Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received for the absence of Margy Bushell (Primary), Angela Winch (Primary), Julian Dutnall (Secondary Academy), Joe Webster (Secondary), Daniel Gricks (Secondary Academy), John McKernan (Secondary Academy), Tracey Walker (Primary), Katrina Karwacinski (Early Years PVI Sector) and David Thomas (UNISON) (Jennifer Kingaby substituting). 

The Chairman welcomed Sangita Dhar from the EFA who was attending the meeting as an observer and Jennifer Kingaby who was substituting for David Thomas as the UNISON representative. It was noted that Chris Hobson would be leaving the meeting at 9.50 am.

The notes are attached at Appendix A.

The Forum considered and agreed the notes of the meeting held on 24 October 2013.

Item 81- De-Delegation refers - The decision on behalf of maintained secondary schools is not to de-delegate the funding for the Attendance and Behaviour and EAL services.

Minute 82 – De-Delegation

It was noted that representatives of the secondary maintained sector had decided not to de-delegate the funding for Attendance and Behaviour and EAL services.

Trade Union Facility Time

The Forum was advised that guidance was still being sought from the DFE in relation to Trade Union facility time and it was agreed to defer the matter  to the January 2014 meeting.

(i)        To note the vacancies for a representative from Pupil Referral Units and from Governors of Primary and Special Schools.

(ii)       To note the balance of representation between maintained schools and academies.  See Appendix B attached.

(i)           The Chairman announced that Emma Field would be leaving the Forum and that this would be her last meeting and on behalf of the Forum thanked her for her contributions. It was noted that there would be an election for a new Primary Academy representative.

(ii)          The Chairman advised that there were currently the following vacancies for Forum membership:

Representative – Pupil Referral Unit

Governor – Special Schools

Governor – Primary Maintained Sector

It was noted that there had been some interest in the vacancy for a special school governor and that David Allen would be seeking nominations to fill the primary governor vacancy.

(iii)         The Forum noted the balance of representation between maintained schools and academies as outlined in Appendix B. The number of representatives should be proportionate to the number of pupils attending maintained schools and academies. The numbers of pupils per representative was approximately 2,000 but was lower for maintained secondary schools because there was both a head teacher and governor rep and also for primary academies because there was one rep for only four academies. It was noted that any Free Schools, UTCs or Studio Schools would be represented by academy representatives.

The Forum agreed to retain the current membership for the time being but keep it under review in the event of further academy conversions.

In October 2013 the DFE published an update to its Schools Forums Operational and Good Practice Guidance.

A summarised version is attached at Appendix C and the full document will be tabled for discussion at the meeting.

Should members wish to read the guidance in advance of the meeting it can be found at:

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/financialmanagement/schoolsrevenuefunding/schoolsforums/a0070290/guidance-for-schools'-forums-on-their-role

The Forum was asked to consider the updated Schools Forums Operational and Good Practice Guidance published by the DFE. A full report was tabled at the meeting. Members of the Forum found the document most informative.

In addition to school representatives, there were non-school representatives for 16-19 providers, Early Years PVI providers and Vulnerable Children.  It was noted that there was currently no faith school representation. Mary Pattinson would raise this at a meeting with the diocese. School reps needed to constitute at least 2/3 of the total membership.

The Forum noted that it was compliant with requirements of structure, voting and elections and in the balance of members representing the various groups.

Functions of the Forum

It was noted that the scheme of financial management had not been reviewed for a while and would re-launched before the start of the new financial year.

Elections would be held at the expiry of members’ terms of office (four years).

A copy of the School Forum Powers would be available for reference at future meetings.

The Local Authority could appeal to the DFE if the Schools Forum rejects its proposals.

The Local Authority cannot delegate its decision making powers to School Forums – ie funding formula decisions.

·         Regulations state that the local authority must consult the Schools Forum annually in connection with various schools budget functions, namely:

·         amendments to the school funding formula, for which the voting is restricted by the exclusion of non-schools members except for PVI representatives

·         arrangements for the education of pupils with special educational needs

·         arrangements for the use of pupil referral units and the education of children otherwise than at school

·         arrangements for early years provision

·         administrative arrangements for the allocation of central government grants paid to schools via the local authority

Consultation must take place when a local authority is proposing a contract for supplies and services funded from the Schools Budget and consider the terms of the contract at least one month prior to issue of tenders.

For 2014-15, local authorities will need to discuss with the Schools Forum any proposals to:

·         vary the Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG)

·         use exceptional factors

·         vary pupil numbers

·         allow additional categories of, or spending on, central budgets

·         amend the sparsity factor

·         vary the lump sum for amalgamating schools

·         vary the protection for special schools and special academies

·         Proposals will need to be approved by the Secretary of State.

