The report set out the Schools Forum’s proposals for the 2015-16 Schools Funding Formula whereby all additional monies received in Dedicated Schools Grant are allocated through the Schools Funding Formula using the Age Weighted Pupil Factor (AWPU), that the current funding formula factors are maintained, and that the Council continues the rural proofing strategy for schools.
The Department for Education (DfE) announced additional funding for the 2015-16 Dedicated Schools Grant and these were discussed and endorsed by the Schools Forum; the final formula had to be submitted to the DfE by 21 January 2015. The proposals maintain all existing formula factors at their current levels, including the amounts allocated for deprivation, basic Special Educational Needs (SEN) and lump sum. It was also proposed that the rural proofing fund continue to be supported for a second year; this allocates £150,000 to small and rural schools which provide a hub for the community. This budget does not come from the DSG but is earmarked from within the Education strategy base budget.
The Government has published revised minimum funding levels (MFLs) and has clearly stated its intention to move towards a National Funding Formula in the future, although not for 2015-16; the consultation findings on this have resulted in some changes to the proposals the initial consequence of which is that the Cheshire East allocation has increased from £4.7m to £5.7m. In the consultation the Government did make it clear that there was NO requirement on local authorities to use these MFLs, and schools should not assume they would be getting budgets calculated using these formula factor values.
The Schools Forum also approved a new policy for clawback of surplus balances although Schools can create earmarked reserves to hold money for specific projects, which takes this money out of the surplus balance calculation for clawback.
Decision type: Key
Decision status: For Determination
Wards affected: (All Wards);