Council and democracy

Hertfordshire Schools Forum

The Hertfordshire Schools’ Forum is established in accordance with Section 47a of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and the Schools Forums (England) Regulations 2005. The Forum is an advisory body in relation to matters relating to the schools budget as defined in Section 41 of the Children Act 2002 and set annually by Hertfordshire County Council.

Who attends the Forum?

There must be a minimum of 16 members, comprising school and non-school members.

The schools members comprise:

• 4 primary school headteachers
• 4 secondary school headteachers
• 2 special school headteachers
• 1 nursery school headteacher
• 2 primary school governors
• 2 secondary school governors

At least one of the above will represent a voluntary aided school.

The non-schools member comprise the Chair of the Education Panel and a Headteacher from an Education Support Centre.

A nominated representative of the Hertfordshire LSC and the Executive Member for Education is invited to attend every meeting of the Forum as an observer.

What are the main functions and powers of the Schools Forum?

The main functions are:

• To be consulted on the funding formula
• To be consulted on issues in connection with the Schools Budget
• To be contact on service contracts where the costs will be met from the Schools budget

The Schools Forum has the following powers:

• To agree proposed changes to the operation of the Minimum Funding Guarantee where it affects less than 20% of schools. Any variations that impact on more than 20% of schools must be referred to the Secretary of State


• To approve the level of school specific contingencies


• To approve the retention and levels of certain items of central expenditure including funding for Combined Services, servicing the costs of a prudential borrowing scheme, premature retirement and redundancy costs and SEN transport costs

When does the Schools Forum meet?

The following table shows the date, time and location of the Schools Forum meetings:

Date	Time	Venue
19 September 2007	1.00pm - 4.00pm	Hertfordshire Development Centre
30 October 2007	1.00pm - 4.00pm	Hertfordshire Development Centre
12 December 2007	1.00pm - 4.00pm	Hertfordshire Development Centre
16 January 2008	1.00pm - 4.00pm	Hertfordshire Development Centre
27 February 2008	1.00pm - 4.00pm	Hertfordshire Development Centre
16 April 2008	1.00pm - 4.00pm	Hertfordshire Development Centre
4 June 2008	1.00pm - 4.00pm	Hertfordshire Development Centre
15 July 2008	1.00pm - 4.00pm	Hertfordshire Development Centre
17 September 2008	1.00pm - 4.00pm	County Hall, Hertford
22 October 2008	1.00pm - 4.00pm	Robertson House, Stevenage
10 December 2008	1.00pm - 4.00pm	Robertson House, Stevenage