The City Solicitor will report the names of alternate Members who are attending the meeting in place of appointed Members.

Members will be asked to consider any issues raised by schools.

·         Letter to the Chair from Bingley Grammar School regarding de-delegation for maternity costs in the secondary phase in 2017/18.

·         Communication to the Chair from the CEO of BDAT regarding Trade Union Facilities Time.

Resolved –

(1)  Re. the letter to the Chair from Bingley Grammar School regarding de-delegation for maternity costs in the secondary phase in 2017/18, that a report is presented to the next meeting, which enables the Schools Forum to make a recommendation on the matter.

(2)  Re. the communication to the Chair from the CEO of BDAT regarding Trade Union Facilities Time, that this be considered within the established review process, that will beginning in September, which informs the Schools Forum’s annual decisions on de-delegation matters.

Action:          Business Adviser (Schools)

Members will be asked to consider, in Document HI, newly proposed allocations to schools and academies from the established DSG Growth Fund in 2016/17.

Recommended –

The Schools Forum is asked to agree the proposed Growth Fund allocations shown in Document HI.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

Resolved –

That the Growth Fund allocations set out in Document HI be agreed.

Action:          Business Adviser (Schools)

Members will be asked to approve the proposed approach to the election of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Schools Forum for 2017.

         (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

Members were asked to approve the proposed approach for the elections of both the Chair and Vice Chair of the Schools Forum for 2017/18.

The Chair explained, due to his position as a CEO of an academy trust that is actively involved in the development of SEND provision in Bradford, there will regularly be matters discussed and decided by the Schools Forum for which he will need to declare interests. Following some thought on this matter, the Chair explained that he has decided to not put himself forward for the Chair of the Schools Forum for the next term, but still wishes to be an active academy member.

The Chair also reported to the Forum that, following discussions with Dianne Richardson (the current Vice Chair), Dianne would like to stand for nomination / election for Chair for 2017/18.

The Business Advisor, on behalf of the Schools Forum, thanked the Chair for his leadership of the Forum and for the gravitas and insight he has brought to difficult and complicated discussions. Forum Members expressed their thanks through a round of applause. 

Resolved –

That the established approach (email) be followed for the collection of nominations and for the election of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Schools Forum for 2017/18.

Action:          Business Adviser (Schools)

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document HJ, which provides an update and asks Members to review the Forum’s membership composition.

Recommended –

The Schools Forum is asked to consider the update provided and to review the proposed membership composition for 2017/18.

         (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document HJ, which provides an update on membership arrangements and asks Members to review the Authority’s proposal for the Forum’s membership composition. It was explained that it is particularly important that the Forum’s membership remains proportionate with the number of pupils in maintained schools and academies, whilst also allowing for continuity and effective decision making. If the proposed composition was agreed, the Authority would work towards this.

Forum members asked the following questions and made the following comments:

·         The Vice Chair offered to speak to BPIP about the maintained primary school Headteacher vacancy.

·         The Authority’s post of representative for vulnerable children is currently vacant and should be filled as a priority.

·         What will happen where the current incumbent of the secondary maintained school membership may no longer eligible due to conversion to academy status? The Business Advisor explained that the requirement is that, in such circumstances, the incumbent’s membership will cease. The Authority would need to approach the remaining secondary schools for representation or review the position of that membership should the post not be filled.

·         How will National Funding Formula affect the future role of the Schools Forum? The Business Advisor explained that this is currently uncertain, but the suggestion in the 2^nd stage of the DfE’s consultation was that the Forum may move its focus towards SEND / partnership work, picking up the patterns of allocation of the High Needs and Early Years Blocks.

Resolved –

The Schools Forum supports the membership composition for 2017/18 as proposed in Document HJ and agrees for this to be worked towards.

Action:          Business Adviser (Schools)

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document HK, which asks the Schools Forum to consider the recommendation from the Panel on the letter received by the Schools Forum from Oastler School.

Recommended –

The Schools Forum is asked to consider the recommendation of the Panel. The Schools Forum is asked to agree its recommendation on this matter for presentation to the Executive.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document HK, which asks the Schools Forum to consider the recommendation from the Forum’s Panel on the letter received from Oastler School on supporting the school’s deficit balance. Document HK sets out this recommendation. The Business Advisor presented the Panel’s conclusions and the Authority’s initial response to these. He explained that the Forum’s confirmed recommendation, with the Authority’s initial response, will next be presented to the Council’s Executive for decision.

