To consider the response to the Department for Education consultation on the 2015-16 school funding arrangements.

The Forum considered the response to the Department for Education (DfE) consultation on the 2015-16 school funding arrangements.

The Schools Finance Manager (SFM) gave a presentation, a copy of which has been placed on the Minute book with the agenda papers. The presentation summarised the Department for Education’s fairer funding proposals.  It also suggested a timetable for meetings of the Budget Working Group and the Forum to work on a consultation paper for schools and agree a provisional funding formula by the end of October 2015.

The SFM welcomed the fact that the indicative national formula showed a £2.6m funding increase for Herefordshire Schools in 2015/16 to £93.5m.  However, he suggested that the figure should be treated with caution until the final details were confirmed by the DfE in June/July.   Applying the minimum funding values to the October pupil census gave an indicative funding value of £95.8m.  He considered it prudent to plan on the basis of £93.5m for the consultation document with an option included should additional funding be forthcoming.

The report set out the Herefordshire 2014/15 funding values alongside the DfE indicative minimum funding levels for 2015-16.  The SFM noted that the DfE figures had not separated out the funding for PFI and business rates which amounted to some £1.1m and therefore distorted any comparison.  In addition it was for the local authority and the Forum to determine the funding values.

He reminded the Forum of the current five year funding strategy which was based on moving towards a 1:1.23 primary to secondary funding ratio by April 2018.  This had been a logical approach.  However it was open to the Forum to review and change the approach.

In discussion the following principal points were made:

·         The requirement to provide free school meals for Key Stage 1 pupils and the funding implications of this were discussed. 

·         It was noted that the DfE indicative minimum funding level for primary schools was £117,082 whereas the Herefordshire value for 2014/15 was £99,000 and under the current strategy would reduce in 2015/16 to £93,000.  The SFM reiterated that business rates needed to be deducted from the DfE indicative figures which in any case were not directly comparable.  The BWG would consider this issue and review how any additional funding might be allocated.  The Assistant Director Education and Commissioning suggested that in reviewing the funding options the BWG should take into account the current strategy and pupil outcomes noting the desire to improve from prior attainment across the different phases of education.

The SFM noted that the front page of the consultation document indicated a response date of 5 June 2014.  However, in other parts of the documentation it was suggested that the closing date for responses was 30 April 2014.  A draft response to each of the questions in the consultation paper was circulated and discussed by the Forum.  It was proposed that the responses as agreed in principle should be circulated to schools and the SFM authorised to submit the final response.

RESOLVED:

That      (a)     it be noted that the Budget Working Group would consider options for the formula funding values for 2015/16 and report to the Forum; and

            (b)        the responses as set out on the paper circulated at the meeting be endorsed in principle and circulated to schools allowing for further comment by 11 April 2014 and the Schools Finance Manager authorised to submit the final response to the Department for Education by the required date.