Apologies for absence were received from R. Bevan, V. Wright, M. Jordan, D. Allen, D Taylor, L. Yelland and S. Tollworthy.

The Education Board paid tribute to Sir David Amess and expressed their deepest sympathies and condolences to Sir David’s family, friends and colleagues.

Minutes attached

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd June 2021 be confirmed as a correct record.

Public Duties Fund

The Board was advised that the Resources Sub-Group will consider and bring back recommendations concerning the Public Duties Fund to the Board in December 2021.

Verbal report from Principal Democratic Services Officer (no papers)

The Board received a verbal update from the Principal Democratic Services Officer covering the current membership and vacancies. There continues to be one vacancy in the maintained primary sector, two vacancies in the academy secondary sector and one in the Academy primary sector.  These vacancies will be re-advertised/promoted within the relevant sectors with the intention to fill them as soon as practicable.

The Board was informed that Edwards Hall maintained Primary school would shortly transfer to academy status and this will need to be reflected in the membership of the Board.

Resolved:

That the current membership and vacancies be noted and that the Director of Education and the Principal Democratic Services Officer review the membership and report back to the Board in December.

Report for decision attached

The Board considered a report from the Senior Finance Business Partner providing an update on DSG budget planning for 2022/23, following the Department for Education (DfE) July 2021 school funding announcements, and an update on the latest DSG budget for 2021/22, following the applied annual DfE July 2021 funding update changes.

The Board discussed the report and noted the positive funding announcements and the healthy position of the DSG budget.

Resolved:

1. That with regard to individual school’s budget (ISB) planning for 2022/23, to continue on the trajectory of adopting the principles of the National Funding Formulae (NFF) )a s referenced in paragraph 5.1 to 5.5 of the submitted report) and therefore:

1.1 Any mainstream school that attracts their core NFF pupil led funding factors (i.e. with no MFG or funding floor protections applied), to benefit from the full NFF applied circa 3% increase to those core funding factors per pupil.

1.2 All remaining mainstream schools whose per 2021/22 per pupil led funding rates are either above the revised NFF mandatory 2022/23 minimum funding amounts per pupil or core NFF funding rate per pupil as referenced in 2.1.1, will receive the same NFF maximum allowable 2% uplift per pupil.

2. That the approach of recommended minimum balances held in DSG reserves and the approach of one-off use of reserve balances where they are above those minimum levels (As referenced in 11.7 and 11.8), be approved.

Verbal report from Director of Education and Early Years (no papers)

The Director of Education provided a verbal update on the following matters:

·       Current position regarding the pandemic and schools;

·       SEND peer review will take place from 23^rd November to 26^th November and will be looking at four specific areas of work of the Council. The outcome of the review will be reported back to the Board in the New Year;

·       The final confirmation from the Council’s Section 151 Officer on the FSM offer in the Borough was expected shortly;

·       A number of Ofsted school inspections have taken place recently.  The Westborough School has been designated as ‘requiring improvement.’ The outcomes for the other schools inspected were not in the public domain; and

·       There was a contingency of Afghanistan refugees in the Borough and full-time education will be  provided to the children via one of the Trusts.

Strategy document attached for noting.

The Board received and considered the School Performance Strategy 2019-2023.

Resolved:

That the School Performance Strategy 2019-2023, be noted.

(a) Resources Sub-Group held on 5^th October 2021 – Minutes attached

(b) School Performance Sub-Group held on 12^th July and 6^th October 2021 – Minutes attached

(c) Vulnerable Learners Sub-Group held on 15^th October 2021 – Minutes attached.

The Board received and considered the following Sub-Group minutes:

(a) Resources Sub-Group held on 5th October 2021;

(b) School Performance Sub-Group held on 12th July; and

(c) Vulnerable Learners Sub-Group held on 15th October 2021.

The Board noted that there was one vacancy for a Primary representative on the Resources Sub-Group and a number of vacancies on the School Performance Sub-Group.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the Sub-Groups listed above, be noted.

There was no other business for this meeting.

Wednesday 15^th December 2021 – 8.15am – Tickfield Centre

Tuesday 18^th January 2022 – 8.15am – Tickfield Centre

Tuesday 15^th March 2022 – 8.15am – Tickfield Centre

Tuesday 21^st June – 8.15am – Tickfield Centre

Wednesday 15^th December 2021 at 8.15am

Tuesday 18^th January 2022 at 8.15am

Tuesday 15^th March 2022 at 8.15am

Tuesday 21^st June 2022 at 8.15am

All meetings will be held at the Tickfield Centre.