Agenda item

The Cabinet considered responding to the Fair Funding Consultation for 2016-17 and the local funding formula for Worcestershire mainstream schools for 2016-17.  The details were set out in the report and its Appendices.

In the ensuing discussion, the following main points were made:

(a)    The Leader of the Council introduced the report and commented that:

·         The lack of core funding for schools put pressure on the minimum funding level. The Council required more base funding into the system so that the obligations of the funding formula could be delivered. Moving to the National Funding Formula would mean over time that schools would be funded on a more level playing field. The clear message from schools in the consultation exercise on the funding formula was a desire for stability and predictability in funding streams and this was expected by the Education Funding Agency. By proposing no change to the formula, the Council was providing stability for schools

·         With the help of the Education Funding Agency, the Council had been able to free up £1.8m from dedicated school reserves which lessened some of the effects of the formula as it was rolled out

·         There had been some confusion as to where the additional funds had gone. These funds had been placed where it was considered it would do best for all pupils. The funds could not be used outside the formula. The Council would continue to provide funding through the formula. Some secondary schools wanted a fuller review but this was not supported by the Council or the Schools Forum. There was pressure on funding caused by a number of different factors, the majority of which were outside the Council's control

·         The national carbon reduction top slice had been introduced by the Department for Education and had had an impact by reducing per pupil funding accordingly

·         The Pupil Premium continued to grow and was a great advantage to pupils in deprived areas

·         The Council was no longer able to monitor the reserves of Academies. Reserves of maintained schools totalled in the region of £19m which was a considerable amount of money. It was hoped that if stability in the funding streams was maintained then this figure would reduce. However in the short term, it made it difficult for local MPs to make a case to the Government  for additional funding

(b)     Although some schools were unhappy about the funding arrangements, the key message from the consultation exercise was the desire from schools for stability of funding. It should be noted that Worcestershire Schools Forum supported the Council's approach to the school funding formula. It was important that schools operated within their financial constraints.  

RESOLVED: that

(a)        Cabinet had regard to the consultation undertaken in September 2015;

(b)       the consultation feedback in Appendices 2, 3, 4 and 5 to the report be noted;

(c)        the involvement of the Worcestershire Schools Forum (WSF) members and schools during the consultation be noted;

(d)       the views of the WSF on the local funding formula issues for 2016-17 and other matters which are outlined in Appendix 6 to the report be noted;

(e)        the local funding formula for Worcestershire mainstream schools from April 2016 to apply for 2016-17 and other matters as detailed in paragraphs 42 to 54 of the report be approved having regard to the consultation feedback from schools detailed in Appendices 3, 4 and 5 to the report and views of the WSF in Appendix 6 to the report;

(f)        the Interim Director of Children's Services be authorised to make the relevant arrangements to submit the details of the local funding formula for Worcestershire mainstream schools for 2016-17 to the national executive body, the Education Funding Agency (EFA), by 30 October 2015 as required; and

(g)       the Interim Director of Children's Services be authorised to make any subsequent submission to the EFA by 21 January 2016 as a consequence of the impact of the October 2015 census and other 2015 data, any other data changes and the final 2016-17 Dedicated School Grant (DSG).