Agenda and minutes

To be elected from amongst Forum members, excluding any member of the Forum who is an elected member or officer of the authority.

DECISION:

That Mrs Maria Wallis be elected Chairman and Mrs Faith Butler be elected Vice-Chairman respectively until the autumn term meeting 2018.

Minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 2016 attached.

DECISION:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 2016 be signed as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the last meeting where not otherwise covered on this agenda and to report on items considered at the Cabinet.

Nil.

Casual primary and secondary vacancy elections via DAPH/DASH had taken place

12 October 2016 with appointments as follows:-

Maintained primary        - Mr Martyn Boxall

Maintained primary        - Mr David Barnett, Mrs Jan Reid

substitute members

Academy primary          - Mr Paul Walker

substitute member

Maintained secondary    - Mrs Julie Phelan

Academy secondary      - Ms Moira Marder

Academy secondary      - Mr Paul Cornish, Ms A Mitchell, Mr M Shanks

substitute members.

Other new members were:-

Special School HT         - Ms Bronwen Caschere

Special School HT         - Mrs Cherie White

substitute member

Exeter Diocesan Board - Mr John Searson

of Education.

Chief Officer for Children’s Services to report.

The Chief Officer for Children’s Services presented an Emerging Strategy following her recent appointment resulting from the County Council reorganisation.  The strategy recognised the complexity of the landscape, the objective for “all children in Devon to have the best start in life, growing up in loving and supportive families and being happy, healthy and safe…”

the compelling case for change for financially sustainable provision and work already underway.  The draft strategy was being developed with a more detailed plan out for co-production in the new year, with a view to implementation from April 2017.

Discussion included: delivery on the ground, partnership working, local/central provision and a sustainable whole system for children.

The Chief Officer for Children’s Services also announced the appointment of

Mrs Dawn Stabb as Head of Education & Learning who would have a key role for children within the Emerging Strategy.

Acting Head of Education & Learning to report.

DISCUSSION:

The Head of Education & Learning presented (in summary):-

92% Devon schools judged Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.

93% Devon pupils attended a Good or better school.

Key Stage results:

Key Stage 1 concerns were raised around the reliability of National comparison in the percentage of pupils for achieving the expected standard.  Concerns related to the changes from the  best fit to the new secure fit model of teacher assessment and national consistency in approach.

Key Stage 2 pupil overall achievement was above south west and statistical neighbours and in line with national % except in writing where progress went against other subjects. This again was a teacher assessed element and the same concerns as above applied.  KS2 Higher Standard Reading was well above the national average in the top quartile.

Key Stage 4 results were above south west, England all and England state funded, with a small rise 5A*- C including English and mathematics compared to a National decline.  Members noted the negative Progess 8 (accountability measure) and suggested that for some year 11s reducing school budgets was counter productive.

Exclusions, permanent and fixed term 2015:

In the academic year ending July 2015 (the latest National statistical release) fixed term exclusions at primary had increased and were above the National Average.  Permanent exclusions were below the National Average.  In the year 2015/16 however there had been almost an 80% rise in permanent exclusions.  Strategies had been put in place to increase tracking and understand timelines, a research project and partnership working through the SEND draft strategy should help to address the needs of pupils at risk of exclusion and their impact on the High Needs funding block.  Members’ concerns included that new processes for assessment and provision for SEND pupils following recent legislative changes were not yet working as effectively as they could and the draft SEND strategy needed to address early help support available to schools as budget reductions meant schools did not now have capacity for a rapid response.

Members also raised lobbying government and Devon MPs for fair funding and significant budget pressures on the High Needs Block faced by LAs (also discussed under the 2017/18 School Revenue Funding Formula minute below). Notwithstanding the timescale it was hoped to make representations prior to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement 23 November 2016.

DECISION:

That a Task & Finish group be established to consider further lobbying on fair funding and also the national High Needs funding crisis, comprising the Head of Education & Learning (Lead Officer), 1 association representative from DAPH, DASH, DAG and Special Schools and other LA representatives to be determined, with report back to the next DEF meeting. 

ACTION:

Head of Education & Learning (Dawn Stabb/Heidi Watson-Jones) T&F group;

County Solicitor (Fiona Rutley) agenda forward plan.

Report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/16/08) attached.

DISCUSSION:

The Forum considered the joint report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer  (DEF/16/08).

The Forum also noted the respective minutes of the Schools Finance Group (SFG) of 6 July and 5 October 2016.

The report covered:-

(a) Month 5 Dedicated Schools Grant monitoring position, highlighting the High Needs budget current forecast, despite management action,  to overspend at year end by £2.16m for 2016/17, likely to be carried forward into 2017/18.  This matter was considered further in the 2017/18 Schools Revenue Funding Formula minute below.  

(b) Schools Finance Group revised terms of reference, including slight amendments including the change in status of the 1 Early Years PVI representative from observer to voting member, to be appointed by DEF.  Mrs Gemma Rolstone, DEF Early Years PVI representative had been fulfilling the observer role for some time.

DECISION:

(a) that month 5 DSG monitoring position (section 1 of report DEF/16/08) be noted;

(b) that the Schools Finance Group revised terms of reference (appendix A to the report) be approved;

(c) that Mrs Gemma Rolstone be appointed to serve as the 1 DEF Early Years PVI voting representative on the Schools Finance Group.

ACTION:

Head of Education & Learning (Heidi Watson-Jones) 

Report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/16/10)

to follow.

DISCUSSION:

The Forum considered the joint report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer  (DEF/16/10).  Additional consultation responses had been added to the report and a revised report circulated as appended to the minutes.

The Forum also noted the respective minutes of the Schools Finance Group (SFG) of 6 July and 5 October 2016.

The report covered:-

2017/18 Schools Revenue Funding Formula

Delegation and De-delegation

Centrally Retained Services

Disapplications.

