Redcar and Cleveland’s Schools’ Forum has a consultative and advisory role in school funding and financial matters.
Schools’ Forums have been a statutory requirement in every local authority (LA) in England since 2003.
The Schools Forums (England) Regulations 2012 makes provision for the constitution, role and powers of Schools Forums.
The role of Schools’ Forum
Representatives from schools and academies make up Schools’ Forum. There is also some representation from non-school organisations, such as nursery and 16-19 education providers.
The forum acts as a consultative body on some issues and a decision-making body on others.
The forum acts in a consultative role for:
- changes to the local funding formula (the local authority makes the final decision)
- proposed changes to the operation of the minimum funding guarantee
- changes to or new contracts affecting schools (eg school meals)
- arrangements for pupils with special educational needs, in pupil referral units and in early years provision
The forum decides:
- how much funding may be retained by the local authority within the dedicated schools grant (eg for providing an admissions service or providing additional funding for growing schools)
- any proposed carry forward of deficits on central spend from one year to the next
- proposals to de-delegate funding from maintained primary and secondary schools (eg for staff supply cover, insurance, behaviour support)
- changes to the scheme of financial management
Membership and Voting Rights
School Representatives
Must have at least one governor representative and one head teacher representative. Schools members and Academies members must together comprise at least two thirds of the membership of the forum.
Voting:
Maintained primary school headteacher and special school representatives:
- de-delegated items with a specific vote on primary school de-delegation
- the scheme for financing schools
- any other schools forum business, including the consultation on the funding formula.
- items relating to general duties and retained duties.
Pupil Referral Unit representative and school governor representatives:
- the scheme for financing schools
- any other schools forum business, including the consultation on the funding formula.
- items relating to general duties and retained duties.
Academy Representatives
Schools members and Academies members must together comprise at least two thirds of the membership of the forum. Members must be elected to the schools forum by the proprietors of the Academies in the authority’s area.
Voting:
- any other schools forum business, including the consultation on the funding formula.
- items relating to retained duties.
Local Authority
One Elected Member of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.
Voting:
- any other schools’ forum business
Diocesan Authority
One member nominated by the RC Diocese of Middlesbrough
Voting:
- any other schools’ forum business
Trade Unions and Associations
One member nominated by the Trade Unions and Associations
Voting:
- any other schools’ forum business
16 – 19 Representative
Must have representative of providers of 16 to 19 education.
Voting:
- consultation on the funding formula
- any other schools forum business
PVI Sector (Early Years)
Must appoint non-schools members to their schools forum comprising one or more persons to represent early years providers.
Voting:
- consultation on the funding formula
- any other schools forum business
Meeting Papers
Meeting papers must be published on the local authority’s website. Papers dating back to the 2020-2021 academic year are available to download below. Further papers are available on request:
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(Notes or minutes of each Schools’ Forum meeting should be produced and put on the website as soon after the meeting as possible to enable members and others to see the outcome of any discussions and decisions/votes. It is good practice to formally agree the accuracy of the note/minutes at a subsequent meeting, but the publication of the draft minutes should not be delayed as a result).