School Funding Reforms
Consultation with Somerset schools
and academies for 2015/16.
Detailed Proposals and Questions
Over the past three years, the Department for Education (DfE) has introduced a
number of important changes to how local authorities distribute funding to schools.
These changes have led to a more transparent funding system with more money
being allocated based on the needs of pupils.
In March 2014, the DfE consulted on a proposal to provide additional funding to
the least fairly funded authorities in 2015/16. The proposal was first to ensure that
all local authorities will be funded at least at the same cash level per pupil as in
2014/15; then to allocate an additional £350m for 2015/16 to fund schools in the
least fairly funded authorities.
The consultation closed on 30 April 2014 and full details of the Government’s
response may be viewed using the link below;
Consultation on fairer school funding for 2015 to 2016 - Government response
Following the consultation, the DfE published a document entitled ‘Fairer schools
funding – Arrangements for 2015 to 2016’; this set out a number of further reforms
that will be made to the schools funding system for 2015/16.
We would like to consult with Somerset maintained schools and academies on
some proposed changes to schools funding for 2015/16 as summarised below;
1. Allocation of Additional Funds
2. Formula Funding - Element 1;
a. Sparsity Factor
b. Exceptional circumstances
3. De-delegation (maintained schools only)
Full details for each proposal are provided below and the response form can be
found on iPost (iPostID3627)
1. Allocation of Additional Funds
The DfE has determined additional allocations by setting minimum funding levels
that every authority should attract for its pupils and schools. If a local authority
currently attracts less than the proposed minimum funding levels for the pupils and
schools in its area, the DfE would increase its budget so that it met those levels.
For local authorities already attracting at least these minimum funding levels for
2014/15, no changes would be made to its amount of funding per pupil.
The DfE originally stated that it would be able to allocate an additional £350m to
the least fairly funded areas in 2015/16. In July, the DfE was pleased to announce
that it can now allocate £390m.
1
Based on the DfE’s methodology, Somerset will receive an estimated additional
£4.4m (the actual figure will not be confirmed by the DfE until December 2014).
The additional funds have been allocated on the basis of the Schools Block
funding within the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), and do not take account of the
level of spending in either of the other blocks; High Needs and Early Years.
Therefore, when deciding how much of the additional funds will be delegated to
schools and academies, the Schools Forum and Cabinet Member for Children and
Families will need to consider the pressures in these other areas.
The Technical Working Group has recommended that any additional funds are
allocated to Somerset schools and academies on a per pupil basis. However, if
you would like to propose another formula factor, please indicate your preference,
including details of the methodology.
Question 1:
Do you agree that the additional funds should be allocated on a per pupil
basis?
If you would like to propose another formula factor, please indicate your
preference, including details of the methodology.
2. Formula Funding – Element 1
a. Sparsity Factor
In 2014/15, the DfE introduced an additional factor for sparsity. Its purpose was to
enable funding to be targeted at ‘necessary’ small rural schools to ensure their
viability. This factor was included in Somerset’s formula and funding was allocated
to small schools using the following criteria;
 Primary schools with fewer than 35 pupils and the average distance to
pupils’ second nearest school is greater than or equal to 2 miles.
 Middle schools with fewer than 600 pupils and the average distance to the
pupils’ second nearest school is greater than or equal to 3 miles.
 Secondary schools with fewer than 600 pupils and the average distance to
pupils’ second nearest school is greater than or equal to 4 miles.
 All-through schools with fewer than 600 pupils and the average distance to
the pupils’ second nearest school is greater than or equal to 2 miles.
For 2015/16, the DfE has amended the criterion in respect of pupil numbers from
total numbers on roll to average year groups as detailed below:
 Primary schools with on average fewer than 21.4 pupils per year group and
an average distance greater than or equal to 2 miles
 Secondary schools with on average fewer than 120 pupils per year group
and an average distance greater than or equal to 3 miles
 Middle schools with on average fewer than 69.2 pupils per year group and
an average distance greater than or equal to 2 miles
 All-through schools with on average fewer than 62.5 pupils per year group
and an average distance greater than or equal to 2 miles
2
Pupil numbers include Years R to 11 only i.e. excluding nursery and 6th Form
pupils.
The sparsity distance for each school is based on data provided by the DfE and is
calculated as crow flies distances. Local authorities (LAs) are able to make
exceptional applications for schools not meeting the distance criterion where they
have significantly higher distances, if road distances had been used instead of
crow flies distances.
