Group.

RESOLVED that a Working Group be established to consider the above implications for schools to meet during the summer and develop proposals to come back to the Forum meeting in September.