Agenda

Welcome by the Chair and introductions by all Forum Members present.

To receive apologies from any Forum Members who are unable to attend the meeting.

To invite Forum Members to declare any interests they may have on agenda items to be considered at this meeting, to confirm the nature of those interests and whether they intend to leave the meeting for the consideration of the item.

Recommendation:-  To receive and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 28^th March, 2025.

To consider and report on any matters arising from the previous minutes.

To consider any updates or amendments to the membership of the Schools Forum.

Based on the School Sector Breakdown to include:-

·       Councillor Simon Currie, Primary School Governor (Maintained) (filling a vacancy).

·       Mehdi Najefi, Primary School Governor (Maintained) (filling a vacancy).

Recommendation:

To consider and approve the amendments/updates to the membership of the Rotherham Schools Forum.

Louise Keith, Principal Finance Officer to report.

Recommendations:

1.      That the Schools Forum note the final reported position for LA maintained schools and the centrally retained DSG budgets for 2024/25.

2.      That Schools Forum note the latest budget projections of Rotherham’s maintained schools for 2025/26 and the identified financial risks against the schools DSG budgets.

Louise Keith, Principal Finance Officer to report.

Recommendations:

1.          That Schools Forum note the updates to the Scheme for Financing Schools sections highlighted in yellow.

2.          That Schools Forum note the DfE’s latest version, updated 27 March 2025.

3.          That the Schools Forum agree for the Updated Scheme for Financing Schools to be disseminated to schools.

Joshua Amahwe, Head of Finance (CYPS) to report.

Recommendations:

1.      That Schools Forum note the High Needs funding settlement for 2025/26.

2.      That Schools Forum note the proposed funding requirements for 2025/26, particularly in relation to the number of commissioned specialist places and the payment of top up funding to mainstream, special schools /academies, and other providers and settings.

Mark Cummins, Transformation Lead to report.

Recommendations:

That Members of Schools Forum receive and note the update.

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To consider the attached Forward Plan of agenda items and receive any updates.

To receive any other items of urgent business.