Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 October 2018 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

a) To agree the minutes of 17 October 2018 as a correct record.

b) The Business Advisor (Schools) reported on progress made on “Action” items as follows:

·         Falling Rolls Fund / Under-Subscription (item 349 page 5): The sub-group met on 27 November and the feedback from this group is picked up under agenda item 10. Responding to the specific question that was asked, regarding how the Ofsted category of a recent academy conversion is determined, the ESFA has confirmed that the most recent Ofsted judgement for the school prior to conversion is to be used.

·         Formula Consultations (Items 350, 351 & 352): These consultations have been completed and feedback is presented to this meeting under agenda items 10, 11 and 12. An analysis of the feedback is tabled.

·         DSG Central Items and De-Delegated Funds (item 353 page 9): A further report is presented to this meeting under agenda item 14. This includes the re-issue of the analysis of Trade Union Facilities Time for the Forum’s consideration.

·         Amendments to the Scheme for Financing Schools (item 354 page 9): The Scheme and the other 2 documents (FRfMS and SCSOs) were agreed without amendment by the Council’s Governance Committee on 29 November. The final documents are now published on Bradford Schools Online with a ‘go live’ date of 1 January 2019.

·         PFI / BSF Contractual Matters (item 357 page 10): Having discussed this with the relevant officers, there is nothing further to report to the Schools Forum at this time. An update is anticipated to be provided to the March 2019 meeting.

Other Matters Arising

·         The Business Advisor reported that the ESFA has agreed to our ‘dis-application’ request for Silsden Primary School for 2019/20, which was agreed by the Schools Forum in September.

·         The DfE’s the Teacher’s Pay Grant for 2018/19 has now been allocated. The DfE required the Authority to determine the allocation of a block grant to high needs providers. We did this in consultation with the District Achievement Partnership and separately with the providers that were not present at the DAP meeting where this was considered.

·         The DfE has not yet published its consultation on the future funding arrangements for education in hospital and medical home tuition provision. This had been expected in October. The Business Advisor stated that we are concerned about this consultation as we currently receive a specific allocation of £1.6m within our High Needs Block and have ‘heard on the grapevine’ that the values of funding to be allocated through a new formula are substantially reduced. If so, this would place greater pressure on our DSG.

• Unplaced children at the October Census: The Business Advisor reminded Members that in previous years we have reported the number of children that were ‘in the system’ but have not been allocated a place in a primary or secondary school before the October Census was taken. On a simple basis, we do not receive DSG funding for the children that are not placed by this time. The figures unplaced, in the context of the total number of applications, over the last few years have been:

The Business Advisor reported that the equivalent figure for the October 2018 Census is 151 out of 1,800 applications (8.4%). The Chair reported that the Head of Admissions has discussed with primary colleagues how to improve the placement rate for the primary phase next year but identified that the larger number unplaced was is the secondary phase. The Chair asked that this be raised with the Secondary CEOs. An Academies Member said that they would raise this at the December CEOs meeting.

Resolved –

(1)       That progress made on “Matters Arising” be noted.

(2)       That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 October 2018 be signed as a correct record with the agreed amendments to the meeting attendance.

ACTION:       City Solicitor

                        Business Advisor (Schools)