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THE
SUNDERLAND SCHOOLS FORUM
A
Schools Forum is a statutory body prescribed by regulations.
Its membership comprises Headteachers, Governors and others.
It is independent of the Authority but works closely with officers.
Its role has evolved since it was first established in 2002 with the
Forum now having greater decision making powers.
The Forum represents the views of schools with respect to the use of the
Direct Schools Grant and funding of schools in the area.
How
is the Schools Forum made up?
The representation
is as follows: -
|
Primary |
Headteacher |
Governor |
Other |
|
Infant
Schools |
1 |
|
|
|
Junior
Schools |
1 |
|
|
|
RC
Primary |
1 |
|
|
|
CE
Primary |
1 |
|
|
|
Non-category |
4 |
4 |
|
|
Total
Primary |
8 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Secondary |
|
|
|
|
Post
16 |
1 |
|
|
|
RC
Secondary |
1 |
|
|
|
CE
Secondary |
1 |
|
|
|
Foundation |
1 |
|
|
|
Non-category |
4 |
4 |
|
|
Total
Secondary |
8 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nursery |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Special |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Total
School Members |
18 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Teachers
Associations |
|
|
1 |
|
Early
Years and Childcare Partnership |
|
|
1 |
|
Children’s
Trust Board |
|
|
1 |
|
Pupil
Referral Unit |
|
|
1 |
|
Voluntary
Sector |
|
|
1 |
|
Non-schools Group – 14-19 Partnership |
|
|
1 |
|
Non-schools
Group – PVI sector |
|
|
1 |
|
Total
Non-School Members |
7 |
||
|
Total
School Forum Members |
18 |
10 |
7 |
What
does the Schools Forum do?
The
Local Authority is required to consult the Schools Forum in relation to changes
to the authority's school funding formula and other financial matters.
Among other matters, the Schools Forum considers applications for
licensed surpluses from schools in the area.
From
2006/07 Schools Forums were given additional responsibilities, including the power to
vary the Secretary of State's direction, with the agreement of the Authority,
over the split between direct school resources and services provided by the
Authority to schools.
What
happens at the Sunderland Schools Forum?
The
following is a summary of what the Schools Forum has considered in the past
year. The Schools Forum has: -
- Added representation from the PVI sector (Private, Voluntary and Independent Early Years Providers) to the membership of the Schools Forum together with representation from the 14-19 Partnership.
-
Highlighted
the need for the Local Authority to take account of Schools Forum views when the
Council determined its top priorities for spending of the Area Based Grant
(which replaced other grant funding)
-
Begun
the process to develop a new formula to fund its maintained nursery sector on
the same basis as the PVI sector.
- Considered how the Authority could take account of standards fund balances alongside main school budget when calculating end of year balances. The Forum felt that this needed to be managed in a way which was most apposite to Sunderland schools.
- Received a presentation on the 2008/09 budget settlement. Whilst there was a cash increase for education of 3.1% it was assumed that schools would make a 1% efficiency saving.
- The Forum approved the use of up to £112,000 for the establishment of KS1 provision in the PRU.
- Received a presentation on the options for Day 6 provision for excluded pupils and the consultation that was taking place with primary and secondary behaviour strategy groups.
- Considered the implications of the national delay in allocating Pathfinder monies and the importance of communication with schools.
- Agreed to re-constitute the LMS Review Group and establish a separate group for Early Years funding.
- Made suggestions about how the Authority and Schools Forum communicated with schools in licensed surplus positions and subsequent monitoring.
-
Received
details of the impact that the new Academies would have on the overall funding
position for all schools.
Academies would have one observer place on the Forum from next year.
- Received a presentation on the Children’s Trust and how it impacted on other partnerships and schools, and will receive further presentations.
- Discussed Energy Services and Automatic Metering of Utility Supplies for Schools.
- Agreed to fund the post of the Procurement Officer for Schools from the Dedicated School Grant Outturn 2007/2008
- Agreed to fund the post of the Procurement Officer for Schools from the Dedicated School Grant Outturn 2007/2008.
- Received an update on electronic procurement for schools
- Received regular updates on the work of the Standards Fund Monitoring Group (a sub-group of the Schools Forum)
Recent
minutes of Schools Forum meetings, which give a more detailed account of the
work of the Schools Forum, are available to view here: -
If
you have any difficulty in viewing these minutes, please contact the Governor
Support Team (0191
5532626
or e-mail governor@sunderland.gov.uk
THE
STANDARDS FUND MONITORING GROUP
The
Schools Forum also has a sub-group which is responsible for monitoring Standards
Fund. Unlike the Schools Forum, the
Standards Fund Monitoring Group is not a statutory body but was formed out of a
local arrangement to provide scrutiny and accountability for Standards Fund
resources that were either centrally retained or devolved to schools.
The SFMG provides reports on its work to members of the Forum
accordingly.
You
can view the minutes of recent meetings of the Standards Fund Monitoring Group:
-