The Newham Schools Forum was scheduled to review the financial health of schools and the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), and to discuss the proposed dates for future meetings. The meeting's agenda also included the election of a new Chair for the Schools Forum.

Outturn Position, School Balances, and DSG Financial Health

A significant portion of the meeting was allocated to reviewing the financial standing of schools within Newham. This included an examination of the outturn position, which refers to the actual financial performance of schools against their budgets, and an analysis of school balances, indicating the reserves held by individual educational institutions. A key element of this discussion was the financial health of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG)¹. The report pack indicated that the forum was to review the actual outturn position, an annual report, and options for the DSG HNB budget. This review was to be led by Abdul Kayoum, Head of Finance, and Shaj Sivadasan, Finance Manager.

Election of Schools Forum Chair

The agenda item concerning the election of the Schools Forum Chair indicated that the Schools Forum Constitution would be reviewed as part of this process. The role of the Chair is to lead the Schools Forum meetings and ensure their smooth operation.

Schools Forum Dates for 2026/2027

The meeting was scheduled to discuss and potentially agree on the dates for the Schools Forum meetings for the upcoming academic year, 2026/2027.

Minutes and Matters Arising Action Log

The forum was set to review and approve the minutes from the previous meeting, along with any outstanding actions from the action log. This is a standard procedure to ensure continuity and accountability.

Any Other Business (AOB)

A slot was reserved for any other business that members wished to raise, provided it was submitted to SchoolsForum@newham.gov.uk by Thursday 02 July.