Resolved –

That the Schools Forum supports the recommendation of the Panel. The Forum also recognises the initial response from the Authority to this recommendation. This recommendation be presented to the Executive for decision.

Action:          Business Adviser (Schools)

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document HL, which provides an update on a number of matters related to the 2017/18 Dedicated Schools Grant.

Recommended –

The Schools Forum is asked to consider and to note the information provided in the report.

                                                                        (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document HL, which provided an update on a number of matters related to the 2017/18 Dedicated Schools Grant. The presentation focused on:

·         The confirmation of the DSG reserve position, with a further £0.698m of general and £1.35m of early years monies from the confirmed 2016/17 outturn.

·         The simple analysis of the “£40bn”, where is more interesting to identify what is not included in the “protected budget”.

·         The changes that will need to take place in Early Years Single Funding Formula administration resulting from the 30 hours (Appendix 1) and the proposal for the collection of feedback ‘informally’ at an early stage about the Authority’s proposed direction of travel towards a ‘starters and leavers’ based counting methodology. It was explained that the EYWG meets again on 20 July to further discuss. Forum members supported the proposal to beginning to discuss these changes with colleagues as soon as possible.

In responding to the information presented on the national “£40bn” school’s core budget, a Member requested further information on grants of a significant value that are being allocated directly into schools and MATs in the District, including to Teaching School Alliances, so that this can facilitate further consideration and the monitoring of how these grants are being effectively deployed. The Member explained that, although these grants are outside the direct remit of the Schools Forum, it is important for the Forum to have full sight of the large sums of monies that are being allocated into the District, especially to the Teaching Schools Alliances, and for the Forum to understand the distribution of these funds and the impact that these have.

Resolved –

(1)  That the information contained in Document HL be noted.

(2)  That further information is provided on grants of a significant value that are being allocated directly into schools and MATs in the District, including to Teaching School Alliances, to facilitate further consideration and the monitoring of how these grants are being effectively deployed.

A presentation will be made, which provides a detailed update on SEND provision and Behaviour strategy matters. The documentation supporting the Forum consultation is included for reference at Document HM (1 and 2).

Recommended –

Members are asked to consider and respond to the presentation.

     (Judith Kirk – 01274 439238)

A comprehensive briefing (on PowerPoint) was presented by the Strategic Manager – SEND and the Strategic Manager – Early Years on the SEND Strategic Review for the Forum’s information. The presentation outlined the history, the purposes and rationale of the review, the work taking place for the delivery of sufficient high needs places and the proposals, currently out to formal consultation, for the establishment of Early Years Enhanced Special Provisions and Centres of Excellence and the creation of a traded Integrated Specialist Teaching Support Service (ISTSS) through reshaping High Needs Block funded services. It was explained that the formal consultation period is planned to run to the 31 August. The presentation also explained the development of ‘my support plan’, which is expected to be increasingly rolled out from the autumn term.

Forum Members asked a number of questions for clarification on the presentation. Members also asked the following questions and made the following comments:

·         Whether the Authority had trading models showing what the costs to schools would be of accessing the ISTSS? The Strategic Manager responded that the Authority is working on developing flexible packages and these would be available to consider in the autumn incorporating the feedback from the consultation.

·         That the cost pressures being faced by school must be considered within this review; schools may only be able to purchase what they can afford rather than what they need.

·         That the progress of the consultation and the review should continue to be an agenda item at Headteacher meetings.

·         Will we only be looking to establish about an extra 100 places after September 2018? The Strategic Manager confirmed that this will be the position (following the earlier creation of places on an interim basis between January 2017 and September 2018).

·         What is the position of SEND free school applications? The Chair responded that Bradford Authority has commissioned 2 new SEND free schools, which will create 360 places when opened. These are in addition to the Authority’s commissioning of a new SEMH school. It was clarified that these free schools will be funded for the places commissioned by the Authority (the Authority defines its commitment to the DfE in terms of number of places that will be funded rather than a guaranteed value of income).

·         Will the Schools Block be required to make further contributions to the High Needs Block in the future? The Business Advisor (Schools) stated that the purpose of the transfer of funds in this current financial year was to support the position of the High Needs Block across the medium term so that it ‘lives within its own means’. Further contributions are not assumed and there would need to be good reason for consideration of these. However, we ‘can never say never’, at least until we have more confirmed information about the National Funding Formula. The NFF may prevent further contributions from the Schools Block in any event. The pressures within the High Needs Block cannot be under estimated.

