The Stockport Schools Forum is scheduled to meet on 9 October 2025 at Acquinas College to discuss a range of issues, including school audits, budget planning for 2026/27, and a new falling rolls policy. The forum will also receive an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Here are the key topics that the Schools Forum is expected to discuss:

2026/27 Budget Planning and Options

The forum is expected to discuss the requirements, plans and timeline for setting the 2026/27 budget, including local options and the overall construction of the total schools budget financed by the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). The report pack indicates that the Department for Education (DfE) delayed issuing the normal annual national funding formula (NFF) model updates and indicative allocations relating to the 2026/27 Schools and local authorities dedicated schools grant (DSG) funding allocations in July 2024 following the comprehensive spend review (CSR) 20205 update from central government in June 2025.

The report pack notes that the Schools Budget financed by the DSG continues to illustrate a budget sustainability issue to be addressed, with the high needs budget significantly contributing largely to the overall deficit position and the central schools services budget continuing to require support from other blocks to maintain current provision. The report pack includes a table illustrating the current position of the DSG deficit:

The Schools Forum is expected to give its views on the planned construction of the local funding formula model for schools delegated budgets. The report pack notes that the LA viewpoint is that the local funding model should be updated in line with any further statutory transition requirement ensuring the movement to the NFF model continues to be managed gradually, and allows individual school budgets to align over a manageable period, and allows for any further DfE refinements on the NFF model over the next phase of transition.

The Schools Forum is also expected to discuss de-delegation options with primary and secondary maintained school colleagues and report back with decision making at the 11 December 2025 meeting. The report pack notes that where de-delegation has been agreed for maintained primary and secondary schools, the DfE presume that the LA will also offer the service on a buy-back basis to those schools and academies in their area which are not covered by the de-delegation arrangement.

The Schools Forum is also expected to note the plans to continue the School Improvement top-slice of LA maintained school budgets at £0.350m, and discuss and give views as to the LA plan/proposals relating to block transfers. The report pack notes that the LA plan to finance the £0.350m resource requirement via a direct top-slice of the basic entitlement funding factors as per DfE guidance and consistent to 2025/26 arrangements.

Falling School Rolls Policy

The Schools Forum is expected to consider a report about the proposed new Schools Falling Rolls policy document for implementation from the 2026/27 financial year. The report pack notes that the policy has been developed due to the number of births in Stockport falling since 2012 which has resulted in a growing number of surplus places in primary schools and the expectation is that this trend will continue for the next 10 years. The report pack also notes that the aim of this Policy is NOT to result in a school closure programme, but to work collaboratively with schools to help them become sustainable Primary Schools, wherever practically possible.

The Schools Forum is expected to offer any comments on the proposed policy.

Annual Schools Audit Report

The Schools Forum is expected to consider the annual schools audit report, which provides details of the findings from the 14 schools audited in the 2024/25 financial year. The report pack notes that overall, based on the findings at all 14 schools reviewed, the current control environment around governance, financial planning and budgetary control, payroll management, procurement, income and bank accounts are operating well within schools and address the majority of key risks.

The Schools Forum is expected to note the report, offer any comments, and share the report with their wider school/sector colleagues.

The report pack includes a summary of findings from the school audit visits. It notes that each year, missing information in the Finance Manuals remains a recurring issue, as schools manage financial procedures in varying ways. It also notes that certain financial elements are often absent or inadequately documented in Finance Manuals, including:

• Credit Cards
• IR35 Compliance
• BACS Procedures

2025/26 Schools Forum Terms of Reference and Membership Update

The Schools Forum is expected to consider a report providing details of the Terms of Reference (ToR) document and any proposed amendments, as well as a membership update. The report pack notes that the ToR document prescribes the constitutional and organisational requirements of the Schools' Forum and is required by statutory instrument to comply with the Schools' Forum (England) Regulations 2012 as laid by the DfE.

The Schools Forum is expected to accept the Schools' Forum ToR document, acknowledge and discuss the latest position on membership/vacancies, and note the position in relation to attendance of members.

DSG Deficit and SEND Update

The Schools Forum is expected to receive a verbal presentation from Christopher Harland, Strategic lead for SEND, on the progress of the DSG Review and Delivering Better Value (DBV) programme¹. The Schools Forum is expected to note and comment on the presentation.

Schedule of Meetings and Training

The Schools Forum is expected to consider a report providing details of the remaining meeting dates for the 2025/26 academic year, as well as the opportunity to request reports for future meetings, propose amendments to the forward planner, and request items for training/development sessions.

The Schools Forum is expected to note the report, request any reports for future meetings, discuss and propose any amendments to the forward planner, and request any items for training/development sessions.