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EDUCATION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND LIFELONG LEARNING SELECT COMMITTEE – 19 MAY 2003 SCHOOLS FORUM STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF
EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
This report is submitted for information, scrutiny and for determination of the timing of inputs to this Committee.
ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
(i) To note the creation of the Schools Forum.
(ii) To understand the range of its functions.
(iii) To determine when the Committee would like reports of its work and recommendations.
BACKGROUND
1.1 The Education Act 2002 established that all LEAs should create a Schools Forum. The chief functions of the forum are to provide detailed scrutiny and recommendations concerning:
· The budget making process of the Council.
· The schools’ funding formula.
· The nature, value and efficiency of schools’ contracts or service level agreements with private providers and the LEA.
· Arrangements made for the education of pupils with SEN.
· Arrangements for the use of pupil referral units and the education of children otherwise than at school.
· Arrangements for early years education.
· Arrangements for insurance.
· Administrative arrangements for the allocation of central government grants via the LEA.
· Arrangements for free schools meals.
1.2 In addition it is the Forum’s responsibility to inform governing bodies of schools of all consultations that take place as a result of its work.
1.3 In summary the Schools Forum is concerned with all matters of a financial nature as they affect schools.
RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES,
STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
2.1 Stakeholders have always been consulted whenever questions of financial allocations to schools have been considered. The establishment of the Schools Forum formalises this process and strengthens the LEA general strategy of working closely with its schools.
3.1 Headteachers and governors are those eligible to represent the schools on this Forum. Consultation took place with each of the four sector groups (Primary, Middle, High and Special Schools) with a request for nominations of Headteachers from each sector.
3.2 Governors were consulted through “Governor Grapevine” – the termly publication that goes to all school governors (Appendix A). Nominations received required an election to be held. This was supervised by the Legal and Democratic Services Team.
3.3 The Roman Catholic and Church of England Diocese were asked for nominations.
3.4 The final membership of the Schools Forum is reproduced at Appendix B.
FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS
4.1 The costs associated with establishment of the Schools Forum were met by the LEA until the end of the financial year 2002-3. These were contained within the Central Administration Budget. From the beginning of the financial year 2003-4 all administrative costs of the Schools Forum are to be recovered from the Schools Budget.
4.2 The legal basis for the Schools Forum is the Statutory Instrument “The Schools Forums (England) Regulations 2002.
4.3 There are no immediate Crime and Disorder implications.
APPENDICES ATTACHED
5.1 Appendix A is the consultation via “Governors Grapevine”.
Appendix B is the membership of the Schools Forum.
BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT
Statutory Instruments “The Schools Forums (England) Regulations 2002”.
Contact Point : Kim Johnson, Assistant Director, Education and Community Development
Tel: 823410
e-mail: [email protected]
DAVID PETTITT
Director, Education and Community Development