Decision details

To approve the 2017/18 funding formula for Surrey schools for notification to the DfE

RESOLVED:

1.         The approach to identifying and delivering £10m savings in SEND services in 2017/18, as described in paragraph 13 of the submitted report be approved and final approval of the savings be delegated to the Assistant Director, Schools and Learning, the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Achievement. (Any proposal that requires a public consultation will be referred to Cabinet.)

2.         The following changes to the schools funding formula, as recommended by the Schools Forum, be approved:

a)    That following the DfE’s removal of DSG sixth form funding as a permitted formula factor, the current allocation of £1.327m be allocated across all secondary schools in 2017/18.

  b)    That following changes in DfE regulations, DSG funding previously targeted to school improvement be allocated to all schools on a per pupil basis.

  c)    That a sum of £300,000 arising from a surplus on the risks contingency to which primary schools contributed, be returned to primary schools.

3       The proposed Surrey formula factors for 2017/18, as set out in Annex 4 of the submitted report, be approved.

4.       Authority be delegated to the Assistant Director, Schools and Learning, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Achievement to approve amendments to the schools funding formula as appropriate following receipt of the DSG settlement and DfE pupil data in December 2016. This is to ensure that total allocations to schools under this formula remain affordable within the council’s DSG settlement to be announced during December 2016.

Reasons for Decisions:

To comply with DfE regulations requiring formal Council approval of the local funding formula for Surrey’s primary and secondary schools, including academies.

[The decision on this item may be called in by either the Education and Skills Scrutiny Board or the Council Overview Board]