The Royal Borough of Greenwich Schools Forum is scheduled to meet remotely to discuss Dedicated Schools Grant funding, school place planning, and other related matters. The forum is expected to review updates on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for both the current and upcoming financial years, including specific blocks for central school services and high needs. Additionally, school place planning and the capital programme for the coming years are also scheduled to be discussed.

School Place Planning and Capital Programme

The Schools Forum is scheduled to note the School Place Planning and Capital Programme 2025/26 - 2027/28 report, which was formally presented to the Cabinet on 19 November 2025. The report addresses the management of forecast demand for school places across all phases of education.

Key points outlined in the report include:

• A projected decline in demand for primary school places, with local variations across the borough.
• Sufficient secondary school provision to meet the demand for Year 7 places, though in-year pressures persist.
• An expected increase in demand for specialist places for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The report also details plans for a new SEND all-through free school, Rowan Wood, at Hargood Road SE3. The secondary and sixth-form phase is expected to be operational in the 2025/26 academic year. The report also mentions a proposal to use the former Gallions Mount Primary School site on Purrett Road SE18 for the development of the primary phase of Rowan Wood School.

The report also refers to the Transition Learning Centre (TLC) for young people aged 19–25 at Bexley Road SE9.

Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Updates

The Schools Forum is scheduled to receive updates on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 financial years. The DSG is a ring-fenced grant dedicated to funding schools. The Schools Forum is expected to note the current position of the 2025-26 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), and the current funding position of the 2026-27 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).

Central School Services Block (CSSB) Update

The Schools Forum is scheduled to note the current position of the 2025-26 DSG Central School Services Block (CSSB). The CSSB provides funding for local authorities to carry out central functions on behalf of maintained schools and academies.

The report pack states that there is a projected overspend in the CSSB:

There is projected overspend of £0.5m in the CSSB. DfE have prescribed that the cost of copyright licenses is shown within the CSSB even though funding is deducted from the DSG at fund level. This has contributed to the overspend within this block.

High Needs Block (HNB) Update

The Schools Forum is scheduled to note the current position of the 2025-26 DSG High Needs Block (HNB). The HNB supports provision for pupils and students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), from ages 0 to 25, and alternative provision for pupils who cannot receive their education in mainstream schools.

The report pack states that there is a projected overspend in the HNB:

Due to the increased demand for Education Health Care Plans and the high demand for SEN support, the current projected position within the HNB is and overspend of £7.29m. This has therefore contributed to the overall deficit position within the DSG net £7.03m.

The report pack also includes a table showing the increase in the number of Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs) over the last 5 years.

Other Business

The agenda also includes items for apologies for absence, declarations of interest, confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting, actions arising from previous meetings, noting the attendance record, and any other business. Councillor Adel Khaireh, Cabinet Member Children and Young People, and Councillor Matthew Morrow are listed as non-voting members.