Schools Forum Minutes 14 July 2004

Minutes SCHOOLS FORUM

AGENDA ITEM: 2

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE SCHOOLS FORUM HELD ON WEDNESDAY 14 JULY 2004 IN SEMINAR ROOM 2, GREEN PARK TRAINING CENTRE, COMMENCING AT 2.00PM AND CONCLUDING AT 4.10PM.

PRESENT

Headteachers Kieran Salter Aston Clinton School (Chairman) Tim Heaton Grendon Underwood School Tim Dingle Royal Grammar School Bob Milne Tylers Green Middle School Shela Rowan Oak Green School Derek Fiske Bedgrove Junior School Linda Melton Wye Valley School

Governors Dominique Moat Wingrave Church of England Combined School Richard Morris Sir William Ramsay School Catherine Hinds Hughenden Infant School Martin Ball Hamilton Primary School Ted Brown Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School Alexandra Dart Great Marlow School Mike Morrey The Grange School

Representatives Colin Roberts NASUWT Roy Davey Oxford Diocese Mike Moore Catholic Diocese of Northampton Andy Croft MKOB Learning & Skills Council Christine Wilding Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership

Officers Alan Mander Assistant Head of Finance, Schools Jane Brown Accountancy Manager, Schools Julie Edwards Gill Callaghan Democratic Services Officer Nick Powley Head of Policy Performance and Planning (Schools)

1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE/CHANGES IN MEMBERSHIP

1 Apologies were received from Dennis Morse; Jenny Wainwright, The Misbourne School, who was replaced by Alex Dart or this meeting only; Mark Scott, Claytons Combined; Paul hughesSt Edward’s Catholic Junior; Jamie Shaw, Henry Allen Nursery School; Mike Barrie, Heritage House School; Richard Morris, Sir William Ramsey School; Judy Gurney, Jon Howard-Drake, the Misbourne School; Sue Imbriano, Strategic Manager, Schools.`

The Forum welcomed Mike Morrey as the new Upper Governor representative.

2 MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 May 2004, copies of which had been previously circulated, were agreed as a correct record.

3 MATTERS ARISING

A member asked that the Ofsted Report on School Funding be added to the agenda for the next meeting in September, he particularly referred to the Bucks Primary Headteachers letter which raised concerns about the unclear mechanisms of funding. In response it was noted that this issue had been raised at all the Consideration meetings and would form part of the Consultants brief.

4. UPDATE ON THE APPOINTMENT OF A CONSULTANT

Tim Dingle reported that the Consideration meetings had been well attended and all the points raised would form part of the Consultants brief. It was emphasised that written responses were still welcome from schools until the end of term. The interviews to appoint a consultant were taking place on 22/23 July and the Funding Group had agreed that Tim Dingle, Kieran Salter, Mike Morrey, Sue Imbriano and Jane Brown would form the interview panel. All members of the Forum would be informed of the appointment in due course.

5. SEN FUNDING IN MAINSTREAM SCHOOLS: THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL PICTURE

The Forum received a presentation from Peter Gray, Special Needs Consultatant on the national and local picture for SEN funding. A copy of the presentation is attached at appendix 1.

The Forum discussed the presentation and in particular SEN funding in a mainstream setting. Members commented that SEN funding should not be looked at in isolation. In response Peter Gray explained that SEN funding in mainstream should be fair and consistent. Parental pressure could be a determining factor. A member pointing out the inequitable factors, including costs, to mainstream children raised the point that mainstream pupils and parents did not have a voice and therefore there was a detrimental effect on the rest of the class. In response Peter Gray reminded members that inclusion was a government drive and the real issue was to ensure the needs of all children were met and fair.

Alan Mander discussed high costs associated with out county placements which must be factored in when comparing Bucks costs with other Authorities. It was confirmed that Bucks had the third highest out county placement costs behind Surrey and Windsor and Maidenhead. It was further noted that the results of a survey carried out 10 years ago showed that the costs between SEN schools and mainstream was about equal.

Peter Gray discussed with the Forum a model, introduced by Kent, based on a pupil audit system that based funding on indicators. The audit identified SEN pupils and after reaching a ceiling the differences between schools lessened.

The Forum noted the three main models of funding:

1. The traditional model 2. The Pupil Audit 3. Predictable and exceptional need and there individual strengths and issues. Bucks fell into a variant of the traditional model as its current funding formula was complex.

The Chairman thanked Peter Gray for the interesting presentation.

6. UPDATE ON TARGETED TRANSITIONAL GRANT 2004/05

Alan Mander informed the Forum that all the grant had now been allocated to the 59 schools who had qualified for TTG.

It was noted that an additional school, Wendover House, had notified the LEA that they had applied for TTG, however there was no evidence that an application had been made. The LEA had therefore decided to allocate resources to the school under the same conditions of TTG. It was emphasised that this sum of money was not TTG and did not affect the other 59 schools.

Nick Powley informed the Forum that two people had been appointed to the Schools Financial Recovery Team and were already contacting schools to set up meetings, to support headteachers and governors, early in the Autumn term. Monthly meetings would be held at which it was expected the Team would attend at least the first meeting. Staff time, however, was to be targeted at schools needing the most help.

A member questioned the moral implications and raised concern around the allocation of the grant. In response Nick Powley accepted the point and explained there could be no review of the 2004/05 allocations but there was now an opportunity to look carefully at the criteria for the future. This year had been affected by time constraints.

7. THREE-WAY RECONCILLIATION RESOLUTIONS

Jane Brown reported that the four schools with significant outstanding issues would be resolved by early next term. It was noted that there had been no errors in accounting procedures and there were no big discrepancies.

Alan Mander explained the importance of three-way reconciliation to those schools with bank accounts.

8. SCHOOLS BUDGET RECOVERY TEAM

Nick Powley updated the Forum on the support being provided to schools with deficit budgets. It was noted that Joyce Morphew and Andrew Tusting had joined the team and had begun contacting schools. An advert would be placed in September for a third member to join the team.

Regular reports would be submitted to the Forum on the progress of schools.

9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

School Funding Arrangements 2005/06 Alan Mander submitted a summary report to the Forum which outlined the statement to parliament on 13 July from the Minister of State for School Standards, David Milliband MP. During discussion members expressed their overall concerns and, particularly in terms of the workforce reforms and the added pressure this would cause on budgets. It was AGREED

3 that the chairman would write on behalf of the Forum seeking clarification on the thoughts behind the announcement and expressing the Forums concerns. Action: Kieran Salter

Future Agenda Items

It was suggested and AGREED that a report on Capital Expenditure would be submitted to the December meeting.

10. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Wednesday 15 September 2004, Seminar Room 1, Green Park Centre, Aston Clinton. It was AGREED that the time of the meeting would be brought forward to 6.00pm