Agenda item

The report prepared by Grant Davis (Schools Strategic Financial Support Manager) seeks to update Schools Forum with the results of the most recent Autumn consultations relating to De-delegation of central services and a possible transfer of funds from Schools Block to High Needs Block. 

Grant Davis (Schools Strategic Financial Support Manager) referred to the report which sought to update on the results of the most recent Autumn consultations relating to De-delegation of funding for central services and a possible transfer of funds from Schools Block to High Needs Block.  Grant highlighted the following:

·       Under the ‘soft formula’ all funding should be fully delegated to schools, however certain central services can be ‘de-delegated’ for maintained schools, with approval of the maintained Schools Forum representatives;

·       All maintained schools were consulted, and 36 responses were received – 33 responses from primary schools and 3 from secondary schools;

·       The responses received were significantly in favour of retaining the de-delegated services in both primary and secondary schools;

·       In relation to a possible transfer from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block, the Local Authority have the flexibility to move up to 0.5% and anything higher would require approval from the Secretary of State though a disapplication request.  It had been agreed at the October 2020 meeting of Schools Forum that this would not be applied for as only two applications were approved for the 2020-21 year;

·       The consultation was carried out via Right choice and was open to all schools.  A total of 22 responses were received - 3 secondary, 1 special and 18 primary schools.  15 out of the 22 did support a transfer from Schools Block to High Needs and all 22 respondents did not want a reduction in Top-Up values;

·       Only 4 out of 22 supported a ‘hybrid’ option of a block transfer and a reduction in Top-Up values;

·       Of the 15 that supported a transfer, 53.33% (8) voted for a £1.4m 0.5% transfer;

·       At the October 2020 meeting of Schools Forum it was highlighted that approximately £800k of funding could be made available (through preliminary modelling) if the Mobility factor was not introduced (£571k) and if the maximum Sparsity allowance for primary schools was not increased from £26k to £45k, this would release a further £220k of funding which could be transferred to the High Needs block.

The Diocesan representative expressed concern about not increasing the Sparsity allowance to fund the transfer to High Needs and felt that the sparsity increase would be needed to support small schools as Wiltshire had a number of small village schools.  He felt that it this would be the wrong to help with the High Needs pressures to take away the identified national support for small rural schools.

Grant Davis responded that the report was highlighting the options available to Schools Forum.  The decision would need to wait until the DfE inform of the funding levels on 18 December to see if the NFF was affordable for Wiltshire.  Grant did not see a reason why it would not be affordable but would need confirmation of the funding levels.

The Chair suggested that a report be prepared for the next meeting to identify which Schools in Wiltshire would be eligible for Sparsity funding and show options of how implementing Sparsity allowances or not would affect those schools to aid the decisions that would need to be taken by Schools Forum.

Grant Davis reported that the whole issue of sparsity has caused inequity of funding.  Where there are two schools of a similar size and composition but geographically one school is considered sparse and the other is not, then one school will be eligible for sparsity funding and the other will not be eligible.  The current funding is felt by Schools Forum members not to currently provide an equitable solution.  Schools Forum supports the presumption against the closure of small and rural schools but does not feel the current DfE Sparsity funding factor provides the most appropriate solution.   The DfE will be issuing some consultation on supporting small and rural schools and the Local Authority would look forward to responding to it, although it was not anticipated that this would be ready to report on by the January 2021 meeting. 

It was agreed that a report would be prepared for the January 2021 meeting, to identify the numbers and locations of schools that benefit from the Sparsity allowance within Wiltshire.

Grant Davis reported that for this financial year there were 31 schools that received the Sparsity Allowance (2 secondary and 29 primary schools) with a total allocation of £0.345 million.

Resolved:

1.    That Schools Forum note the report which details the local consultation responses in relation to the schools delegated budget for 2021-22 financial year.   

2.    That Schools Forum agree “in principle” that the following services be de-delegated for Maintained Schools:

i)               FSM – primary and secondary

ii)             Licences – primary and secondary

iii)           Trade Union – primary and secondary

iv)           Maternity – primary and secondary

v)             Ethnic Minority Support – primary only

vi)           Traveller Education – primary only

vii)          Behaviour Support – primary only  

3.    That Schools Forum agree to a Block transfer between Schools Block and the High Needs Block, of 0.5% (the maximum allowable without Secretary of State approval) which equates to approximately £1.4m, subject to affordability of the National Funding Formula, when school funding for 2021-22 has been confirmed.

4.    That Schools Forum receive details of the number and location of the Schools in Wiltshire that would be eligible to receive the Sparsity Allowance and show the impact of not agreeing to move to the higher level of funding.