Where small ‘necessary’ schools are able to demonstrate that the road distance is
significantly greater than the crow flies distance, resulting in eligibility for sparsity
funding, the LA will consider submitting an exceptional application to the Education
Funding Agency (EFA).
Appendix A provides a list of all schools and academies showing details of the
average distance (as the crow flies) to the pupils’ second nearest school and pupil
numbers from the October 2013 pupil census.
Question 2:
Do you agree that small ‘necessary’ schools should be eligible for sparsity
funding if road distances are used instead of crow flies distances (in addition to
the minimum pupil criterion)?
If you feel your school would be eligible for sparsity funding based on the
above, please submit full details including the nearest alternative school(s) and
the distance/mileage.
The dataset for sparsity funding also takes into account the nearest suitable
school; however, the EFA would consider an application to exclude a particular
school from eligibility funding if its inclusion gives rise to a perverse outcome.
Some schools operate an admissions process without a catchment area;
therefore, for some pupils on roll, that particular school is not necessarily the
nearest establishment to their home address. Applying the sparsity factor in these
circumstances would not seem appropriate.
We would like to propose that schools who do not operate an admissions process
using a catchment area should be excluded from receiving sparsity funding.
Question 3:
Do you agree with the proposal to exclude schools who do not operate an
admissions process using a catchment area from receiving sparsity funding?
b. Exceptional Circumstances
Local authorities may request the inclusion of additional factors in their formula for
exceptional circumstances. Additional factors may be approved in cases where the
nature of the school premises gives rise to a significant additional cost, greater
than 1% of a school’s total budget and where such costs affect fewer than 5% of
the schools (including academies) in the authority’s area.
3
A number of exceptional arrangements have been agreed by the DfE where
particular premises circumstances result in costs beyond the control of the
governing body. Any factors which were used in 2014/15 can automatically be
used in 2015/16 provided that the above criteria are still met.
Exceptional factors previously approved include:
 rents
 joint use of leisure facilities by contractual agreement
 building schools for the future (BSF) schemes - additional contribution to
lifecycle maintenance costs
 hire of PE facilities
 listed buildings
 school with a farm included as part of its educational provision
Each application is considered on its own merits and it should not be assumed that
a future application will be successful simply because it falls into one of the
categories shown above.
Schools should note that some historical exceptional circumstances were already
catered for when Somerset moved to the new funding formula. This includes
funding for rents; most schools will have received funding for this element in the
per pupil and lump sum allowance. Applications would therefore not be considered
unless there has been a considerable increase in costs compared to the baseline
figure used in 2013/14.
Schools are invited to submit proposals for exceptional costs. As mentioned
previously, additional factors may be approved in cases where the nature of the
school premises gives rise to a significant additional cost greater than 1% of a
school’s total budget and where such costs affect fewer than 5% of the schools
(including academies) in the authority’s area. Applications should set out the
rationale for the factor and demonstrate that the criteria are met.
Question 4:
Do you wish to submit an application for exceptional circumstances?
(If yes, please submit details as explained above)
3. De-delegation (maintained schools only)
Maintained schools can, through their representatives on the Schools Forum, vote
for certain budgets to be managed centrally. For 2013/14 and 2014/15, the
Schools Forum voted unanimously for the option to de-delegate budgets
previously managed centrally. However, as this decision must be reviewed
annually, local authorities are required to consult with maintained schools on the
arrangements for 2015/16.
Academies, Special Schools and PRUs may be able to buy into any central
arrangements.
4
The budgets which can be de-delegated are set out in the table below, with
additional details in relation to insurance, licences and subscriptions set out in the
appendices to this document. The values below relate to 2014/15, the amounts
for 2015/16 will be published after the DSG for 2015/16 has been published by the
DfE in December 2014.
New Delegation
Basis for new
delegation
Per pupil
Insurance (Appendix B refers)
Primary
Secondary
FSM eligibility (Appendix C refers)
Per FSM Ever 6
Licences & Subscriptions (Appendix D
refers)
Lump Sum
Primary
Secondary
Staff Costs
Primary
Secondary
2014/15
Values
£15.28
£22.93
£0.93
Lump sum & per
pupil
£3,367
£11.89
£12.99
Per pupil
£14.82
£29.58
Maintained schools only:
Question 5:
Please indicate whether you wish to see budgets for insurance, maternity
cover, FSM Eligibility checking, licences and subscription de-delegated. A
response is required for each budget to inform Schools Forum
representatives at the meeting on 2 December 2014 to make a decision.
