The Kingston upon Thames Schools Forum meeting scheduled for 29 June 2026 was set to cover a range of critical financial and planning matters affecting local schools. Key discussions were anticipated regarding school place planning, the financial outturn for the 2025/26 academic year, and the budget setting process for 2026/27. The forum was also scheduled to review the SEND Futures Plan, which outlines reforms for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, and the Scheme for Financing Schools.

School Place Planning

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to school place planning, with a report detailing current and future demand for primary, secondary, and specialist provision. The report highlighted a decrease in Reception applications for September 2026 compared to the previous year, a trend more pronounced in Kingston than the London average. This falling roll trend is impacting school budgets, with a significant reduction in funding for some primary schools. The report also detailed strategies for managing falling rolls, including temporary and permanent reductions in Published Admission Numbers (PANs) for several primary schools.

For secondary schools, the report indicated consistently high demand for Year 7 places, with an increase in in-borough applications between 2015 and 2026. The council has been managing demand by offering additional places, with a notable increase in over-offering since 2018. The report also touched upon the unique demographic of Kingston's secondary schools, with a high proportion of single-sex institutions and the impact of the Tiffin schools on place planning. The proposed Kingsmeadow Church of England Secondary School was noted as cancelled by the Department for Education (DfE).

The report also addressed specialist provision, noting a significant increase in pupils on roll in special schools over the past decade. The opening of Spring School, an autism-specific special school, was mentioned, alongside ongoing work to develop the SEND Reform Plan, focusing on strengthening inclusion and establishing Specialist Inclusion Bases within mainstream settings.

Financial Updates and Budget Planning

The forum was presented with updates on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years. The 2025/26 outturn showed an in-year overspend of £12.274m, contributing to a cumulative deficit of £20.540m. A significant factor in the High Needs Block overspend was the increase in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The introduction of a new High Needs Stability Grant from the DfE was highlighted as a potential measure to offset historic deficits, contingent on the approval of Kingston's SEND Reform Plan.

For the 2026/27 financial year, a projected overspend of £18.398m was anticipated, with a cumulative deficit expected to reach £38.930m before the impact of the High Needs Stability Grant. The report detailed the projected spend across the Schools Block, Central School Services Block, Early Years Block, and High Needs Block, with the High Needs Block showing the most significant pressure.

A proposed timetable for the 2027/28 budget setting process was also presented, outlining key consultation and decision-making points throughout the academic year.

SEND Futures Plan and Reforms

A significant agenda item was the SEND Futures Plan, which incorporates national SEND reforms outlined in the government's White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving. The plan, submitted to the DfE, aims to improve support for children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) by increasing the capacity and quality of inclusive education in mainstream schools. Key proposals include a layered model of support, digital Individual Support Plans (ISPs), the reconfiguration of Specialist Resource Provisions (SRPs) into Specialist Inclusion Bases, and the establishment of a national Experts at Hand offer to provide multidisciplinary specialist teams to support mainstream settings. The plan also addresses parental preferences for specialist provision and outlines future funding and accountability mechanisms, including the High Needs Stability Grant. The report acknowledged the tight timescale for developing the plan and the ongoing engagement with stakeholders.

Scheme for Financing Schools

The forum was asked to approve an updated Scheme for Financing Schools for 2026/27 and to agree to a full review of the document. The Department for Education's guidance for the scheme had been updated, but there were no directed revisions for 2026/27. The report noted that the current Scheme for Financing Schools document had not undergone a full review since 2016.

Other Updates

The agenda also included items for Other Updates, the High Needs Sub Group Terms of Reference, and a Cluster Model Update, though specific details for these were not provided in the initial agenda document.

The meeting was scheduled to conclude with the Date of Next Meetings.