Agenda item

Schools Forum members to consider pupil number growth funding and the additional needs funding and approve the total funding for each school as set out in the report.

The Forum received a report which detailed the provision of information to enable Members to make a decision on the allocation of pupil number growth funding and additional needs funding to schools experiencing significant pupil growth.

The requests were linked to school improvement priorities through the need to provide education funding for young people entering our school system where a school did not have sufficient funding in reserve to accommodate pupil increases.  The funding would ensure there was sufficient resource in each school to meet the needs of such pupils.

The budget for Pupil Number Growth Funding for 2021/22 had been set at £1.091m and the authority had received a positive recoupment adjustment of £0.605m together with a surplus balance of £1.117m brought forward from 2020/21.  In addition, there was also total funding available of £2.813m.  Expenditure as at 31^st December 2021 was £2.266m which gave a current underspend of £0.547m.

The ‘Pupil Number Growth – Additional needs fund’ carried forward a balance of £111,474 from 2020/21, with no spend to date in 2021/22.

As set out in 2021/22 School Budget Information - Table G: “Pupil number growth contingency- general process for significant pupil number increases”; in relation to mid-year admissions and where the school had a minimum net increase of 30 pupils over the previous October census, the authority would automatically calculate the funding for schools meeting this criteria and so there would no longer be a requirement for schools to complete an application form in such instances.

The increase in pupil numbers had been confirmed via the October 2020 and October 2021 census.

The details for each school were as set out below:

Ormiston Forge Academy

Based on the pupil number growth criteria the school would be entitled to £79,839 based on 55 pupils receiving 50% of the secondary AWPU rate of £4,977 September 2021 to March 2022.

Bristnall Hall Academy

Based on the pupil number growth criteria the school would be entitled to £26,129 based on 18 pupils receiving 50% of the secondary AWPU rate of £4,977 September 2021 to March 2022.

George Salter Academy

Based on the pupil number growth criteria the school would be entitled to £5,807 based on 4 pupils receiving 50% of the secondary AWPU rate of £4,977 September 2021 to March 2022.

Pupil Number Growth Funding – Additional Needs

The following table listed those schools entitled to “Additional Needs” funding. The total costs calculated using the normal process was £173,761; however, there was only £111,474 total funds remaining.  The allocations had therefore been pro-rata to the available funding as set out in the table below: -

A Forum Member queried what the trigger point was for additional funding.

R Kerr advised that it was for those schools who went above any PAN increases, between the two most recent census years.

Resolved  (unanimously) that the following funding payments be authorised, as set out below: -

Ormiston Forge Academy

Based on the pupil number growth criteria the school would be entitled to £79,839 based on 55 pupils receiving 50% of the secondary AWPU rate of £4,977 September 2021 to March 2022.

Bristnall Hall Academy

Based on the pupil number growth criteria the school would be entitled to £26,129 based on 18 pupils receiving 50% of the secondary AWPU rate of £4,977 September 2021 to March 2022.

George Salter Academy

Based on the pupil number growth criteria the school would be entitled to £5,807 based on 4 pupils receiving 50% of the secondary AWPU rate of £4,977 September 2021 to March 2022.

Pupil Number Growth Funding – Additional Needs

(D Irish abstained from the votes on this item in relation to Shireland Collegiate)