SALFORD SCHOOLS FORUM
3 February, 2010
Meeting commenced: 4.00 p.m.
“
ended: 7.04 p.m.
PRESENT: Steve Hopkins (Primary Schools Governors) - in the Chair
Schools Members
Special Schools
Martin Hanbury
Secondary Schools Head Teachers and Senior Management Team Members
Steve Aveyard, Phillip Harte and Pat Wilford
Secondary Schools - Governors
Sheila Hamnett
Primary Schools Head Teachers and Senior Management Team Members
Sandra Slack, Joe Bourke and Ann McQuirk
Primary Schools - Governors
Catherine Provoost, Paula Howe and Joe Martin
Non-School Members
Salford LA
Councillor Margaret Morris
The 14 - 19 Partnership
Jon Stonehouse
Teacher Trade Unions
Judith Elderkin
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SALFORD SCHOOLS FORUM
3 FEBRUARY, 2010
Non Teacher Trade Unions
Carole Culshaw
Officers
1.
Paula Summersfield
Rob Sides
Tony Ryan
Nikki Anderson
-
Vin Joseph
Mike McHugh
-
Principal Group Accountant
Management Accountant
School Improvement Advisor (ICT)
Study Support & Learning Outside
the Classroom Co-ordinator
Democratic Services Manager
Senior Democratic Services Officer
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Norbert Potter (Faith
Communities) and Elizabeth Haddock (Academy).
2.
MEMBERSHIP OF FORUM
The Chairman provided details of new members, appointed since the last meeting of
the Forum, as follows Sheila Hamnett (Secondary Schools - Governors)
February, 2010 to January, 2014
Ann McQuirk (Primary Schools - Head Teachers and Senior Management Team
Members) February, 2010 to January, 2014
Councillor Norbert Potter (Faith Communities)
February, 2010 to January, 2014
Jon Stonehouse (The 14 - 19 Partnership)
February, 2010 to January, 2014 (Interim)
RESOLVED: (1) THAT details of the new membership be noted.
(2) THAT a revised membership list be published on the Salford
Schools Forum Website.
(3) THAT members of Forum liaise with their constituent groups
regarding the content of the Salford Schools Forum Constitution and report any
comments at the next meeting of this Forum.
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SALFORD SCHOOLS FORUM
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3.
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
The minutes of the meeting held on 30 September, 2009, were approved as a correct
record.
4.
MATTERS ARISING
(a)
Forum Support - Update from Chairman
The Chairman provided details of a meeting he had attended, held on 18
January, 2010, with the Deputy Director of Children’s Services and the
Democratic Services Manager, at which the following proposals and actions
had been discussed (1)
The Principal Group Accountant will be the lead officer from Children’s
Services to support the technical work of the forum.
(2)
A bi-annual meeting to take place between the Chairman and Lead
Member for Children’s Services.
Action - Forum Democratic Services Officer.
(3)
A quarterly review meeting to take place between the Chairman, the
Democratic Services Manager, the Principal Group Accountant and
Deputy Director of Children’s Services to review key issues,
opportunities and next steps.
Action: Forum Democratic Services Officer.
(4)
A business plan should be set for a 12 month cycle with an annual
review / report.
Action: Chairman, supported by the Principal Group Accountant and the
Forum Democratic Services Officer.
(5)
A clear framework will detail the service level for administration at an
agreed cost.
Action: Chairman and the Democratic Services Manager.
(6)
Review and clearly define the roles and remit of Schools Forum, with
supporting Terms of Reference and inclusion of the above items.
Action: Chairman and the Democratic Services Manager.
RESOLVED: (1) THAT the proposals be approved.
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SALFORD SCHOOLS FORUM
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(2) and that an update report on the work to implement the
actions be submitted for consideration at the next meeting of this Forum.
(b)
Forum Support - Report of the Democratic Services Manager
The Democratic Services Manager submitted a report providing details of a
proposal, produced following detailed discussions with the Chairman of the
Forum and the Deputy Director of Children’s Services, to create a specialised
service for the Forum.
The main purpose, under the management of the Democratic Services
Manager, would be to provide full time administrative services to the Salford
Schools Forum.
Discussion took place in respect of a number of issues, including 
The service currently provided to the Forum

The development of a framework detailed in 4(a)(5) above.

The opportunity to commission any required work which was not
included in the framework detailed in 4(a)(5) above.
RESOLVED: (1) THAT the recommendation, as detailed in the report now
submitted, be refused.
(2) THAT subject to the development and implementation of a
framework, detailed in 4(a)(5) above, the servicing of the Salford Schools
Forum remain in its current form.
(3) THAT the opportunity to commission any required work which
was not included in the framework detailed in 4(a)(5) above, be noted.
5.