The Chair concluded the discussion by thanking  ...  view the full minutes text for item 260.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document HN, which shows the position of revenue balances held by maintained schools at 31 March 2017. The report also provides information on schools’ reporting of surplus balances and a further update on the anticipated volume of conversions of maintained schools to academy status in Bradford and the likelihood of liabilities resulting from the conversion of schools holding deficit budgets.

Recommended –

The Schools Forum is asked to note the information provided.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document HN, which shows the position of revenue balances held by maintained schools at 31 March 2017. The report also provides information on schools’ reporting of surplus balances and a further update on the anticipated volume of conversions of maintained schools to academy status in Bradford and the likelihood of liabilities resulting from the conversion of schools holding deficit budgets.

In his presentation of the report, the Business Advisor (Schools) highlighted that there is a greater number of schools in Category C (showing risk of financial difficulties in future years) than there has been in previous years and fewer schools with surplus balances in excess of the defined thresholds. 61% of maintained schools had ‘in year ‘deficits in 2016/17. He also stated that the majority of schools are continuing to progress timely action to address tighter financial times and budget deficits where these occur. He highlighted that there has been no cost to the Authority as a result of the conversion of 37 maintained schools to academy status since February 2016. However, the position for schools is increasingly challenging.

Following his presentation, the Chair invited the Deputy Director, Education, Employment and Skills, to provide more information on the position of the deficit budget of Hanson School. The Deputy Director explained that it is the Authority’s view that a large element of the school’s overspending could have been avoided had timely conversion to academy status been actioned and that the RSC’s rejection of the Authority’s plan, presented 20 months ago, for a federation option for the school, is very important in this. The Authority would emphasise that our proposed federation option is similar to the arrangement now in place following the failure to academise the school. The Deputy Director explained that discussions are currently taking place outside of the Schools Forum on these matters.

Forum Members asked a number of questions on the current position of the school, the previous sponsors, governance arrangements, transparency on this issue and also on the role of the DSG in any possible solution. The Chair summarised the Forum’s great concern, recognising the value of the current deficit and that this exceeds the resources previously set aside in the DSG to support the school. Forum Members indicated their support for the statement that the DSG cannot be responsible for a financial solution and that the value of financial support from the DSG will not exceed the value previously set aside.

Resolved –

That information contained in Document HN be noted. That the minutes of the meeting record the Forum’s significant concerns regarding the deficit position of Hanson School.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document HO, which provides the Forum with an update on the compliance of maintained schools with the Schools’ Financial Value Standard (the SFVS) at 31 March 2017.

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to consider & to note the information provided.

(Julie Cousins – 01274 432791)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document HO, which provided for members the annual update on the compliance of maintained schools with the Schools’ Financial Value Standard (the SFVS) at 31 March 2017. A Member asked whether individual schools could be given feedback on their returns. The Business Advisor stated that he would discuss this with Internal Audit who has carried out the SFVS assurance exercise.

Resolved –

That information contained in Document HO be noted.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document HP, which provides the Forum with a summary of the categorisation of maintained schools within the Local Authority’s Financial Classification of Schools for the 2017/18 academic year.

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to consider & to note the information provided.

 (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document HP, which provided for the information of Members, a summary of the categorisation of maintained schools within the Local Authority’s Financial Classification of Schools for the 2017/18 academic year.

Members did not ask any questions on the information presented.

Resolved –

That information contained in Document HP be noted.

Updates on the following Forum standing items will be provided verbally where these have not been covered within other agenda items:

·         Update from the Schools Financial Performance Group (SFPG)

·         Update on School / Academy Budgets

·         Update from the Early Years Working Group (EYWG)

·         Update from the Formula Funding Working Group (FFWG)

·         Update on Primary School Places

·         Update on Academies & Free Schools

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to note the information provided.

         (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

No resolution was passed on this item.

No resolution was passed on this item.

Please note that the dates for Schools Forum meetings for the 2017/18 academic year have been set as follows:

Wednesday 20 September 2017, 8am

Wednesday 18 October  2017, 8am

Wednesday 6 December 2017, 8am

Wednesday 10 January 2018, 8am

Wednesday 17 January 2018, 8am  (provisional meeting)

Wednesday 14 March 2018, 8am

Wednesday 16 May 2018, 8am

Wednesday 4 July 2018, 8am

The meetings will commence at 0800 in the City Hall, Bradford.

(a)   Denotes an item for ACTION

(b)   Denotes an item for INFORMATION

The next meeting of the Schools Forum is Wednesday 20 September 2017.

The clerk to the Forum was asked to look at the possibility of re-scheduling the July 2018 meeting so that this will not class with primary to secondary transition day.