Agenda and minutes

To elect the Chair of the Schools Forum for 2019/2020

There were no nominations for the Chair of the Schools Forum for 2019/20. It was agreed that the head teacher representative groups would discuss this further and bring any nominations to the next meeting on 3r December.     

To elect the Vice Chair of the Schools Forum for 2019/2020

Nominations for Vice Chair were requested and it was

RESOLVED

THAT Alan Chesters be elected as Vice Chair of the Schools Forum for 2019/20 and that he would chair this meeting only.  

To Note: All

The membership list was noted and those members requiring re-nomination would arrange this with their nominating representative groups.

To Note: All

Apologies for absence had been received from Kathy Bannon, Margaret Harvey, John Hayes and Vijita Patel. 

No declarations were made.

There were no announcements.

To consider and approve the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 17^th September 2019.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the last meeting and it was

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 17^th September 2019 be agreed as a correct record.

To Note: All

The Forum was advised that the terms of reference regarding the length of service of the Chair was something that they could amend. However it was agreed that it was good for the governance of the Forum to change the Chair after four years of service. Head teacher members agreed to discuss and encourage nominations so that a Chair could be elected at the next meeting.

To Note: All

There was no urgent business

To consider the planned agenda for the next meeting.

Agenda items for the next meeting on Tuesday 3^rd December 2019 were discussed and it was agreed that there would be reports on the following:

·         Finance update

·         Traded Services

·         Update on place planning discussions with schools, with the suggestion that school place planning should be a standing item on the Schools Forum agenda

To Note: All

Report of the Director of Integrated Commissioning, Supporting People

This report provides an overview of responses from primary and secondary schools in relation to proposals regarding the local funding formula for schools for2020/21. These proposals were reported to the forum at its September meeting. These proposals recommended no significant change to the formula and forum was favourable to the proposals presented. Forum agreed the proposal subject to any significant objections from schools during the consultation period and that the responses should be reported backat forum’s October meeting. There were no significant requests from schools to change this during the consultation period. However, comments on the allocation of High Needs DSG budgets were duly noted and passed on for inclusion in the ongoing High Needs review. The forum is now asked toconfirm its earlier approval of the September consultation document.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Integrated Commissioning, Supporting People. The report provided an overview of responses from primary and secondary schools in relation to proposals regarding the local funding formula for schools for2020/21.   

RESOLVED

(a)          It was noted that there had only been 5 responses with no strong disagreement to what had been proposed but there were still concerns about the formula

(b)         The Schools Forum had no additional comments on the proposals

(c)          The additional schools funding information was noted 

To Note: All

Report of the Director of Integrated Commissioning, Supporting People

This report provides an update on the national Funding Formula following a series of announcements from the Prime Minister, the Secretary of state for Education and the ESFA on schools funding up to 11^th October 2019.

The report outlines the main proposals and indicates the possible impact on funding for Camden schools.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Integrated Commissioning that provided an update on the National Funding Formula following a series of prime ministerial and funding agency announcements. The report outlined the main proposals and indicated the possible impact on funding for Camden schools.

The summary of the changes was noted. It was also noted that Camden’s well-funded schools were the result of an historic investment in education in the borough that had not been reflected nationally. Under the currently proposed changes there would be a dramatic fall in the funding available for Camden schools after 2020/21. Pupil numbers were at the heart of schools funding and the falling school population would have an additional effect on funding.  

RESOLVED

THAT the current schools funding information be noted. 

To Note: All

Report of the Director of Early Intervention and Prevention, Supporting People

Further to report to Schools Forum in June and September 2019 this report updates the High Needs Block position and provides a narrative and suggested options for next steps.

It should be noted that whist there has been an additional allocation by the Department for Education that will address the current overspend in 2020-2021the overall trajectory remains of concern and collective action needs to be taken in order to ensure children and young people’s needs can be met and their outcomes improved within the allocated spend.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Early Intervention and Prevention that provided an update on the High Needs Block position and suggested options for next steps.  There had been an additional funding allocation to Camden by the Department for Education that would address the current overspend in 2020-2021. However the overall trajectory was concerning and action was needed to ensure that the needs of children and young people could be met and that their outcomes improved within the allocated spend.

