To provide an update on the review of the membership of the Schools Forum, term of office of members and vacancies, overview of current sub-groups, and their purpose and remit.

To receive an update on from the Sub-Groups of Schools Forum on the work being undertaken.

The Schools Forum considered a report setting out a review of the  membership of the Forum, its current sub-groups and their purpose and remit, members’ term of office and any vacancies.  In addition the report provided an overview  of the Constitution and Terms of Reference and set out the recommendations for the review.

[15.16 Mr D Brando-Bravo joined the meeting]

Points and comments included:

·         The Deputy Director for Education and Transformation advised that the current membership, Terms of Reference and Constitution of the Central Bedfordshire Schools Forum had been updated to reflect the changes made to the Operational and Good Practice Guide issued by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

·         The Operational  guidance precluded multiple representation by one person on the Forum i.e. Academy Representative or Special Academy Representative.

·         Concern was expressed that the Operational guidance did not include representation from middle schools on the Schools Forum as some areas of Central Bedfordshire operated a 3 tier education system.

·         It was explained that that the DfE guidance does not recognise lower, middle and upper schools, but that middle schools were deemed secondary in the terms of reference and this could be specified.

·         A discussion was held regarding the need to clarify the length of time Schools Forum members had served to understand future elections.  Following the discussion, it was ascertained that some members had not been subject to formal election.

·         It was therefore agreed that a formal election process needed to be put in place as current members of the Schools Forum had been elected by different processes.

[15.30 – the Director of Children’s Services and Deputy Director Safeguarding and Early Help joined the meeting]

RESOLVED

1.    that further consideration be given to the revised constitution and terms of reference for members, current vacancies and the proposed structure and elections at the next meeting of the Schools Forum.

2.    that evidence of election of membership and term of office be sent to the Committee Services Officer.

3.    that the following members of the Schools Forum would meet to determine the process for the election of members to the Forum, to undertake a review of the balance of representation of Forum members and the Constitution and Terms of Reference, including clarification of voting powers and to identify an effective mechanism for the dissemination of information from Schools Forum.

·         Mrs S Howley

·         Mr P Burrett

·         Mr D Brandon-Bravo

·         Mr J Street

4.    that an update on the outcome of the review by the working party be given at the March meeting of the Forum.