The Schools Forum meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 2 June 2026, was set to discuss the financial performance of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the 2025/26 academic year and the funding outlook for 2026/27. Key areas of focus included the High Needs Block (HNB) deficit, overall school balances, and the proposed work programme for the upcoming academic year.

Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) 2025/26 Outturn and 2026/27 Funding Update

The report scheduled for discussion detailed the financial outturn for the 2025/26 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). It indicated an overall overspend of £4.203 million across the DSG blocks, an increase from the previous year's overspend of £3.413 million. Despite this, the overall DSG reserve remained in surplus at £14.727 million at the end of the 2025/26 financial year. The report also provided an update on the funding situation for 2026/27, highlighting pressures arising from the national economic climate, conflicts, emergencies, and ongoing real terms funding constraints, including the National Funding Formula (NFF). Measures taken by the Council, in conjunction with the Schools Forum, headteachers, and Camden Learning, to support schools facing potential reductions in real terms funding were also to be outlined. The report recommended that the Schools Forum note the 2025/26 outturn, agree that any remaining reserve in the Schools and Central Schools Services block be available to offset any Schools Block deficit, and note the 2026/27 funding levels and future challenges. It also invited the Forum to provide advice on ongoing support for schools' financial planning.

High Needs Block (HNB): 2025/26 Outturn and 2026/27 Position

This report was set to outline the outturn position for High Needs Block (HNB) spending in 2025/26, which resulted in a deficit of £6.3 million. This figure represented a slight reduction from the £7 million predicted at quarter 3 but continued a trend of increasing expenditure. The report also provided an update for 2026/27, with an initial projected deficit of £10.7 million, assuming continued expenditure growth. The Schools Forum was asked to note the updated HNB projection for 2025/26 and the update on the 2026/27 HNB allocation.

School Balances 2025/26

This report was to provide an update on the final balances held by schools at the end of the 2025/26 financial year. The overall school balances had reduced by £8.071 million, leaving a closing balance of £6.5 million, a greater reduction than the £5.784 million decrease seen in the previous year. The number of schools closing with a deficit balance had increased from 12 at the end of 2024/25 to 16 at the end of 2025/26. The report included the Scheme for Financing Schools, which sets out the regulatory framework for headteachers and governors. The Camden Education Department's programme of works to support schools in deficit was also to be discussed. The Schools Forum was asked to note the report's content and the total balances held, as well as the actions taken to support schools in deficit and the monitoring cycle for 2026/27.

Schools Forum Work Programme and Action Tracker

This report was to present the Schools Forum's work programme for 2025/26 and the draft work plan for the 2026/27 school year. It also included an update on actions requested at previous meetings. The Schools Forum was asked to note the work programmes and the action tracker.

Future Meeting Dates

The Schools Forum was to be informed of the scheduled meeting dates for the 2026/27 academic year, with all meetings set to commence at 6:00 PM. The dates included 16 September 2026 (TBC), 4 November 2026, 2 December 2026, 3 February 2027, and 16 June 2027.