EAST SUSSEX Schools’ Forum
MINUTES of a meeting of the Schools’ Forum held remotely with Microsoft Teams on 13 January 2023
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PRESENT
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Secondary Hugh Hennebry - Chair (Uckfield College) Helen Key (Chailey School) Secondary Governors Monica Whitehead (Claverham Community College) Secondary Academy Kelly Johnson Primary Richard Blakeley (Harlands Primary) Gemma White (The Bluebell Federation) Primary Governors Katherine Rabson Stark (South Ashdown Schools Federation) Debra Vice Holt (Oak Tree Federation) Primary Academy Gavin Bailey (Swale Academy Trust) Special Schools Julie Campion (Grove Park School Crowborough) Special Academy Richard Preece (Saxon Mount and Torfield) Non School Members Joanna Sanchez (Diocese of Arundel and Brighton) Jon Gilbert (Diocese of Chichester) ESCC representatives Cllr Bob Standley (Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability) Alison Jeffery (Director Children’s Services) Elizabeth Funge (Assistant Director Education) Nathan Caine (HofEd SEND & Safeguarding) Edward Beale (Schools Funding Manager) Mark Whiffin (Head of Finance) Sarah Rice (Schools Finance Manager) Kirsten Coe (Schools Finance Team Lead) Rachel King (Clerk)
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1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES (Note)
The chair welcomed all and thanked everyone for their attendance.
1.1 It was confirmed the meeting was quorate, recognising the apologies below.
James Freeston King Offa Primary Academy
Laura Cooper St John CE school
Jo Foulkes Sabden Multi Academy Trust
2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Nov 2022 (Approval)
2.1 The minutes for the meeting held were approved as a true record and will be signed by the Chair and scanned to Lesley Leppard.
2.2 Actions noted under Agenda Item 5 ‘DSG – Central School Services Block 2023/24’. It was agreed that communication would be sent to RP, clarifying the distribution of some CSSB funding that has been agreed to be transferred to schools.
3. MATTER ARISING AND DECLARATION OF INTERESTS (Discussion)
3.1
Matters arising – none
Declarations of interest - none
4. DSG Budget 2023/24 (Information & Approval)
4.1 An update was given on the DSG budget for 2023/24. The forum was asked to note the DSG allocations for the schools, central school services block, high needs and to approve the early years budget.
4.2 Clarification was asked regarding how the Place funding is calculated on commissioned places.
Action: It was agreed that the calculation for determining the additional place funding would be reviewed to determine whether DfE guidance allows for over occupancy to be taken into account.
4.3 The Chair asked if we could minute again huge thanks for East Sussex for the transfer of funds from the CSSB.
4.4 All school forum members were asked to vote to approve early years budget. Votes as follows.
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Number voting ‘Yes’ |
Number voting ‘No’ |
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11 |
0 |
5. School Improvement – De-delegation (Approval)
5.1 Schools’ forum were given an update on the proposals for managing the removal of the school improvement monitoring and brokering grant for East Sussex in 2023/24.
Recommendations were as follows.
i. Schools forum were asked to approve the proposal for a ‘headteacher partnership contribution’ to cover the costs of facilitating the costs of collaborative working, and to advise on which of the two options presented in section 2.6 of paper is preferred.
ii. Schools’ forum were asked to note that further savings will be made to the resource allocation for the primary and secondary boards and within the Education Division to cover the loss of the school improvement monitoring and brokering grant.
5.2 Questions and key points raised after update.
Schools’ forum requested further information about how the funding is used for the secondary board.
ACTION Elizabeth Funge confirmed that this information will be shared at the secondary headteachers’ meeting in February.
Funding is used to support partnerships across all maintained and academy schools. Schools’ forum recognised the challenges here and were keen to ensure the ongoing engagement of academy schools.
Schools’ forum asked what would happen if the funding was not approved; there would be less resource to support the partnerships and their work.
Schools’ forum asked if there was a possibility of funding being calculated on pupil numbers. It was agreed that this option would be included for future proposal to schools’ forum.
The issue was raised about schools becoming academies by 2030 and how decisions will be made then? A lot will change by then and it is recognised that processes will need to be reviewed as these changes take place.
It was agreed that these arrangements would be reviewed in a year’s time.
5.3 The vote was for maintained schools only, primary and secondary. As follows.
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Primary/Secondary Phases approval from all maintained for De delegation |
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Number voting ‘Yes’ |
Number voting ‘No’ |
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6 |
0 |
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Option 1 |
Option 2 |
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7 |
2 |
6. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
No other business
Meeting concluded at 09:16 am
Next meeting – Friday 12 May 2023 08:30am. To be held on Microsoft Teams