The meeting of the Leeds School Forum was scheduled to include a presentation of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) monitoring report and the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2025/26. The forum was also scheduled to be asked to make decisions on a number of funding proposals for the 2025/26 financial year.

Dedicated Schools Grant

A report was scheduled to be presented on the DSG Monitoring Report 24/25. The report showed a projected in-year overspend of £15.142 million, which is about 2.7% of the total DSG funding. The report highlighted a significant overspend of £15.273 million in the High Needs Block.

The forum was scheduled to be asked to note the medium term projections for the Dedicated Schools Grant. The forum was told that over the three year period 2025/26 – 2027/28 the DSG is projected to overspend from £38.3m to £105.1m per year if no action is taken. The report stated The majority of the overspend is on the high needs block and the council is currently reviewing the options available for managing this as required by the Department for Education.

The report went on to say:

The projected overspend in 2025/26 means that the council would consult on a further block transfer from the schools block to the high needs block for 2025/26 if this is permitted within the school funding regulations 2025/26.

— DSG medium term financial strategy 2526 updated

School Funding 2025/26

The forum was scheduled to be asked to vote on a number of proposals relating to the funding of schools in Leeds for the 2025/26 financial year.

Schools Block Transfer

The forum was scheduled to be asked to consider and vote on a proposal to transfer 0.5% from the schools block to the high needs block in 2025/26. The report prepared for the meeting stated that:

All Schools Forum members may vote on this proposal. It is a Schools Forum decision on whether to accept this proposal. In the event that Schools Forum does not agree, the DfE are able to adjudicate if the local authority requests this.

Funding Formula

The forum was scheduled to be asked to consider and provide their views on two options for the schools funding formula for 2025/26. The local authority is required to consult with Schools Forum on the funding formula, however the local authority retains the final decision on the formula to be used.

The two options were:

• Option 1: A minimum funding guarantee of 0.00% with all other factors remaining in line with the national funding formula.
• Option 2: A reduced minimum funding guarantee of -0.5% with all other factors remaining in line with the national funding formula.

Severance Costs

The forum was scheduled to be asked to consider and vote on a proposal for maintained schools to contribute towards the severance costs of maintained school staff at a rate of £2.50 per pupil, totalling around £140,000.

Maintained school members of Schools Forum are asked to consider and vote on a proposal for a contribution in 2025/26 by maintained schools towards the severance costs of maintained school staff, to be applied as a per-pupil amount of £2.50.

Voting on this proposal is limited to maintained primary and secondary school members. It is a Schools Forum decision on whether to accept this proposal. In the event that Schools Forum does not agree, the DfE are able to adjudicate if the local authority requests this.

Membership

The forum was also scheduled to receive an update on its membership. As of 3rd October 2024, the following vacancies remained:

• 1 x Primary Governor
• 2 x Academy Mainstream
• 1 x Academy Alternative Provision
• 1 x Academy Special
• 1 x Non School

Minutes

The forum was scheduled to approve the minutes of its previous meeting, held on Thursday 3rd October 2024. ¹