The Kirklees Schools Forum is scheduled to meet on Friday 10 October 2025, to discuss school funding and related issues. The agenda includes discussion of high needs funding, school premises, and updates on national school funding policies. Additionally, the forum will elect a chair and vice-chair for the upcoming year.

High Needs Block Funding

A significant portion of the meeting is set aside for discussion of the High Needs Block (HNB). This includes updates on the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) area inspection, and feedback from an Alternative Provision (AP) session. The Schools Forum is also scheduled to discuss a High Needs Block transfer disapplication for 2026/2027, although the relevant paperwork is not yet available.

The previous meeting on 20 June 2025, included a High Needs Place Report review, where Kirklees Special School costs per pupil were reviewed, as were the costs of exiting and existing Additional Resource Provisions (ARPs). During this review, it was noted that the physical environment of a provision should be considered when agreeing to future provision. The forum requested an update on the drivers of cost per place per pupil, considering the needs of pupils versus staffing structures. The number of students on roll for Employability Solutions Alternative Provision is also scheduled to be checked. The location of the additional 14 places commissioned for 2025 is also scheduled to be circulated to all.

School Premises Disapplication Request

The Kirklees Schools Forum is expected to discuss a school premises disapplication request for the 2026/2027 financial year. Local authorities can apply to the Department for Education (DfE) to use exceptional circumstances relating to school premises, but only where the value of the factor is more than 1% of a school's budget and applies to fewer than 5% of the schools in the local authority's area.

The report pack states that five schools incur additional premises costs (rents), due to individual and unique circumstances:

• Birkenshaw Primary School - £48,306 for modular rental charges for years 5 and 6, first installed when Building Schools for the Future funding was withdrawn in 2012.
• Denby Dale First & Nursery - £27,560 for modular rental charges.
• Gomersal St Mary's CE Primary - £19,686 for modular rental charges for years 5 and 6, first installed when Building Schools for the Future funding was withdrawn in 2012. There is a well developed DfE led plan to rebuild this school.
• Hanging Heaton CE J & I - £11,500 for rented schools premises from Savile Estates.
• Wellhouse J & I - £23,000 for premises rented from the Methodist Church.

The report pack says that the total amount to be funded in 2026/2027 through the application of the 'exceptional circumstances' disapplication request is £130,294.

National School Funding Update

John Bartlett, Head of Finance, is scheduled to provide a verbal update on the national picture for school funding in 2025/26.

Kirklees Education & Learning Partnership Board

The Kirklees Education & Learning Partnership Board (KELPB) is a standing item on the agenda. At the previous meeting on 20 June 2025, it was confirmed that there had not been a KELPB meeting since the last Schools Forum meeting on 2 May 2025.

Schools Forum Terms of Reference

The Kirklees Schools Forum is scheduled to discuss its terms of reference¹. According to the report pack, the Kirklees Schools Forum provides:

unambiguous professional advice and strategic direction from Headteachers to education decision-makers regarding the funding of schools.

The forum consults on any proposed changes to the school funding formula, and specifically any changes in relation to the factors and criteria, methods, principles and rules used to calculate schools budgets and the financial effects of any proposed changes.