DISADVANTAGE SUBSIDY - ALLOCATION OF FUNDING FROM THE TRAINING
DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Nikki Anderson submitted a report providing details of (a) the allocation and
distribution of Disadvantage Subsidy Funding during the pilot project in 2009 / 2010,
and (b) proposals for the allocation of the Disadvantage Subsidy Funding during the
extension of the project in 2010 / 2011.
She provided details of -
categorisation of pupils who were able to access the funding
-
work undertaken to identify families and young people who might benefit from
the funding
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SALFORD SCHOOLS FORUM
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the guiding principles of expenditure (projects for which the funding can and
cannot be used)
-
levels of funding available for projects in 2010 / 2011.
-
testimonials from schools and other users as a result of the funding.
Discussion took place in respect of a number of issues, including -
confirmation that the funding was allocated to schools or clusters of schools.
-
the administrative process for allocation of the funding.
-
records of the number of children making use of the services provided by the
funding.
RESOLVED: (1) THAT the report be noted.
(2) THAT an update report in respect of this matter be included on the
Agenda for the meeting of Forum in February, 2011.
6.
HARNESSING TECHNOLOGY GRANT - 2009 / 2010
Tony Ryan presented a report providing details of the proposals for the allocation of
the Harnessing Technology Grant funding in 2009 / 2010.
Discussion took place in respect of a number of issues, including -
the ‘retention’ section of the funding and its use.
-
the purpose of the Harnessing Technology Grant.
-
links between the use of the funding and the uptake of the ICT Managed
Service
RESOLVED: (1) THAT, subject to an amendment to the allocation formula to remove
schools in receipt of Building Schools for the Future ICT funding, the
recommendations within the report, including Option 5, be approved.
(2) THAT details of the revised allocations, subject to the changes
referred to in (1) above, relating to the Harnessing Technology Grant for 2009 / 2010,
be provided to schools.
7.
FORUM RESOLUTIONS - UPDATE
Mike McHugh submitted an update report providing details of the resolutions made
by the Salford Schools Forum since the meeting held on 31 January, 2009.
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Discussion took place in respect of a number of issues, including (a)
Item 91 - Dedicated Schools Grant - Non-Delegated Schools Budget - Year
End Position 2008 / 2009
RESOLVED: THAT an update report in respect of this issue (Dedicated
Schools Grant - Non-Delegated Schools Budget), be submitted at the next
meeting of this Forum, including details of -
(b)
(1)
the impact on budgets of an increase in cases of Special Educational
Needs (SENs) within the city
(2)
details of any work being undertaken to examine a diversion of funding
to ‘mainstream’ schools to tackle cases of SEN.
(3)
cost implications of specialist ‘out of city’ SEN provision.
Items 71, 72 and 73 - Formula Review
RESOLVED: (1) THAT, in respect of item 71, it be noted that Paula Hassall is
the Lead Officer with responsibility for Formula Review.
(2) THAT, in respect of item 72, an update report be submitted at
the next meeting of this Forum.
(3) THAT, in respect of item 73, it be noted that this action has
been undertaken.
8.
DECISIONS OF LEAD MEMBER RELEVANT TO FORUM
Mike McHugh provided a copy of the Decision Notice published on behalf of the Lead
Member for Children’s Services approving the revised Constitution for the Salford
Schools Forum.
RESOLVED: THAT the matter be noted.
9.
EARLY YEARS FUNDING UPDATE
Paula Summersfield submitted a report providing details of proposals following a
review and consultation process for the Early Years Funding Formula.
Judith Elderkin provided further information on the work which had been undertaken
by a working group to assist with the development of the formula review.
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SALFORD SCHOOLS FORUM
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The Chairman, on behalf of the Forum, placed on record his thanks to Paula and the
team for the work which had been undertaken in reviewing the formula.
RESOLVED: THAT the Salford Schools Forum supports the findings of the Early
Years Funding Formula Review and the proposal to implement form 1st April 2010.
10.
EMTAS FUNDING 2009 / 2010
A report was submitted providing details of the EMTAS Funding allocation for 2009 /
2010.
RESOLVED: THAT the report be noted.
11.
SCHOOL BALANCES AND DEFICIT MANAGEMENT
RESOLVED: (1) THAT a briefing paper outlining the role of (a) the Local Authority
(LA) and (b) the Salford Schools Forum, in determining action relating to school
closures and schools balances be submitted at the meeting of this Forum to be held
in May, 2010.
(2) THAT an update report relating to work being undertaken with
schools to combat deficit budgets be submitted at the next meeting of this Forum.
12.
FORMULA REVIEW
Minute 7(b) above refers.
13.
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
RESOLVED: THAT the next meeting of this Forum be held on Tuesday 23 March,
2010, in a Committee Room at the Salford Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton, at
4.00 p.m.
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