Issue - meetings

1.         Agenda Papers

At the Committee’s June meeting, members were asked to submit suggestions as to the Committee’s future focus, in light of the Coalition Government’s plans for children and education. 

The responses were collated and a paper containing the feedback circulated at the meeting.  It was suggested members referred to the paper under Agenda Item No. 08.

2.                  Downland School Funding

At the Committee’s May meeting, it was reported that Mr Neil Owen and the Chairman would meet with the Corporate Director for Children & Education to discuss a funding issue in relation to Downland School.  A recent moderation exercise had revealed that the school had been over-funded for several years due to a mismatch between the DCSF census form and the formula used by the Council to calculate appropriate funding. The Schools Forum subsequently agreed to implement a transition period where the school’s funding would be reduced to the correct level over a period of four years.

During the meeting, officers provided assurance that the census form and funding formula had now been aligned to ensure the mistake could not be repeated.  A proposal was also to be put to the Schools Forum to review the arrangements for transition funding after 2 years to establish how the school was progressing and whether the transition funding was still required. This was agreed.