Issue details

School Funding 2021/22

West Sussex County Council is required, under national funding regulations, to consult schools and the Schools Forum on proposed changes to funding arrangements affecting school budgets. The School Funding Review 2021/22 consultation document was published on 21st October 2020. Responses to the consultation and feedback from Schools Forum have been taken into account in the development of the local funding formula for mainstream schools in 2021/22.

 

To help alleviate pressures on the High Needs budget a proposal to transfer £2.5m of funding from the Schools block to the High Needs block of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) was also included as part of the schools funding consultation. Under the funding regulations, any transfer between blocks is a decision that is taken by Schools Forum, although the County Council can seek to overturn this by applying to the Secretary of State for Education through a disapplication request. The Schools Forum declined to approve the proposed transfer and the County Council’s application to the Secretary of State was rejected and so no transfer to the High Needs block is included.

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Affects more than 1 division;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Divisions affected: (All Divisions);

Notice of proposed decision first published: 13/11/2020

Decision due: February 2021 by Cabinet Member for Education and Skills

Lead member: Councillor Nigel Jupp nigel.jupp@westsussex.gov.uk

Contact: Andy Thorne, Strategic Finance Buinsess Partner Email: andy.thorne@westsussex.gov.uk Tel: 03302223349.

Consultation process

Representations concerning this proposed decision can be made to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills via the officer contact, by the beginning of the month in which the decision is due to be taken.

Consultees

Schools

Schools Forum – 26 November 2020

Democratic Services Contact: Wendy Saunders Tel: 033 022 22553

Background3: Best Start in LIfe

Decisions

Background papers