Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Marilyn Bell (Governor, The Fenland Federation), Vicky Cook (Head Teacher, Welbourn C of E Primary School), Helen Hilton (Head Teacher, Little Gonerby C of E Infant School), Jeremy Newnham (Head Teacher, Caistor Yarborough Academy), Lea Mason (Executive Head Teacher, Lincolnshire Wolds Federation), Matthew Orford (Director of Education, Linkage College), James Todd (Governor, Woodlands Infant and Nursery School) and Geraldine Willders (Head Teacher, St Mary's Catholic Primary School).

No declarations of members' interest were declared at this stage of the proceedings.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting of the Lincolnshire Schools' Forum held on 5 October 2016 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to 'Declarations of Members' Interest' at Minute number 44 being amended to read as follows 'The Vice-Chairman, Geraldine Willders, declared an additional interest in Item 9 – De-Delegation of Maintained Primary School Budgets 2017/18 and 2018/19 in her role as consultant Head Teacher supporting Maintained Primary Schools commissioned by the local authority'.

(To receive a report from Mark Popplewell (Head of Finance, Children's Services), which provides the Schools' Forum with an update on school funding arrangements for 2017/18; and seeks support for the Local Authority's proposals relating to a number of centrally held budgets)

Consideration was given to a report from Mark Popplewell, Head of Finance, Children's Services, which advised the Schools Forum on school funding arrangements for 2017/18; and sought support from the Forum for the Local Authority's (LA) proposals relating to a number of centrally held budgets.

In presenting the report, the Head of Finance, Children's Services made particular to the following points:-

·         It was highlighted that the government was not planning to make any changes to the school funding arrangements for mainstream schools in 2017/18; and that the government was proposing to introduce a schools national funding formula in 2018/19, which was intending to provide greater consistency and fairness in funding across the country.  The Committee noted that the consultation period concerning the proposed changes closed on 22 March 2017; and the LA encouraged all schools to respond.

It was also highlighted that a high needs national funding formula consultation was also out for stakeholder consideration with a closing date of the 22 March 2017.  The intention of the consultation was to provide a better distribution of funding to LA's. 

The Committee noted that there was still a significant amount of work to be done before school budgets were due to be published on the 28 February 2017.

·         Background - The report presented provided the Forum with information relating to how the operation of the Dedicated Schools  Grant (DSG) would remain largely unchanged;

·         School Funding Announcements - Page three of the report, provided details relating to the 2017/18 DSG allocations, and it was reported that Table 1 highlighted that there still remained a significant differential between Lincolnshire's per pupil funding rate for mainstream schools and the national average; and that stage 2 of the government consultation planned for 2018/19 was intending to provide fairer funding across the country;

·         DSG allocation 2017/18 - The Forum was advised that the LA was currently working with the early year's sector to determine a new early year's national funding formula (EYNFF) in light of the government funding changes.  The Forum was advised further that an additional Schools' Forum meeting had been arranged for 22 February 2017, to discuss these changes.  It was noted that the government established LA universal entitlement rate had been set at the minimum funding rate of £4.30 per hour per pupil, compared to the national average rate of £4.78.  The Committee noted further that Lincolnshire's indicative allocation for additional 3 & 4 year olds entitlement for working families was £4.582m, which represented the period September 2017 to March 2018; and that funding was at the same rate as the early year's entitlement up to 15 hours.

The Committee noted that funding for the most disadvantaged two year olds was being increased in 2017/18, and Lincolnshire's hourly rate per pupil would be £5.20 compared to the national average of £5.39.  The Committee noted further that details would be made available at the additional meeting due to be held in February.

It was also reported that for 2017/18 the government  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

(To receive a report from Mark Popplewell (Head of Finance, Children's Services), which provides the Schools' Forum with latest Section 251 benchmarking data published by the Department of Education in September 2016)

The Committee gave consideration to a report from Mark Popplewell, Head of Finance, Children's Services, which shared with the Schools' Forum the latest Section 251 benchmarking data which had been published by the Department of Education in September 2016.

The Head of Finance, Children's Services guided the Forum through the report and the benchmarking data as detailed at Appendix 1.  The report presented considered the key service activity subtotals with in Appendix 1 concerning DSG and Council funded budgets, and highlighted a number of key points/issues relating to them.  It was noted that the s251 benchmarking data would continue to be used by the LA each year, to inform its future spending plans.

The Forum was advised that overall the Lincolnshire DSG position had not changed significantly since the previous year.  It was noted that Lincolnshire's DSG funding remained low, and the 'per pupil' spending on the Schools Budget was £388 less that the England average.  This situation was compounded by the fact that Lincolnshire County Council's spending was £134 per pupil more on school transport that the England average.  One member asked for further information regarding how the Council's Home to School Transport dealt with a situation of a family going to more than one school.  It was agreed that information would be forwarded to members of the Forum after the meeting.

In conclusion, officers encouraged schools to respond to the government consultations on school-related funding, bearing in mind the implications it would have from a school level perspective.

RESOLVED

            That the Section 251 benchmarking data presented be noted.

(To receive a report from Adrian Clarke, (Education Reorganisation Officer, Children's Services), which provides information on the latest number of academies, and pupils in academies)

Consideration was given to a report from John O'Connor, Children's Services Manager, Education Support, which provided the Forum with information on the latest number of academies and pupils in academies.

The Head of Finance, Children's Services presented the report and advised the Forum of the position statement provided was as at 1 December 2016, and the pupil figures were based on the October 2016 census data.

It was highlighted that since that last meeting there had been two further conversions to academy status.  This brought the total number of primary academies to 79, which was 28.2% of the total; and that the number of pupils educated in primary academies was 20,714 FTE, which was 37.3% of the total.

As suggested at the previous meeting, the report contained information pertaining to the status of academies.  The report highlighted that there were thirty-six active multi-academy trusts within Lincolnshire and that there was a total of ninety-nine Lincolnshire academies that were members of multi-academy trust, which equated to 69.2% of all Lincolnshire Academies.  It was noted that forty-four (30.8%) of Lincolnshire academies were not members of multi-academy trusts.

It was highlighted that there were eight schools currently targeted to academy status by 1 June 2017. 

RESOLVED

            That the Academies Update report be noted.

(This item provides the Schools' Forum with an opportunity to discuss potential items for future meetings for inclusion in the Work Programme)

Members of the Forum were invited to put forward items for inclusion in future agenda items.  None were received at the meeting.

RESOLVED

That the Lincolnshire Schools' Forum Work Programme presented be agreed, subject to the inclusion of an update report on the New Emotional Wellbeing Service for Children and Young People to the April meeting.