The Rochdale Council Schools Forum is scheduled to meet on 9 October 2025 to discuss a range of issues, including the appointment of a chair and vice-chair, school funding, and high needs provision. The forum is expected to consider the Schools Forum Membership, Terms of Reference and Constitution for the upcoming academic year, as well as updates on the Falling Rolls Fund and Growth Fund Policy. Members will also discuss the High Needs Deficit and a potential Schools Block Transfer.

High Needs Deficit and Schools Block Transfer

The Schools Forum is scheduled to discuss the High Needs Block¹ Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) outturn position for 2024/25. The report pack indicates that the Schools Forum will be informed that the 2024/25 outturn position on the High Needs Block was a £6.0m deficit, and a cumulative deficit position of £13.6m.

The report pack states that previous recovery plans were off track, and that Rochdale had been working on the Delivering Better Value Programme which supported SEND transformation from January 2024.

The Schools Forum is scheduled to consider a request to transfer 0.5% from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block for 2026/27. The report pack notes that the cumulative deficit on the High Needs Block at the end of 24/25 was £27.0m, and the revised forecast overspend for 25/26 is £19.0m, giving a cumulative deficit position of £46.0m. The report pack claims that:

The 0.5% Schools Block (SB) to HNB transfer is important to mitigating the High Needs deficit. In October 2020 forum members provisionally approved the transfer for the length of the original HNB recovery plan, however this is subject to annual approval by forum.

The report pack includes a table that details the High Needs Block Financial Outturn for 2021/22, 22/23, 23/24, 24/25 and Forecast for 25/26. It also includes further analysis, as requested at the June meeting of the Forum, on the High Needs Spend incurred in 24/25.

CSSB and De-delegation

The Schools Forum is scheduled to discuss proposals for de-delegation and the Central School Services Block (CSSB) for 2026/27. The report pack states that forum members are required to consult with schools and relevant groups for agreement at the January 2026 forum on the CSSB and de-delegation for 2026/27.

The report pack indicates that the forum will be asked to agree in principle the proposals outlined for use of the CSSB DSG totalling £1.642m for 2026/27, subject to the final allocation and future report to the Forum.

The report pack also indicates that school members representing the primary and secondary sectors are expected to consult with schools in their sector on the proposals for de-delegation of items totalling £1.839m for 2026/27.

Falling Rolls Fund Update

The Schools Forum is scheduled to receive an update on discussions held by the Falling Rolls funding sub-group. The report pack notes that falling rolls funding can be used to help meet the revenue costs faced by schools either experiencing a temporary decline in pupil numbers or actively removing or repurposing surplus places.

The report pack states that financial modelling is to be undertaken, informed by SCAP data and census figures, once funding allocations are confirmed. Potential ideas include:

• Funding number of places difference between year 6 leavers and reception children.
• Threshold trigger (eg. 15% drop in roll between census years) can be tiered formula based on school size.
• Funding difference between PAN² and actual roll in reception class
• Up to three years funding- should this be tapered?
• Do we set a fixed budget and ration, or apply a set amount per school or per pupil?

Growth Fund Policy

The Schools Forum is scheduled to receive an update on the Growth Fund Policy and to approve the policy as shown in Appendix 1 of the report pack. The report pack notes that the June 2025 meeting of the Forum considered a number of proposed changes to the Policy to update terminology used and apply a higher reference figure for calculating any top up funding required where planned number increases do not transpire.

Schools Forum Membership, Constitution and Terms of Reference

The Schools Forum is scheduled to consider the Schools Forum Membership, Terms of Reference and Constitution for the upcoming 2025/26 academic year. The report pack includes a draft document that covers the relevant governance expected surrounding schools forum, including:

• The Terms of Reference
• Schools Forum Principles
• Schools Forum Constitution
• Schools Forum Voting Procedures

The report pack states that it is a statutory requirement that representation by sector on the Forum is proportionate to the pupil numbers of each sector and that this be regularly reviewed. It also notes that the total non-schools members must not number more than a third of the schools and academy members.

Other Items

The agenda includes the appointment of a Chair and Vice Chair for the 2025 - 2026 Academic Year.