Technical Working Group Membership
The Technical Working Group is a sub group of the Schools Forum. Its main
purpose is to consider the detailed formula funding developments and make
recommendations or present options to the Forum on any proposed changes.
There are currently some vacancies within the group, in particular representatives
from a maintained primary school (rural/urban & large/small) and a maintained
middle/secondary school. Representatives can be the head teacher, deputy head
or business manager of the school.
The group meets approximately 6 times a year, mainly during the Autumn and
Spring terms. Meetings are usually held in the morning and last about 3 hours,
depending on the agenda.
If you would like further details, please do not hesitate to contact Ken Rushton
(kerushton@somerset.gov.uk) or Sue Ford (sford@somerset.gov.uk).
5
Question 6:
Please indicate if you would like to represent your particular phase/type of
school on the Technical Working Group, or whether you would like to
nominate someone within your school.
The closing date for responses to this consultation is Tuesday 23 September
2014, as applications for exceptional circumstances must be received by the EFA
before the end of September 2014.
The School Funding Reforms also affect funding for high needs pupils, specialist
and alternative provision, early years and central services. This document does
not cover these changes.
If you require any further information or explanation, please contact the EFS
Helpline: 01823 359984 or email: educationfinance@somerset.gov.uk
6
Appendix A Sparsity Factor:
List of schools showing pupils on roll and the average distance to pupils’ second
nearest school.
NOR
(Oct
2013)
School
DfE
School Name
number number
11
13
16
18
21
23
24
28
30
31
34
35
40
44
50
54
55
56
58
59
62
67
70
72
74
75
76
80
81
84
86
87
88
91
93
94
96
97
99
102
3276
2150
2001
3225
3001
3003
2300
3008
3009
3226
2200
3175
2106
3227
2152
2325
2157
2156
3400
3401
3151
2110
5200
3302
2165
3152
3402
3017
3154
2008
2166
2102
2329
2089
5202
3020
2255
3176
3305
3492
Ash C of E Primary School
Ashcott Primary School
Ashill Community Primary School
Axbridge C of E First School
Baltonsborough C of E VC Primary School
St Mary and St Peter's C of E Primary School
Barwick and Stoford Community Primary School
Beckington C of E First School
Berkley C of E First School
Berrow C of E Primary School
Bishops Hull Primary School
Bishops Lydeard C of E VC Primary School
Bowlish Infant School
Brent Knoll C of E Primary School
Eastover Community Primary School
Westover Green Community School
Hamp Nursery and Infants' School
Hamp Community Junior School
St John and St Francis CofE VA Primary School
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bridgwater
St Mary's VC C of E Primary School
Neroche Primary School
Bruton Primary School
Buckland St Mary C of E Primary School
Burnham-on-Sea Infants' School
St Andrew's C of E VC Junior School
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School and Nursery
Butleigh C of E Primary School
Cannington C of E Primary School
Castle Cary Community Primary School
Catcott Primary School
Avishayes Community Primary School
The Redstart Primary School
Manor Court Community Primary School
Charlton Horethorne C of E Primary School
Charlton Mackrell CofE Primary School
Cheddar First School
Cheddon Fitzpaine C of E Primary School
Chewton Mendip C of E VA Primary School
St Vigor and St John CofE School
7
165
119
36
157
89
49
65
91
93
187
224
209
114
113
400
374
225
224
417
235
306
140
251
63
240
304
236
99
163
203
191
214
399
326
46
77
278
139
137
208
Average
distance to
2nd school
1.3046
1.8817
1.4133
1.4895
1.6401
1.8036
1.4215
1.2513
1.3289
1.5631
0.6805
1.5263
0.6159
2.1272
0.6583
0.5002
0.5522
0.5635
0.5423
0.3211
0.4526
1.4502
2.8431
2.5836
0.6574
0.5468
0.4990
1.6552
1.7218
2.4433
2.1888
0.7073
