Schools Forum
Schools Forums were set up to give schools greater involvement in the distribution of funding within their Council. The Council must consult its Schools Forum on the School Funding Formula, as well as other issues in connection with schools budget.
Cheshire West and Chester's Schools Forum was established in December 2008 in accordance with Department for Education Schools Forum Regulations.
The Council consults the Forum on the following areas:
- Limits on central expenditure in the schools budget
- Combined budgets
- School specific contingencies
- Minimum funding guarantee
- The Council's proposed school funding formula
- Issues within the schools budget, such as arrangements for pupils with special educational needs or early years education
- Service contracts
- Monday 13 February 2023 4.30pm until 6.30 pm - venue to be confirmed
- Tuesday 4 July 2023 4.30pm until 6.30 pm - venue to be confirmed
Members of the public wishing to attend Schools Forum meetings should contact the Schools Forum Clerk:
- Email: school.relationshipteam@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
- Telephone: 07584 206913
There are currently 32 elected members.
Schools members
- Primary School Headteachers (five)
- Primary Governors (five)
- Secondary Headteachers (two)
- Secondary Governors (two)
- Special School Headteacher (one)
- Special School Governor (one)
- Pupil Referral Units Executive Headteacher (one)
Academy members (including free schools) (seven)
- Primary/Secondary (six)
- Special (one)
Non schools members
- Diocesan Authorities (two)
- Private, Voluntary and Independent Sector (two)
- Trade Unions (two)
- 16-19 Providers (one)
- Chair of Primary Association of Headteachers (one)
Schools Forum members have a four year term of office and the Chair is elected every two years. The Education and Children Portfolio Holder of the Council and a representative from the Education Funding Agency can attend as a non-voting observer. Senior Council staff act as advisors to the Forum.
The Department for Education (DfE) requires the Local Authority to consult with schools annually on the formula factors used to allocate Schools Block funding. Views are therefore sought from representatives from all primary and secondary schools and academies on the use of the allowable formula factors in allocating funding for the next financial year.
In accordance with the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998, the Local Authority maintains a Scheme for Financing Schools which sets out the financial relationship between the Local Authority and the schools which it maintains.
It contains requirements relating to financial management and associated issues which are binding on both the Local Authority and on schools.
The document is published on this page and was last updated in July 2021 to reflect the latest directed revisions issued by the Secretary of State and changes approved by the Schools Forum.