Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Lifelong Learning & Achievement).

The Executive Councillor (Lifelong Learning & Achievement) (Councillor Shan Alexander) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining key announcements made by the Department for Education on the education funding settlement for 2015/16 and detailing the local formula to be used to determine individual budgets for Stockport schools for 2015/16.

RESOLVED – (39 for, 1 against, 18 abstentions) That the Education Funding Settlement and Local Formula for 2015/16 be noted.

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Lifelong Learning & Achievement)

The report provides information and an overview of the Education Funding Settlement announced by central government in December 2014 and details of the Schools Local Funding Formula consultation undertaken in autumn 2014 and the proposed amendment to the local formula to be implemented from April 2015.

The Education Funding Settlement confirmed the core arrangements for the Schools budget will be rolled forward again for 2015/16 ahead of the introduction of a National Fairer Funding Formula. The Dedicated Schools Grant will be based on flat cash per pupil for 2015/16, i.e. a 0% increase, as it has since the funding reforms commenced. Schools will continue to be protected from significant budget reductions. The minimum funding guarantee will ensure no school receives more than a 1.5% per pupil reduction in 2015/16 budgets compared to the 2014/15 baseline and before the Pupil Premium is added.

The Pupil Premium grant is subject to more minor change in 2015/16 with only the primary rate increasing, however a new Early Years Pupil Premium is being introduced. The national Pupil Premium Grant allocations are now slightly above the £2.5bn commitment made by the coalition government. The funding announcements include additional funding for special education needs reform and the expected 20% reduction in Education Services Grant.

The Local Authority has worked closely with Schools Forum over the last nine months to review the local formula and has consulted on proposals last autumn. The proposals represent fine tuning rather than any significant change ahead of the National Fairer Funding Formula. It is clear however, in the context of repeated 0% settlements that the financial position of schools is becoming more challenging and this seems likely to continue. The Local Authority will work closely with all schools in such circumstances to ensure they are supported.

The Executive is asked to:

(i)     Notes the details of the Education Funding Settlement for 2015/16.

(ii)    Approve the amendment of the local formula for 2015/16 as outlined in 6.1 and summarised in the table in 7.2., which will form the basis of the calculation of school budgets and be notified to the Department for Education in accordance with statutory requirements.

Officer Contact: Simon Finch, 0161 474 4019, simon.finch@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Lifelong Learning & Achievement) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider key announcements from the Department for Education on the Education Funding Settlement for 2015/16 and to approve, in light of the consideration of the matter by the Schools Forum, the local formula to be used to determine individual school budgets in Stockport for 2015/16.

The Executive Councillor acknowledged the divergent views on the proposed local formula and the concerns expressed about the possible negative impact on schools in the most deprived communities in Stockport. She highlighted that despite the changes to the funding formula, the schools serving the most deprived communities would remain at least £1000 better funded per pupil than those in the least deprived communities. It was also highlighted that the funding formula did not include Pupil Premium resources.

The Executive Councillor also emphasised that the change to the formula would be phased over two years to minimise any potential budgetary difficulties schools may experience.

RESOLVED – (1) That the details of the Education Funding Settlement for 2015/16 be noted.

(2) That the amendment of the local school funding formula for 2015/16 as outlined in 6.1 of the report and summarised in the table in 7.2 be approved, to form the basis of the calculation of school budgets and that this be notified to the Department for Education in accordance with statutory requirements.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report provides information and an overview of the Education Funding Settlement announced by central government in December 2014 and details of the Schools Local Funding Formula consultation undertaken in autumn 2014 and the proposed amendment to the local formula to be implemented from April 2015 subject to the Executive approval.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Peter Hughes on Tel: 474 3947 or email: peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report  (copies of which had been circulated) proving information and an overview of the Education Funding Settlement announced by central government in December 2014 and details of the Schools Local Funding Formula consultation undertaken in the Autumn of 2014 and the proposed amendment to the local formula to be implemented from April 2015 subject to Executive approval.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Funding announcements for 2015/2016 were made on the 17^th December 2014 and confirmed that the distribution of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) to local authorities would continue to be based on the current “spend plus” methodology got 2015/2016 set out in three spending blocks, namely (i) and early years block (ii) a schools’ block and (iii) a high needs block.

·         The minimum funding guarantee (MFG) would ensure that no school receives more that 1.5% per pupil reduction in 2015/2016 budgets compared to the 2014/2015 baseline.

·         In 2014/2015, Stockport attracted £9.089m (including academies) of Pupil Premium Grant. An early-years Pupil Premium was being introduced for every three and four year old from a low income family to help prevent them falling behind before they have commenced school. It was anticipated that this would bring an extra £0.224m of funding to Stockport.

·         A number of Councillors expressed concern in relation to the “feedback against” from those schools who responded to the consultation. They identified (i) changes to the formula having a detrimental impact on the most vulnerable families and children in the borough and (ii) flaws in the consultation process as being of particular concern.

·         Councillors noted that the Schools Forum had not made a specific recommendation in respect to the proposals detailed in the report for consideration by the Executive.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.