0.6116
0.7656
2.2406
1.4458
1.5436
0.8598
2.3776
1.7199
School
DfE
School Name
number number
103
105
107
110
114
115
116
117
120
122
124
125
127
128
130
132
134
137
139
140
142
143
144
146
148
150
151
152
153
157
158
160
164
166
171
173
175
176
178
180
183
184
3277
2203
3029
3307
2168
2334
2019
3178
3037
3035
3311
3313
3039
3040
3314
2020
3041
3317
3042
2022
3232
2302
2169
5203
3047
3048
3058
3057
2114
3369
3371
2028
3322
3060
2029
3278
3179
2030
3061
2009
3062
3064
NOR (Oct
2013)
Chilthorne Domer Church School
Churchstanton Primary School
Bishop Henderson C of E Primary School
Combe St Nicholas C of E VA Primary School
Cossington Primary School
Cotford St Luke Primary School
Coxley Primary School
Creech St Michael C of E Primary School
St Bartholomew's C of E First School
Ashlands C of E First School
Croscombe C of E Primary School
Crowcombe CofE VA Primary School
Curry Mallet C of E Primary School
Curry Rivel C of E VC Primary School
Cutcombe C of E First School
Ditcheat Primary School
St Aldhelm's C of E Primary School
Draycott and Rodney Stoke C of E First School
All Saints CofE School
Dunster First School
East Brent C of E First School
East Coker Community Primary School
East Huntspill School
Enmore C of E Primary School
Evercreech C of E Primary School
Exford C of E First School
Trinity C of E First School
Christ Church CofE First School
Hayesdown First School
St John's C of E Voluntary Aided First School, Frome
St Louis Catholic Primary School, Frome
Vallis First School
St Benedict's C of E Voluntary Aided Junior School
St John's C of E VC Infants School
Hambridge Community Primary School
Haselbury Plucknett C of E First School
Hatch Beauchamp C of E Primary School
Hemington Primary School
St Nicholas CofE Primary School, Henstridge
Churchfield CofE VC Primary School
High Ham C of E Primary School
Hinton St George C of E School
8
134
77
133
70
44
302
53
242
190
106
61
34
67
132
24
91
193
64
114
139
66
250
57
146
134
25
292
182
254
285
206
257
207
182
125
46
47
47
84
418
173
61
Average
distance to
2nd school
1.4105
2.7727
1.5886
1.6158
1.1114
1.3486
1.3423
0.8836
0.7201
0.7207
1.9562
2.1481
1.8691
2.1152
3.2576
2.3493
2.0360
1.8451
3.4858
1.9005
1.5778
1.5935
1.8949
1.8373
2.1487
5.5732
0.5922
0.6291
0.8775
0.4593
0.6310
0.2314
1.7521
1.9817
2.1525
1.7525
1.9117
1.7845
1.3006
0.8168
2.4356
1.5963
School
DfE
School Name
number number
186
188
190
194
196
202
204
207
209
210
211
213
215
216
218
220
221
224
226
227
228
229
230
233
235
236
237
241
243
244
246
248
251
252
255
256
258
262
264
265
267
268
2032
3065
2034
2327
3066
2038
3329
2041
3180
2331
3181
2043
3331
3076
2205
3236
3237
3486
2045
3078
2046
2047
2172
2206
3079
2048
3080
3493
3158
3084
3182
2175
2335
3184
3342
3281
2051
3085
3290
3086
2177
2178
NOR (Oct
2013)
Horrington Primary School
Horsington C of E Primary School
Huish Episcopi Primary School
Ilchester Community School
Greenfylde C of E First School
Keinton Mandeville Primary School
Kilmersdon C of E Primary School
Kingsbury Episcopi Primary School
Kingston St Mary C of E Primary School
Kingsmoor Primary School
Langford Budville C of E Primary School
Leigh-upon-Mendip First School
Long Sutton CofE Primary School
Lovington C of E Primary School
Lydeard St Lawrence Community Primary School
Lympsham C of E VC First School
Mark C of E VC First School
Martock C of E VA Primary School
Meare Village Primary School
Mells C of E First School
Merriott First School
Milborne Port Primary School
Middlezoy Primary School
Milverton Community Primary School
St Michael's C of E First School
Minehead First School
Misterton C of E First School
All Saints C of E Primary School
Nether Stowey C of E Primary School
North Cadbury C of E Primary School
North Curry CofE VC Primary School
North Newton Community Primary School
North Petherton Primary School
Norton Fitzwarren C of E VC Community School
