Durham Schools Forum

It consists of school and academy representatives, headteachers, governors, non-school members, 14-19 partnership, early years private, voluntary/independent sector providers, diocese and union representatives.

The forum meets at least four times a year and is open to the public.

It provides a means of communication between local authorities and schools on funding matters affecting schools. It must be consulted on any changes to the formula used to fund schools, and the financial effects of any proposed changes. Finally, it is consulted annually on financial issues relating to:

• pupils with special educational needs
• use of pupil referral units and education of children otherwise at school
• early years
• administration of the allocation of central government grants paid to schools via the local council
• contracts for provision of services to schools

The next meeting

The next meetings of the Durham Schools Forum will take place on: 

• Wednesday 10 July 2024 from 10.30am to 1.00pm, online via Microsoft Teams
• Tuesday 24 September 2024, face-to-face at Durham Leadership Centre, Spennymoor, DL16 6YP
• Thursday 21 November 2024, online via Microsoft Teams

Meetings will begin at 9.30am.

Schools forum minutes and agendas

• Agenda Schools Forum - 10 July 2024 (PDF) [11KB]
• Item No 02 Schools Forum Meeting - 26 March 2024 Draft Minutes (PDF) [180KB]
• Item No 03 Outstanding Action Points (PDF) [38KB]
• Item No 04 Executive Summary (PDF) [74KB]
• Item No 05 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Outturn 2023-24 (PDF) [120KB]
• Item No 06 HNB Funding and SEND and Inclusion Update (PDF) [174KB]
• Item No 07 Options for Transfer to High Needs Block (PDF) [336KB]
• Item No 07a Options for Transfer to High Needs Block Appendix A Changes in funding for primary schools (PDF) [428KB]
• Item No 07b Options for Transfer to High Needs Block Appendix B Changes in funding for secondary schools (PDF) [142KB]
• Item No 07c Options for Transfer to High Needs Block Appendix C Changes in funding for primary schools (PDF) [330KB]
• Item No 07d Options for Transfer to High Needs Block Appendix D Changes in funding for secondary schools (PDF) [142KB]
• Item No 07e Options for Transfer to High Needs Block Appendix E Ranked changes in funding for primary schools (PDF) [359KB]
• Item No 07f Options for Transfer to High Needs Block Appendix F Ranked changes in funding for secondary schools (PDF) [153KB]
• Item No 08 Future Meeting Dates (PDF) [72KB]
• Item No 09 Forum Membership (PDF) [126KB]

Previous meetings

Please contact us for papers from previous meetings.

Schools forum membership

• Forum Membership - June 2024 (PDF) [143KB]

Schools forum governance

• Constitution of the Schools Forum (PDF) [176KB]