The Head of School Commissioning presented a paper (not previously circulated) outlining the amalgamated responses, completed by schools and other consultees, to questions to the changes to the Torbay schools funding formula 2013/14. The School Forum were asked to consider the responses.

The Chair allocated 15 minutes reading time to the agenda

The Forum were advised that 16 responses had been received from primary schools; Sherwell Valley; Oldway;  Collaton St Mary;St Marychurch; Roselands; Sacred Heart; Preston, Barton, Priory, Upton St James, Queensway, Furzeham and a joint response from Watcome and Kings Ash.  1 secondary schools replied – St Cuthbert Mayne and 1 from Prospect Academy Trust.

The Forum considered and debated each of the questions and responses in turn and agreed to endorse the following recommendations to the changes to the funding as:-

Recommendation 1.  To use the EYFSP as the proxy data for SEN in primary                                          schools

After significant debate the Forum considered the guidance from the DfE alongside the responses from schools and decided to agree the proposal to use prior attainment in the formula with the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile data used for primary schools. 

Recommendation 2. Proposals to distribute the current inclusion sub formula funding 33.3%, IDAICI 33.3%, and Prior Attainment 33.3%.

Forum considered this point and agreed the recommendation.

Recommendation 3: the use of eligible FSM numbers to distribute in the formula not Ever 6 not ‘over 6 . Forum agreed the proposal to the use of eligible FSM numbers in the formula

Forum considered the case and school responses and decided that eligible FSM numbers be used in the new formula rather than ‘ever 6’

Recommendation 4: the use of IDACI banding .

Forum agreed the proposal that IDACI banding is used in 5 bands.

Recommendation 5: The allocation of funding in the current formula against non admissible factors reassigned to new criteria.

Forum agreed the reassignment of funding to the new criteria as outlined in appendix 7 of the Schools Consultation document.

Recommendation 6: That pupil mobility and LAC are not used as distribution factors within the new formula.

This was agreed by Forum

Recommendation 7: The distribution methodology for new delegated funding was discussed and agreed by Forum as outlined in appendix 14 of the schools funding consultation paper.

Recommendation 8: Distribution of SEN/statementing funding 15% pupil entitlement,15% FSM,25% IDACI and 45% Prior Attainment..

It was proposed by Roger Hughes (Chair) and seconded by Debbie Main and Maurice Codd.  Forum agreed this % split within the new formula

Recommendation 9: The Forum were asked to consider the general themes that emerged from the responses relating to schools in deprived areas losing under the proposed changes, differences in funding for statemented pupils and transitional funding.

The Forum were advised that under the proposed changes some schools serving less advantaged areas do have a reduced allocation under one element of the formula, as a result of the removal of the use of transience and replacing it with FSM, IDACI and Prior Attainment. However whether a school gains or loses under the formula changes is not related solely to the area they serve but is often a combination of circumstances that are particular to individual schools such as site area, number of statemented pupils and numbers of post threshold teachers. 

Forum discussed the changes to statementing funding and not all schools in deprived areas lose due to the difference between statementing funding allocated to individuals and formula SEN funding. This is a national change which will affect many schools.

Changes to transience affect a small number of schools but an analysis shows that it is often a combination of specific and individual school factors that are leading to large changes in funding rather than one particular element of the formula.

Transitional protection will be provided to schools by the MFG. Schools that gain due to formula changes will have to have gains capped to ensure affordability within the overall DSG allocation.

Action:

i)             A summary of the Consultation responses to be circulated to schools (Matt Redwood)