Norton St Philip C of E First School
Norton-sub-Hamdon C of E Primary School
Nunney First School
Oakhill C of E Primary School
Oake, Bradford and Nynehead VC Primary
Old Cleeve CofE School, Washford
Othery Village School
Otterhampton Primary School
9
131
104
126
282
321
147
162
144
109
157
45
54
114
57
85
100
127
234
105
91
112
123
64
199
142
252
60
211
145
129
135
91
339
77
47
120
62
119
109
119
40
78
Average
distance to
2nd school
1.3778
1.7015
2.1445
2.5148
1.8517
1.8285
1.3132
1.8820
1.6027
1.2055
1.4811
1.5529
2.1076
2.2404
2.4112
1.6176
2.2418
0.9699
2.8088
2.0596
1.4189
2.2929
1.0808
1.8315
0.7475
0.6610
1.1716
1.3022
2.1557
2.2960
2.0081
1.5766
1.2210
0.8743
2.1212
1.0866
2.3809
1.9057
1.4486
2.4597
1.3701
1.9321
School
DfE
School Name
number number
272
276
278
280
282
284
286
289
291
296
298
299
301
302
304
305
307
308
309
311
313
315
316
318
319
320
325
327
328
329
331
332
333
337
338
339
343
346
347
349
350
351
2179
3344
2057
2180
2059
3186
3287
3286
2211
3098
2062
3132
3238
2182
2064
3353
3484
2306
3159
3189
2212
3101
3356
3190
2067
2307
3358
2113
2068
2069
2070
2330
3439
2332
2215
2229
2216
2228
2219
3288
3191
3438
NOR (Oct
2013)
Pawlett Primary School
St Dubricius C of E VA School
Priddy Primary School
Puriton Primary School
Countess Gytha Primary School
Rockwell Green C of E Primary School
Rode Methodist VC First School
Ruishton C of E Primary School
Sampford Arundel Community Primary School
Shepton Beauchamp C of E Primary School
Shepton Mallet Infants' School
St Paul's C of E VC Junior School
Shipham C of E First School
Somerset Bridge Primary School
Somerton Infant School
Monteclefe C of E VA Junior School
South Petherton C of E Infants School
South Petherton Junior School
Spaxton CofE Primary School
Staplegrove CofE Primary School
Stawley Primary School
Stogumber CofE Primary School
Stogursey C of E Primary School
Stoke St Gregory C of E Primary School
Stoke St Michael Primary School
Castle Primary School
St Benedict's Catholic Primary School
Brookside Community Primary School
Elmhurst Junior School
Hindhayes Infant School
Tatworth Primary School
Blackbrook Primary School
Bishop Henderson C of E Primary School, Taunton
Holway Park Community Primary School
Halcon Community Primary School
Lyngford Park Primary School
North Town Community Primary School
Parkfield Primary School
Priorswood Primary School
Archbishop Cranmer C of E Community Primary Sch
St Andrew's C of E Primary School
St George's Catholic School
10
51
74
56
171
127
162
94
152
34
29
114
258
56
313
120
156
94
118
73
203
51
32
62
94
46
148
140
446
276
216
213
239
419
279
132
265
428
425
136
255
231
212
Average
distance to
2nd school
1.6772
4.6184
2.3108
1.4008
2.5738
0.7319
1.4232
0.7567
1.5130
1.8501
0.8660
1.4527
1.3270
0.6486
2.1539
2.1414
1.8142
1.8306
1.6316
0.7308
2.2263
2.5542
2.3438
2.2842
1.6780
0.9526
0.4428
0.8583
0.8969
0.8690
1.4553
0.3291
0.6002
0.5972
0.4905
0.6036
0.4542
0.4251
0.3949
0.3554
0.3659
0.4245
School
DfE
School Name
number number
355
357
359
361
363
364
369
375
381
382
386
388
390
392
393
395
396
397
400
403
405
406
407
408
410
411
413
414
416
417
418
420
422
423
427
432
434
435
436
438
439
440
3433
2221
3105
3436
3359
3485
3437
3129
3110
3490
3240
2250
2224
5201
2118
3115
3114
3361
2333
3289
2226
3119
3284
3285
2184
3195
3121
2185
3123
3488
2081
2082
2227
2085
2186
2320
2319
3489
2309
2311
2310
3494
NOR (Oct
2013)
Holy Trinity CofE VA Primary School
Wellsprings Primary School
Abbas and Templecombe C of E Primary School
Thurlbear C of E Primary School
Timberscombe C of E First School
St Margaret's School, Tintinhull
Trull C of E VA Primary School
Upton Noble CofE VC Primary School
Walton C of E VC Primary School
Knights Templar C of E/Methodist Community Sch
Weare Academy First School
Wedmore First School
Beech Grove Primary School
St John's C of E Primary School
Wellesley Park Primary School
