Agenda item

(a)       That the key principles and options to underpin school funding in Flintshire be noted;

(b)       That a further report on the outcome of the consultation process be reported to members at the meeting of the Committee to be held on 19 December 2013; and

(c)        That a workshop be held prior to a meeting of the Committee in December 2013 to consider case studies of how the revised funding formula would impact on schools in Flintshire.    

The Director of Lifelong Learning introduced a report to update members on progress of the Formula Funding Review.  He provided background information and invited Lucy Morris, Project Manager, to provide an overview of the recent work of the project groups.

                           The Project Manager advised that three project teams had been established representing the primary, secondary and specialist sectors with school representation on each. Detailed analysis work of the spend profiles across schools had been undertaken and discussed with the project groups.  Updates on progress had been presented to the School Budget Forum, Headteacher representative groups and trade unions.  The Project Manager outlined the approach taken to review the funding formula and advised that the modelling had produced alternative ways of distributing funds to schools, based on a review of the regulatory framework, the physical capacity of schools and a desire to simplify the administration and understanding of the funding. 

The Project Manager explained that a consultation document on the Secondary Schools Funding Formula Review had been distributed to secondary schools.  The Primary schools consultation document had been delayed due to issues raised by the primary project group and the School Budget Forum, however, it was intended that the document would be issued to schools week commencing 14 October 2013.  She advised that a timeline for implementation and the key principles to underpin consultation were appended to the report.

Members welcomed the update and expressed thanks to the Director of Lifelong Learning, Project Manager and the Project team for their hard work and commitment to revise the current formula.

During discussion members expressed the need for financial data to be provided to schools as part of the consultation process to facilitate forward planning.  Members also raised concerns in relation to transition arrangements, efficient configuration of classes, funding for administration in large primary schools, and funding for additional learning needs.  The Director and Officers responded to the issues raised and reiterated the key objectives to achieve greater transparency, consistency and equity in how funding was distributed to schools.  The Director commented on the Hill Review and the need for increasing school autonomy and collaborative working.

Mr. D. Hytch referred to the principle for funding for Planning Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time and expressed the view that the Authority should establish the principle that every child should be taught by a qualified teacher all the time.    In his response the Director of Lifelong Learning advised that the principle detailed in appendix 2 to the report was  well established practice in accordance with the National workload agreement.

Members raised further concerns around training and development of school administration staff, and S106 Agreement funding from residential developers.  Officers advised that the Authority aimed to improve training and development opportunities for support staff in schools, and also provided clarification on the legal framework regarding S106 Agreements (including clarity that this was not within the legal scope of a school funding formula).

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The Chairman advised that the outcome of the consultation process would be reported to members at the meeting of the Committee to be held on 19 December 2013.  It was agreed that a workshop be scheduled prior to the meeting to consider case studies of how the revised funding formula would impact on schools in Flintshire.    

RESOLVED

(a)       That the key principles and options to underpin school funding in Flintshire be noted;

(b)       That a further report on the outcome of the consultation process be reported to members at the meeting of the Committee to be held on 19 December 2013; and

(c)        That a workshop be held prior to a meeting of the Committee in December 2013 to consider case studies of how the revised funding formula would impact on schools in Flintshire.