The High Needs Block Working Group would be working with Peter Gray who had been commissioned to explore the options available. A visit to Nottinghamshire to discuss their service provision model would take place in November. The proposals to control High Needs Block spend were set out in the report and the task and finish group would report back to the Schools Forum in February 2020.  

During consideration of the report the following points were made in response to questions: 

·         The additional funding that had been provided by the Department for Education would be ongoing

·         It was difficult to say at this point what savings would be achieved by any changes

·         It would be possible for the further education  sector to attend  Schools Forum meetings when matters involving the FE sector were discussed  

·         Meeting with Nottinghamshire would be useful because of the funding model they were using and changes they had made  

·         No final decisions had been made about appointing staff to audit the needs of each school. Each school had its own complexities and an understanding of how to assess those needs would require a high level of expertise 

·         The task and finish group would start to explore funding options after Christmas. Data on the outcomes of tribunals could be included in the reporting back to the Schools Forum

·         Peter Gray had worked with schools in Camden as a consultant 5 years ago on the proposed cuts to SEND funding. He had been asked back for this role because of his experience nationally on good practice in this. He would be asked to attend the Schools Forum if members thought it would be useful

RESOLVED

THAT the report and the proposal for the High Needs Block working group be noted

To Note: All

Report of the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation

The council is outlining early strategic responses to changes in demand relevant to two service areas, Primary and Early Years Places.

Following changes to funding arrangements for nursery places introduced by the government on 2017, and a decrease in the number of children in the borough, Camden’s primary school nurseries have a high number of vacancies, which is impacting on their long-term sustainability. The over-supply of nursery places has provided an opportunity to review early years services in the borough.

The number of pupils entering Camden Primary Schools at Reception has fallen by 9% from 2015 and is forecast to continue to fall throughout the decade. Without any action the total surplus within Reception classes would be in excess of 17% compromising the efficient running of the school system and challenging the pattern of primary provision. The Council will be developing proposals to rebalance primary provision within the borough to better match forecast demand.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation that outlined the Council’s early strategic responses to the changes in demand for Early Years and Primary places. Without any action the total surplus within reception classes would be in excess of 17% and would compromise the efficient running of the school system and challenge the pattern of primary provision. The proposals would rebalance primary provision within the borough to better match the demand that had been forecast.

The pattern of take up and pupil growth across the borough would be kept under review and the provision would respond to any changing needs. A report on the possible options for consultation would be considered by the Cabinet in November.     

RESOLVED

THAT theSchools Forum noted the changes and process outlined in the report.

To Note: All

  Information item to the Schools Forum

The Forum received a presentation from the Energy, Air Quality and Sustainability Team that provided a brief summary of how the Council proposed to make steps to address the current climate crisis through energy contracts for 2020/24 and renewable energy. That, LASER (part of Kent County Council and fuel buyer for 160 public sector organisations) had been appointed as Camden’s Central Purchasing Body and could provide renewable energy to all schools in the form of Renewable Energy Guarantees Origin (REGO) from October 2020.  

In response to points raised about how renewable the fuel source actually was and what flexibility there was for opting in or out of the scheme, the Forum was told that:

·         The scheme would financially be much better than a stand-alone option and would be regularly monitored and reviewed every 6 months  

·         Schools would be provided with an explanation of the proposal and notified of what the options were for opting out of the process

To Note: All

To note that the next meeting will take place at 6pm on Tuesday 3^rd December 2019 and to also note the following dates for 2019 /20.      

Tuesday 4^th February 2020

Tuesday 9^th June 2020

It was noted that the next meeting will take place at 6pm on Tuesday 3^rd December 2019 and the remaining meeting dates for 2019/20 were also noted: 

Tuesday 4^th February 2020

Tuesday 9^th June 2020

To Note: All

There was no urgent business.