Agenda item

Joint Report of the Director of Children and Young People’s Futures and Director of Finance and Public Value (DEF/25/04), attached.

DISCUSSION:

The Forum considered the Report of the Director of Finance & Public Value and Interim Director of Children and Young Peoples Futures(DEF/25/04), following Devon’s consultation with schools (ending December 2024).  The Report recommendations strived to deliver the fairest distribution for the majority of schools whilst keeping within the funding frame and National Funding Formula guidance.

There was discussion regarding recommendation (a) regarding school funding proposals necessitated by a funding gap. It was clarified that this means that the Authority was not receiving sufficient funding at the first instance and therefore the proposals were necessary to maximise delivery. It was commented by Forum members and officers that there was scope to develop the financial understanding of schools, to ensure that votes taken on financial matters were done from a basis of being better informed. This was also mentioned during discussion on recommendation (b).

There was also clarity sought regarding the 0.5% transfer proposal (decision (b)), and it was explained that, if the proposal was not agreed by the Forum, the Council would be applying to the Department for Education for permission to transfer the funding regardless of the Forum’s vote.

Regarding SFG proposal in Section 8.3 (decision (f)), there were comments that it was unclear from the SFG minutes why people voted how they did.

DECISION:

(a) that the proposals for schools funding (in line with the results of the consultation) be approved:-

(i) to set the Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) to at 0%

(ii) to bridge any funding gap in the following order:

a. Reduced AWPU by up the allowed maximum of 2.5%

b. Reduced all other factors by up the allowed maximum of 2.5%;

(Vote: Schools, Academies and PVI)

(b) that the proposals to transfer 0.5% between blocks for 2025-26, to secure the Safety Valve agreement and implement plans to manage the high needs funding sustainably and meet the needs of children and young people earlier and in the right place, is not approved, on the basis of:

• 82% of schools not agreeing to the proposal (SFG minutes, p40), with the Forum wishing to act as a body representative of schools and leadership.
• Additionally, as in the SFG minutes, “school leaders had not felt that previous investment of the block transfer had impacted on their school directly.”
• There was also concern raised that the proposals would mean that some schools were being punished for the actions of others, with 0.5% representing a significant degree of funding to be taken away from schools, many of which have good practices regarding inclusion and SEND. It was felt that taking away that funding would be to the detriment of schools’ abilities to make a difference on the ground;

(Vote: Schools, Academies and PVI)

(c) That Schools Forum note that the partnership, including the Authority and Devon Schools, now has to decide how we address the levels of exclusion in Devon going forward. The Forum voted that the Inclusion proposal to levy £21,000 per exclusion is not approved, on the basis of 97% of schools not agreeing to this (SFG minutes), but with support indicated for the proposal in the SFG minutes for a “collaborative process involving the Authority, Devon Schools, and key stakeholders to develop a clear and actionable framework for what inclusion should look like in Devon, addressing the ongoing issue of exclusion”;

(Vote: Schools, Academies and PVI)

(d) that the de-delegation of the services listed in Section 6.1 of the report in line with the results of the consultation be approved (there was unanimous agreement from all representatives to vote on the services together);

(Vote 1: Maintained primary representatives)

(Vote 2: Maintained secondary representatives)

(e) that the funding of the following central services (in line with the consultation) be approved;-

(i) Emotional, Psychological & Social Wellbeing Services

(ii) School Admissions;

(Vote: Schools, Academies and PVI)

(f) that the SFG proposal in Section 8.3, namely that “no change is made in 2025-26, and further consideration of this issue be invited during the 2026 consultation,” be approved;

(Vote: Schools, Academies and PVI)

(g) that the proposal to submit a disapplication request for exceptional circumstances relating to school premises for 2025-26 be approved.

(Vote: Schools, Academies and PVI)

ACTION:  Director of Finance & Public Value (Adrian Fox).