Minutes:
Neill Butler updated Forum members on the Teachers pay grant and the increase in teacher pay from the first of September. The increase is 6.8% for M1 and 6.5% for all other scale points; this will bring M1 up to £30,000 excluding any weightings in line with the government pledge from 2018 to ensure all qualified teachers would receive a minimum of £30k. This will be subsidised through a grant; for the period Sep 2023 through to Apr 2024, the grant will be paid in October, and will represent 7/12 of that period. The grant will then also be paid to all mainstream schools and academies for the financial year 24-25. This is because at this stage it will not be included in the National Funding Formula allocations. NB confirmed that academies would then get a further grant for the period Apr 2025 to August 2025.
The Chair asked whether the government has published a methodology paper for this grant. NB confirmed that this had been done and that it outlines how the government is going to allocate the money to individual schools based on pupil numbers and lump sum.
NB then updated Forum on the funding formula for 2024-2025. The provisional DSG for 24-25 has been announced, providing an increase of about £8.6 million in funding for Slough schools and academies which represents about 5.3% increase overall. Early modelling suggests that national funding formula factors can be maintained as in previous years and could also move 10% closer to applying the national factor for mobility. This is the one factor in Slough that isn't applied 100% to mainstream schools and academies. The modelling also indicates sufficient headroom within the allocation to go out to consultation on a 0.5% transfer between the schools block and other blocks.
NB referred to the reinforced, autoclave, aerated concrete (RAAC) problems, and confirmed that only one school has been identified with this issue in Slough. Remedial work is being undertaken at the school at the moment with the intention of the full removal of RAAC in summer 2024. NH added that the main costs for this school are staffing and some equipment to cover revised lunch arrangements.
NH commented that nationally there was unprecedented pressure on admissions; significant movement over the summer, and local authorities reporting high levels of in-year transfers. SBC received 800 applications in the initial 2 weeks leading up to September, and continues to receive over a hundred a week since then. NH confirmed that the LA is looking to increase schools up to their PAN in order to maximise funding levels.
RB confirmed his full support for getting pupils into school, but pointed out that he had received a letter telling him to take an additional class because the school’s PAN in year 6 is 90, when the school had capped numbers at 60 for the last 3 years. He questioned how a school can be expected to suddenly find a teacher and additional adults where this was not planned. NH accepted that but confirmed that the demand is unprecedented and has caught out a number of LAs with the movement in to the UK. LAS including SBC didn’t plan for something they weren’t expecting. RB emphasised that schools needed funding for these situations and that this discussion should continue outside the meeting.
The Chair asked for clarification if this increased demand is outside the provision for growth fund this year. NH confirmed if schools were operating with 60 pupils in a year group while their PAN remained at 90 then this did not meet growth fund criteria. PC commented that as a member of the place planning committee, he did not think we should be in a position where a school has been asked to take 30 children unexpectedly. PC further noted that there had not been an emergency place planning committee meeting call to talk about that and look at the implications of this across the town. NH emphasised that there had been a lack of planning because the situation wasn't anticipated.