St Cuthbert's C of E Infants School
Wells Central CofE Junior School
St Joseph and St Teresa Catholic Primary School
Stoberry Park School
Wembdon St George's C of E Primary School
West Buckland Community Primary School
St Lawrence's CofE Primary School
West Chinnock C of E Primary School
West Coker CofE VC Primary School
West Huntspill Community Primary School
West Monkton C of E Primary School
West Pennard C of E Primary School
Westonzoyland Community Primary School
St Peter's C of E First School
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic P Sch, Wincanton
Wincanton Primary School
Winsham Primary School
Wiveliscombe Primary School
Wookey Primary School
Woolavington Village Primary School
Birchfield Community Primary School
Grass Royal Junior School
Holy Trinity C of E Primary School
Huish Primary School
Milford Infants' School
Milford Junior School
Oaklands Primary School
11
300
219
136
205
28
92
256
175
140
156
143
205
300
165
346
126
163
140
308
343
79
69
42
89
79
214
205
142
113
133
257
30
221
97
160
369
204
325
417
296
397
419
Average
distance to
2nd school
0.2933
0.4863
1.5403
2.2448
2.6011
1.5792
1.4125
3.1891
1.0089
0.8424
2.1786
3.1013
0.4686
0.6529
0.6659
0.6249
0.6409
0.6564
0.8000
0.6970
2.0195
2.0170
1.9292
1.3694
1.2339
1.1129
2.3292
1.9638
1.1067
0.5616
0.4757
2.0143
3.0148
1.7575
0.9252
0.6171
0.4192
0.8182
0.4011
0.6078
0.5883
0.5015
School
DfE
School Name
number number
442
443
445
447
481
482
484
487
489
491
494
496
499
501
502
504
506
514
517
520
522
527
533
535
539
544
546
548
552
556
562
567
570
573
576
579
585
588
590
593
598
599
2312
3283
2314
3487
4584
4410
4287
4277
4257
4552
4288
4290
4553
4001
4300
4308
4309
4304
4274
4583
4508
4000
4258
4259
4291
4282
4450
4283
4356
4504
4355
4451
4455
4201
4250
4358
4354
4273
4100
5400
5401
6905
NOR (Oct
2013)
Pen Mill Infants' School
Preston CofE VC Primary School
Reckleford Community School & Children's Centre
St Gildas Catholic Primary School
Hugh Sexey C of E Middle School
Fairlands Middle School
Maiden Beech Academy
Dulverton Middle & Community School
Oakfield School
Selwood Anglican/Methodist Middle School
Swanmead Community School
Minehead Middle School
Danesfield C of E VC Comm Middle School
Bridgwater College Academy
Robert Blake Science College
Chilton Trinity Technology College
Haygrove School
The King Alfred School
Holyrood Academy
The Kings of Wessex School
Wadham School
Frome Community College
St Dunstan's Community School
Huish Episcopi Academy
The West Somerset Community College
Whitstone
Stanchester Community School
Crispin School Academy
Court Fields Community School
The Blue School
Kingsmead Academy
Bucklers Mead Community School
Preston School Academy
Westfield Community School
Ansford School
The Castle School
Heathfield Community School
King Arthur's Community School
Bishop Fox's School
Sexey's School
Brymore School
The Taunton Academy
12
167
431
70
216
616
528
425
103
533
667
275
544
331
1,185
699
966
1,091
1,223
1,132
855
580
893
463
1,301
883
552
740
1,040
725
1,271
803
953
979
797
628
1,210
1,208
554
891
372
136
646
Average
distance to
2nd school
0.4105
0.9596
0.2431
0.3503
3.9651
3.5695
3.8111
6.8302
1.4562
1.5457
3.8054
7.3817
5.2752
1.6561
1.2919
1.7885
1.6309
5.6864
5.6714
4.7709
4.6779
5.4998
2.0002
6.0713
11.8296
4.6956
4.2062
3.2103
5.0634
4.2805
5.8041
1.9009
1.3327
0.9824
3.8394
1.8081
2.5799
4.3653
1.8389
3.1563
5.5364
1.8700
Appendix B - Delegation of insurance budgets
The current arrangements for insurance cover are as follows:
 The central Schools Budget covers insurance for property and liabilities,
including personal accident;
 Individual schools buy insurance, as required for trips, motor vehicles,
additional school contents cover and hirer’s liability;
 Academies purchase all of their own insurance and can purchase support
from the Insurance Team in the procurement process.
