The report will provide Members with information regarding the Schools National Funding Formula Schools Block and any associated impact on local schools.

The Assistant Director (AD) for Education provided Members with an outline of changes in relation to the national funding formula for schools. The Committee were advised that a three year ‘soft’ period would allow for the full implementation of the new formula under a graded system of transition. A further report detailing the allocation to local schools would be delivered to the Committee at a future meeting.

In light of the report Members discussed the following in summary:-

·         Concerns regards the reported overspend of the high needs block, which would be considered by the School’s Forum.

·         In response to a Member query it was confirmed that no school should fall below 1% negativity in funding.

·         That the deprivation element and free school meals were now combined to provide a single figure.

·         Whether the new funding formula would affect the viability of certain schools, conceding that finances were not the only factor to consider.

NOTED the report to date and that local figures would be delivered to the Committee in November 2019.