The LA and Phase Associations consulted schools (ending 12 October 2016) on the Devon proposals for the 2017/18 school revenue funding formula. 

Of particular concern was the pressure on the High Needs budget continuing to increase as the number of complex, high cost placements continued to grow with no comparable additional funding from central government and additional costs to be managed from existing resources. Many LAs nationally and particularly those relatively poorly funded were experiencing significant difficulties in funding increased High Needs pressures and members had now re-established a Task & Finish group to lobby government regarding fair funding and High Needs. The Devon consultation asked schools to agree in principle to the transfer of funds up to £4.5m to the High Needs Block from the Schools Block with 24% responses agreeing (and 76% disagreeing) to the proposal.  This would equate to £55 per pupil reduction but it was also suggested an equal % reduction rather than an equal absolute amount per pupil may be considered.   The LA had been working with schools to see what action could be taken to reduce budgets but a significant gap still remained. Within the proposed funding for 2017/18 the EFA had advised they would be applying an uplift for High needs but this would not be known until at least the end of November 2016 and it was not anticipated this would bridge the gap.

With regard to the growth demand the diseconomies of scale when a new school opens and the gap in getting funding for pupils and incurring costs, the f40 LAs group, prompted in part by Devon, had lobbied government but despite the unfairness of the current system hitting other existing hard stretched schools, it was not thought that this was likely to be addressed in the new national funding formula when it was announced.  The proposal in the report related to funding in principle in the 2018/19 financial year, with no change proposed for 2017/18.  As such whether supported or not it would not result in a budgetary decision by Cabinet. 

In considering the consultation responses relating to increasing the top-slice from 2018/19 to meet growth demand, 33% responses agreed (with 67% disagreeing) and members felt unable to support this in part due to the consultation responses and pending budget clarity for 2018/19.

Member comments also included that:-

-Asking all schools to bear the brunt of high needs could be deemed unjust (for a situation beyond their control) as the DSG funded to 18 year old pupils historically with no additional funding for 19 - 25  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

Report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services (DEF/16/09) attached.

DISCUSSION:

The Forum considered the report of  the Chief Officer for Children’s Services (DEF/16/09) regarding the increasing numbers of:- home educated students which included “highly vulnerable” students and key stage 4 students, the difficulty in engaging some vulnerable families which potentially put children at risk of harm and of not receiving a suitable education, the increasing number of short term registrations and the lack of funding for home educated students.

Devon had seen a 100% increase in Elective Home Education (EHE) students over the last 5 years, with a 33% increase over the last 12 months and a 40% increase over the last two quarters.  Devon was not alone; other LAs across the south west were indicating significant increases. 

Previously EHE was due to parental lifestyle/philosophical reasons, but more recently EHE was due increasingly to parental dissatisfaction with the school environment and the belief schools were not able to meet the needs of their child.  There were now large numbers in key stage 4, with 15 new Year 11 EHE students coming off roll so far this term (across a number of schools) who were at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) at year 12.  Ofsted was to take a greater interest in EHE students requiring data from schools.

Members felt that some highly vulnerable students may not be appropriately assessed in an acceptable timeframe due to resource constraints. 

Any future legislation around EHE and NEETs may help to improve vulnerable students’ outcomes as LA/school powers were limited.  

Items which in the opinion of the Chairman should be considered at the meeting as matters of urgency.

DISCUSSION:

The Chairman had decided the Forum should consider this as a matter of urgency to appraise members of levy developments and the impact on the schools budget, with details anticipated from government imminently. 

The Forum considered the report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and Head of Economy, Enterprise and Skills on:-

Apprenticeship Levy introduction April 2017

DfE Apprenticeship Funding Reform May 2017

Equalities

Issues for schools and students.

Although the details from government had been delayed, task & finish groups were working through the impact on maintained schools.  Larger/chain academies would also be affected.  Schools on DCC payroll were likely to see a levy of 0.5% payroll.

Members were keen to know the financial impact as soon as possible to forward plan school budgets given other budget pressures and constraints. 

DECISION:

That clarification be sought on the impact of the Apprenticeship Levy proposals, with communications to schools as soon as possible.

ACTION:

Head of Education & Learning (John Peart)

(a) To review action for the Forum from its groups and to receive minutes:-

            (i)  Schools’ Finance Group

Minutes of the meeting held on 6 July and 5 October 2016, enclosed separately/attached respectively.

Also available at

http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/learningschools/schoolsforum/schoolsfundinggroup.htm

           (ii) Schools Organisation, Capital and Admissions Forum

            Minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2016, attached.    

            Also available at

            http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/learningschools/schoolsforum/soca.htm

The Forum received the following minutes of its standing groups:-

(i)  School Finance Group (SFG)

Minutes of the meetings held on 6 July and 5 October 2016 (considered under Finance Update and 2017/18 Schools Revenue Funding Formula minutes 20 and 21 above).

DECISION:

That given the greater potential number of schools at risk of budget deficits a FIPS (Financial Intervention Panel for Schools) update report on schools at risk and other strategic budgetary demands anticipated be made to the next DEF meeting.

ACTION:

County Treasurer (Julian Dinnicombe)/Education & Learning (Dawn Stabb)

County Solicitor (Fiona Rutley) agenda forward plan

(ii) Schools Organisation, Capital and Admissions (SOCA)

Minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2016 were noted.

Monday 16 January 2017

Wed 15 March 2017

Further dates now confirmed:

Wed 21 June 2017

Wed 18 October 2017

Monday 15 January 2018

Wed 21 March 2018.

Monday 16 January 2017

Wed 15 March 2017

Further dates now confirmed:

Wed 21 June 2017

Wed 18 October 2017

Monday 15 January 2018

Wed 21 March 2018.