The Leeds School Forum met on Thursday, 20 June 2024, to discuss several key issues affecting local schools, including the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) outturn for 2023-24, school balances, and the clawback of surplus balances. Decisions were made on the allocation of funds and the implementation of new policies to ensure financial stability and accountability within the school system.

Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Outturn for 2023-24

The forum reviewed the DSG Outturn Report 23-24, which detailed the financial performance of the DSG for the previous year. The report highlighted a slight overspend in the High Needs Block, which was attributed to increased demand for special educational needs services. The forum discussed strategies to manage this overspend, including potential reallocation of funds and cost-saving measures. It was decided to implement a more stringent monitoring process to prevent future overspends.

School and Extended School Balances Outturn 2023-24

The School and Extended School Balances Outturn 2023-24 report was presented, showing the financial positions of individual schools at the end of the financial year. The forum noted that while most schools maintained healthy balances, a few had significant surpluses. The discussion focused on the reasons behind these surpluses and the potential for redistributing funds to support schools in deficit. The forum agreed to a proposal to review the financial management practices of schools with large surpluses.

Clawback of Surplus Balances

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Clawback of Surplus Balances policy. This policy aims to reclaim excessive surplus funds from schools to redistribute them more equitably across the district. Arguments for the policy included promoting financial fairness and ensuring that all schools have the necessary resources to operate effectively. However, some members raised concerns about the potential negative impact on schools that have saved funds for future projects. After a thorough debate, the forum decided to implement the clawback policy with a phased approach, allowing schools time to adjust their financial planning.

Schools Forum Forward Plan 2024-25

The Schools Forum forward plan 2024-25 was discussed, outlining the key areas of focus for the upcoming year. Priorities include addressing the High Needs Block overspend, supporting schools in financial difficulty, and enhancing the overall financial management within the school system. The forum committed to regular reviews and updates to ensure that the plan remains relevant and effective.

Final RPA SLA SSAS School Forum Paper

The forum also reviewed the Final RPA SLA SSAS School Forum Paper, which detailed the Service Level Agreement (SLA) for the Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA) for Schools and Academies Support Services (SSAS). This agreement aims to provide comprehensive risk management and insurance services to schools. The forum approved the SLA, recognising its importance in safeguarding school assets and ensuring continuity of operations.