Agenda item

The report of Grant Davis (Schools Strategic Financial Support Manager) seeks agreement on the methodology for allocating funding for pupil growth from the school’s block growth fund in 2025-26.

Grant Davis, Schools Strategic Financial Support Manager, introduced the report which sought agreement on the methodology for allocating funding for pupil growth from the School’s Block Growth Fund in 2025-26. The following was then highlighted:

• The Department for Education’s (DfE) School Funding Operational Guidance for 2025-26 as per Paragraphs 4 to 5 of the report 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 2023 and October 2024 school census data. It was confirmed that Wiltshire was separated into 62 MSOA’s, with an average of 4 schools in each MSOA.
• Paragraph 10 listed the 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 Wiltshire allocation for 2025-26 being announced in December 2024 as part of the Schools Funding Announcement.
• 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 2025-26 was then detailed.
  • Firstly, New School Allowance was briefly detailed as per Paragraphs 18 to 21 of the report, but it was confirmed that as no new schools were planned for 2025-26, officers would not be applying that funding.
  • 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.
  • Thirdly, Infant Class Size Increases was briefly explained as per Paragraphs 24 to 25 of the report.
  • 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, 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 establishing a Falling Rolls Fund, accounting for its previous decisions on the topic and the additional pressures being placed upon the Schools Block. However, it was emphasised that no decisions would need to be made until the full Dedicated Schools Grant settlement had been confirmed.

In response to a question, it was acknowledged that the birth rate in Wiltshire was continuing to drop despite previous expectations of an uplift post-pandemic, and Members were informed that officers in the School Place Planning Team were researching the whole school estate across Wiltshire by community area to determine surplus places which would then be presented to the DfE and used as a basis for further contingency plans and strategies. Furthermore, officers were having conversations with school leaders to further explore the data and understand the surplus place situation across whole community areas to then collaborate on solutions.

Members emphasised the importance of involving schools in those discussions as early as possible due to the emotive nature of the topic and impact that it could have on school staff and residents’ lives.

At the conclusion of the discussion, it was then:

Resolved:

The Schools Forum:

a)    Approved the criteria for allocating Pupil Growth Fund in 2025-26.

b)    Agreed that the budget for the Growth Fund be set at its meeting in January 2025, when the full Dedicated Schools Grant had been confirmed for the 2025-26 year.

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