Membership

There is no maximum size of a School Forum.  The current Havering Schools Forum membership stands at 27.

School Forum members’ needs skills and competencies to manage Forum business and to take a strategic view across the whole education estate and represent the group that elected them. They should also be  contactable as well as proactive in raising issues and communicating decisions.

Term of Office

Membership of the Forum ceases when a member resigns his/her office by which he/she became eligible for election or appointment. 

School Members

Head teachers can be represented by other senior members of staff within their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91.

To consider the impact of the Government decision to provide free school meals to all Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children and to disadvantaged students in Further Education Colleges and Sixth Form Colleges from September 2014.

The Forum were asked to consider the impact of the Government decision to provide free school meals to all Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children and to disadvantaged students in Further Education colleges and Sixth Form Colleges from September 2014. 

Maria Thompson advised that the College facilities would be able to cope with the increased demand.

Concerns were raised by schools members with regard to timetabling mealtimes, costs, the lack of physical space and the effect on Pupil Premiums.  It was agreed that there was a need to start planning early for September 2014.   It was estimated that there would be a 20% increase in take up in Havering but there was concern over getting parents to register pupils for free school meals and local authorities could not demand that parents register their children.  This would not affect schools until 2015-16.  It was agreed that there would need to be a mechanism in place to identify who was entitled to free meals particularly with the introduction of universal credit.

The Chair summarised that the scheme could be difficult to introduce in a non-penalising way and unfunded.  Due to the current lack of clarity, it was agreed that the matter be kept as an agenda item for subsequent meetings.

(i)        To note that the Pupil Premium for 2014-15 has been announced as follows to pupils from Reception to Year 11:

          Primary age pupils:                £1,300

          Secondary age pupils:             £935

          Looked After Children:          £1,900

The criteria for the £1,900 as been extended to children who:

·                have been looked after for 1 day or more

·                are adopted

·                leave care under a Special Guardianship Order or a Residence Order.

(ii)       To receive a DFE report on undeclared eligibility of free school meals.  A summary of the research report is attached at Appendix D and the full document will be tabled for discussion at the meeting. Should members wish to read the guidance in advance of the meeting it can be found at:

          https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupils-not-claiming-free-school-meals

(iii)      To consider the introduction of an evaluation of schools’ use of Pupil Premium.

The Forum noted the Pupil Premium for 2014-2015 as follows:

Primary age pupils               £1,300

Secondary age pupils         £   935

Looked After Children         £1,900

The criteria for Looked After Children had been extended to include:

Children looked after for one day or more.

Children who have been adopted after leaving care

Children who have left care under a Special Guardianship Order or a Residence Order

Leave care under a Special Guardianship Order of a Residence order.

The Forum noted the full DFE report on Pupils Not Claiming Free School meals, and in particular, the Free School Meals criteria:

·         Income Support

·         Income-based Job Seekers' Allowance

·         Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

·         Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

·         the Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit

·         Child Tax Credit, provided they are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by HMRC  

·         Children who receive a qualifying benefit in their own right are also entitled to receive FSM.

Families who meet the entitlement criteria outlined above have to register for FSM via schools or LAs. Some LAs have online forms which allow parents to apply quickly through their website. Other LAs will ask parents to complete a hand written form, or ask them to contact their child’s school directly. Pupils at Academies apply for free school meals via the Academy. This could be online or by completing an application form.

It was noted that in Havering had a 22% under-registration rate and members discussed ways to reduce this figure. It was mentioned that there is a stigma attached to free school meals and it is that distinction that people worry about.  It was also suggested that a good proportion of FSM (Free School Meals) children preferred packed lunches.

The Forum were agreed that there should be a process of validation for FSM that met with standards of good practice

Mary Pattinson stated that data was currently being scrutinised and there were discussions with Public Health relating to this matter. The Forum’s comments would be noted.

A consultation paper has been sent to schools and academies on the school funding changes for 2014-15 based on October 2012 data.  This is attached for information at Appendix E.

A consultation paper had been sent to all schools and academies on school funding changes for 2014-2015 and responses had not as yet been received. The Forum agreed to defer this item to the meeting in January 2014.

The DFE process for LAs’ preparation for the Schools Block allocation 2014-15 includes an estimate by LAs of their DSG based on October 2013 data.  This estimate will be tabled at the meeting as the data has not been published at the time of preparing this agenda.

The item was deferred as data had not arrived from the DFE.

The next meetings have been arranged as follows:

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on 16 January 2014.  Members would be notified of the venue in due course.

There was no other business was raised.