Agenda and minutes

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

There were no nominations for a new Chair for the Forum for the 2019/20. The Forum agreed that they would nominate John Hayes as the Chair for one further year and that there would be planning during the year for a new Chair in September 2020/21.

RESOLVED

THAT John Hayes be elected as Chair of the Schools Forum for 2019/20.

To Note: All

To note the list and any changes to the membership.

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 Rob Earrey, Kate Frood, Jane Hindle, Elizabeth Kitcatt and Councillor Angela Mason.

Katy Forsdyke gave apologies for lateness.

To Note: All

There were no declarations.

No announcements were made.   

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 29^th October 2019.  

RESOLVED -

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 29^th October 2019 be approved as a correct record. 

To Note: All

There was no urgent business.

Report of the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation - Supporting People

At the recent October meeting, forum was presented with the results of the consultation document sent to schools relating to the funding arrangements for 2020/21. The forum confirmed its agreement of the funding formula to be used for the distribution of funds to schools for 2020/21. This report indicates the latest estimate of funding for the schools DSG block – (unchanged from the October’s report) and seeks schools forum’s view on the amount of DSG de-delegation and ESG retention next year.

The schools figures are only indicative of the notional NFF figures to be allocated to the overall schools budget for distribution by the Council via Camden’s local formula. Final individual school budgets will be released to schools pending update of ESFA data and its use to update the local Camden schools formula using the Authority Planning Tool (APT), which is expected in late December 2019.  

The Forum considered a report of the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation. There was no further update since the last meeting in October but there was a requirement for the Schools Forum’s agreement on the recommendations set out in the report. 

Members of the Forum expressed their concerns about the critical financial position of schools funding and the staffing reductions that would need to be made by the end of March 2019 and the implications for schools.

RESOLVED

(a) THAT the use of reserves to be used to support the funding allocations to schools as set out in paragraphs 1.10 be noted

(b) THAT the provisional NFF allocations to individual schools discussed in the report in section 1.12 and set out in Appendix 1. These are only indicative and are not yet the final school budgets be noted

(c) THAT the current forecast spending plans for the high needs and early years blocks as set out in sections 4 and 5 respectively be noted

(d) THAT the CSSB replacement of the top sliced amounts detailed in section 1.3 be noted

(e) THAT in principle the retention of the funding to contribute to ongoing services  carried out for schools formerly funded by ESG in 2020/21, as set out in section 1.7 be approved

 (f)  THAT the de-delegated budgets as set out in section 2 be approved

 (g) THAT the potential effects of the future cost pressures outlined in section 7 on schools budgets be noted

To Note: All

Action By: Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation

Report of the Head of Business Operations

The report sets out the LBC commission requirement made of Camden Learning in supporting LBC Schools Traded Services (Camden Schools Services - CSS).  It summarises some of the key activities and initiatives that have been undertaken over the past year. And sets out in what has been a transitory year; the areas of further of focus and development that will be undertaken to produce successful sustainable schools’ services.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Business Operations. The report set out the requirements made of Camden Learning in supporting London Borough of Camden Schools Traded Services (Camden Schools Services - CSS).  It summarised some of the key activities and initiatives that have been undertaken over the past year.  

The Forum raised the following points during consideration of the report:

·         The emphasis on the inspection of services was welcomed and it was requested that future reports include information on customer satisfaction

·         That there were elements of the service that schools did not see as value for money and they would continue to select services that they considered to be most cost effective  

RESOLVED

THAT the report be noted.

To Note: All

Report of the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation - Supporting People

Schools forum received an officer report detailing the early strategic response to the acute fall in primary school place demand. This report updates forum on the development of this work and identifies the next steps.

As previously reported the current number of children within Camden is below that needed to maintain sustainable primary schools. Officers have been developing potential proposals with schools that aim to remove school places with the intention of ensuring the ongoing sustainability of our primary pattern of school provision. The Council has not adopted any set of formal school organisation proposals or embarked on any formal consultation process.

The Local Authority has the statutory duty to ensure the sufficiency and sustainability of school places within its area. School leaders have explicitly asked the Authority to come forward, at pace, with proposals that rebalance the current pattern of provision so that it better reflects the forecast of future demand.

Officers would be unable to discuss proposals public, including with parents until, and if, the Council adopts them. If proposals were to be adopted, they would be subject to full public consultation and engagement over a period not likely to be less than 7-9 months.

Consideraton was given to a report of the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation that provided an update on the development of this work and identified the next steps in the early strategic response to the acute fall in primary school place demand. It was still very early in the process, with the report setting out the timeline for the ongoing dialogue with schools as more information became available.  

The Forum was provided with the following information in response to questions:

·         Prescribed Alteration was the name for the process that would be undertaken. Academy Trust schools  were not included and were part of a different process

·         Members of the Council would decide on what the consultation questions would be  

·         Members would consider an extensive range of factors in reaching any decisions about the future of Camden’s schools     

·         There were no formal proposals and no announcements had been made but discussions were taking place with all the schools affected. Out of respect to those schools, it was unfair to speculate on possible options

·         The current focus was only on primary schools  

·         In recent years, the Council’s Community Investment Plan had provided more affordable new housing but the need for housing was great than what could be provided  

Head teachers had discussed the issues and wanted to have planned and pragmatic proposals to address the issues of falling school rolls and education funding. They wanted a plan in place as soon as possible so that schools could prepare for changes.    

RESOLVED

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

To Note: All

To consider the planned agenda for the next meeting on Tuesday 4^th February 2020.

The Forum noted that there would be a work programme at each meeting, setting out the reports that would be considered during the year.

Action By:  Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation

The reason for the way the meetings were scheduled during the municipal year, because of funding and consultation deadlines, was also noted.

To note that the next meeting will take place at 6pm on Tuesday 4^th February 2020 and to also note the following date(s) 2019/20.     

Tuesday 9^th June 2020

It was noted that the next meeting would take place at 6pm on Tuesday 4^th February 2020 and the last meeting date for 2019/20 was also noted:      

·         Tuesday 9^th June 2020

To Note: All

There was no urgent business.