Agenda item

The report of Grant Davis (Schools Strategic Financial Support Manager) seek Schools Forum agreement on the methodology for allocating funding for pupil growth from the school’s block growth fund in 2024-25.

Grant Davis, Schools Strategic Financial Support Manager, referred to the report which sought agreement on the methodology for allocating funding for pupil growth from the School’s Block Growth Fund in 2024-25. The following was then highlighted:

·       The Department for Education’s (DfE) School Funding Operational Guidance for 2024-25 as per Paragraphs 4 and 5 were listed and it was confirmed that Wiltshire’s Growth Fund Criteria was fully compliant.

·       The funding methodology and growth allocations were detailed; namely, that the DfE measured growth within Local Authorities (LAs) by middle layer super output areas (MSOA) which could be defined as small geographical areas to detect pockets of growth within LAs by counting the increase in pupil numbers in each MSOA between the October 2022 and October 2023 censuses. It was confirmed that Wiltshire was separated into 62 MSOA’s, with an average of 4 schools in each MSOA.

·       Paragraph 10 listed growth allocations used for each LA; however, it was explained that LAs generally allocated growth funding using local arrangements by applying local knowledge and intelligence as there was not a national method adopted for allocating growth funding. In Wiltshire, it was confirmed that this would continue to be the responsibility of the Schools Forum with the 2024-25 growth funding being set in the January 2024 meeting of the Forum.

·       The requirements with regard to allocating funding from the Growth Fund were listed in Paragraph 14, with officers explaining the calculation applied as per Paragraph 15.

·       The proposed criteria for funding pupil growth within the local Wiltshire funding formula for 2024-24 was then detailed.

o   Firstly, New School Allowance was briefly explained as per Paragraphs 18 to 21 of the report, but it was confirmed that as no new schools were planned for 2024-25, officers would not be applying that funding.

o   Secondly, Class Expansion for Basic Need was briefly explained as per Paragraphs 22 to 23 of the report, with officers confirming that the Wiltshire criteria was fully compliant.

o   Thirdly, Infant Class Size Increases was briefly explained as per Paragraphs 24 to 25 of the report.

o   Finally, the Falling Rolls Fund was explained in more detail as per Paragraphs 26 to 38 of the report. It was confirmed that LAs would continue to have discretion over whether to operate a Falling Rolls Fund, but officers would not be able to estimate the level of funding that could be received until the October 2023 census data was published. It was highlighted that less than 30 LAs across the country had set Falling Rolls Funds and although Wiltshire had previously resisted the establishing of such a Fund, and there being no pressure from schools or other groups to establish one, officers were asking Members to consider that the setting of such a Fund would place additional pressures upon the School’s Block. However, it was emphasised that no decisions would need to be made until the full Dedicated Schools Grant had been confirmed.

In response to a question, it was clarified that despite there being many new developments being built in areas such as the North of Wiltshire, there were no plans for the development of any additional schools as there was sufficient capacity in existing schools. Further discussions were had on the declining birth rate across the County and the impact that this had on the long-term viability of smaller, more rural Primary Schools. As such, Members noted that future discussions on the topic would need to focus on how to attract potential pupils to those smaller Primary Schools.

Following which, it was:

Resolved:

a)    The Schools Forum approved the criteria for allocating pupil Growth Fund in 2024-25.

b)    The Schools Forum agreed that the budget for the Growth Fund be set at its meeting in January 2024, when the full Dedicated Schools Grant had been confirmed for the 2024-25 year.

c)    The Schools Forum gave consideration to the establishing of a Falling Rolls Fund and any criteria befitting such a Fund.