The School Funding Reforms require full delegation of insurance budgets, via the
new simplified formula. Maintained schools can vote, via their representatives at
the Schools Forum, to de-delegate. This would have the effect of recentralising
the insurance budget and no school would gain or lose funding. Insurance cover
arrangements could continue as currently. An alignment to external contracts may
be beneficial (e.g. 3-5 years).
If the budgets for insurance were to be delegated, the responsibilities that would
transfer to an individual school are set out in the table below:
Type of
insurance
Property
Public Liability
Employers Liability
Other Liabilities
Personal Accident
Money
Summary of responsibility and level of cover
required
Insure the school buildings and contents for things like
damage caused by fire or flood. Ensure adequate level,
based on the reinstatement valuation. This will include
business interruption.
For claims against the school by a member of the public
(including pupils) arising from the school’s negligence –
usually injury sustained whilst on school premises, but
this can include any off site activity or trip.
For claims against the school by an employee arising
from the school’s negligence, including injury and illness.
Officials Indemnity and libel and slander protect
employees against errors, omissions, libel and slander.
Provides assault cover for all employees, including
volunteers and governors.
Covers loss, theft or damage of money up to £30,000
The delegation of these budgets is on a per pupil basis. This is unlikely to exactly
match the cost of premiums for insurance cover for a significant proportion of
schools. Some schools may benefit from delegation but many may have to meet
costs in excess of delegated funding. Experience in procuring insurance for some
academies has suggested that individual cover, purchased on the open market is
more expensive than the cover currently arranged by the County Council.
It may not be possible for the County Council to offer a buy-back arrangement to
individual schools for any aspect of insurance if this budget is fully delegated. The
County Council will need to assess the level of risk and the impact on the
Insurance Fund before confirming its position.
13
Appendix C – FSM Eligibility Checking Service
The Free School Meals Service currently provides a single point of contact for
parents through Somerset Direct. Application forms are also available on-line and
will be made available in other locations such as GP surgeries. Schools are given
a supply of leaflets and application forms.
Marketing has been undertaken to raise the profile that free school meals eligibility
means more than just free school meals and gives the child’s school access to
Pupil Premium funding. The service processes all application forms received,
undertaking the necessary eligibility checks on behalf of the schools and where
purchased, academies.
Schools are notified of eligible children. The Service maintains all data relating to
eligibility and will automatically notify the school where a child ceases to be eligible
for Free School Meals.
Academies currently have access to the following SSTEP service:
-
-
Promoting the take up of free school meals to maximise access to Pupil
Premium through marketing and awareness raising.
Applications for Free School Meals will be processed by the Local Authority.
Automatic notifications as children become eligible or cease to qualify for free
school meals.
Upon transition, the new school will be automatically notified where a child is
already eligible for free school meals.
Parents may be more likely to claim via the Council than directly to the school
and will only have to complete one form for all their children regardless of the
schools attended.
Provision of leaflets and encouraged to promote Free School Meals, including
making the initial approach to a parent where helpful.
Delegation of funding for this service for all schools and academies, within the
formula would allow individual schools and academies to make an individual
choice as to whether to access this service. The Local Authority has access to a
government Eligibility Checking Hub, reducing the need for evidence of benefit
entitlement at the school.
Maintained schools can vote, through the Schools Forum, to recentralise this
function and its budget, allowing maintained schools access to the service at any
time.
14
Appendix D – Licences and Subscriptions
The current central budget for licences and subscriptions covers the following
functions:
 The variable element of the Wide Area Network contract
 A variety of intellectual property licences for schools
 The countywide subscription to The Key
 A licence for the core SIMS system in schools
 Site licence for Health and Safety European Education Consultants Safety
Suite
Academies can with the exception of a SIMS licence, rejoin central countywide
arrangements through SSTEP. A core ICT package, available to all schools and
academies is funded through a separate central budget with the support of the
Joint ICT Working Group, the Compact Executive and the Schools Forum.
Maintained schools, by phase, can opt to recentralise these budgets, allowing
existing countywide arrangements to continue, ensuring consistency and
achieving value for money. In most cases individual purchase of licences and
subscriptions would result in a higher overall cost but individual schools would be
advised to make an independent assessment.
15