Essex Schools Forum

The Essex Schools Forum is a statutory body established in accordance with the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998.

Its main functions include the following: 

• consulting on the Essex funding formula for schools
• agreeing de-delegation from mainstream schools and funding for the local authority to meet its prescribed statutory duties
• creating funds for significant basic need growth and temporary falling rolls
• transferring up to 0.5% of the schools block to either the high needs block, early years block or central school services block
  to agree changes to the Scheme for Financing Schools
   
• allocation and distribution of funding
• free school meals
• special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
• supplies and services

The Schools Forum's role and responsibilities

Further information about how the School Forum works, its role and responsibilities:

• Schools Forums's powers and responsibilities (Word, 68KB)
• Terms of reference for the Essex Schools Forum (Word, 68KB)
• Schools forum operational and good practice guide (Word, 68KB)

Membership

Find out who are the 28 School Forum members (Word, 52KB).

The Schools Forum meetings

Meetings take place in person and online, 5 times during the year:

• January - online - Tuesday 14 January 2025
• May - in person - Wednesday 21 May 2025
• July - online - Wednesday 9 July 2025
• September - in person - Wednesday 24 September 2025 and Friday 26 September 2025
• November - online 

All meetings are public. To attend in person or online, email yannick.stupples-whyley@essex.gov.uk

Meeting agendas, minutes and decisions

Further information about recent Schools Forum meetings, including the agendas and minutes.

Further information about previous Schools Forum meetings, including the agendas and minutes.