The Gloucestershire Schools Forum met on Thursday 25 June 2026 to discuss the financial outturn for the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and maintained school balances for the 2025/26 financial year, as well as the High Needs budget for 2026/27. The meeting also included an update on the F40 group's activities and an annual review of the Schools Forum's constitution and membership structure.

Outturn and Maintained School Balances 2025/26

The forum was scheduled to review the 2025/26 outturn position for the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), which indicated an overspend of £46.181 million, resulting in a cumulative deficit of £124.718 million to be carried forward to 2026/27. The report highlighted that within this overall deficit, the High Needs block accounted for a significant portion, with an in-year deficit of £46.693 million. The report also detailed the maintained school balances at the end of the 2025/26 financial year, noting that 123 schools were in surplus and 36 were in deficit, with all deficit schools receiving support for recovery plans. The total maintained school balances increased by £3.027 million.

High Needs

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the High Needs budget. The report presented the 2025/26 year-end financial position, showing a total spend of £151.694 million and an in-year overspend of £46.692 million, leading to a cumulative deficit of £124.8 million on the High Needs Block. The proposed budget for 2026/27 forecast an increase in expenditure of £28.179 million, resulting in an overspend of £67.9 million for that year. This forecast was underpinned by the assumption that demand for Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) would continue to rise. The report also provided an overview of national reform and improvement planning for the SEND system, including the introduction of an Experts at Hand service and the development of inclusion bases within mainstream schools.

F40 Update

An update was scheduled to be provided on the work of the F40 Group, which advocates for the lowest funded local authorities. This update was expected to cover the group's activities, including a planned Funding and SEND Reform Campaign Week.

Annual Review of Gloucestershire Schools Forum Constitution and Membership Structure

The meeting was scheduled to include an annual review of the Gloucestershire Schools Forum's constitution and membership structure. No amendments to the constitution were proposed, and the attached constitution was available for information. The membership structure was reviewed in light of the January 2026 School Census, with the report indicating that the current balance of maintained schools and academies, as well as primary and secondary representation, remained broadly proportionate to pupil numbers. The report confirmed that the Forum had 21 school and academy members out of a total of 29 members, with 8 non-school members.

Meeting Dates 2027

Finally, the forum was scheduled to note the proposed meeting dates for 2027.