Shropshire Schools Forum

Schools Forums were set up to give schools greater involvement in the distribution of funding within their Local Education Authority (LEA). They became mandatory in January 2003 and each LEA must consult its Schools Forum on their School Funding Formula, as well as other issues in connection with schools budgets. The Shropshire Schools Forum builds on a tradition of involving key stakeholders in the development of policy on school resources. The predecessors of the Shropshire Schools Forum were Formula Review, Heads Planning and Monitoring and Shadow Schools Forum groups.

Role of Schools Forums
Shropshire Council consults the Schools Forum on four main areas:

• the school funding formula;
• issues within the schools budget, such as arrangements for pupils with special educational needs or early years education;
• wider education issues
• service contracts and service level agreements

Although Schools Forums don't have the power of veto, LEAs are required to take account of their views.

Role of the LEA
Each LEA has considerable discretion over the membership and format of its Schools Forum. In addition to setting up the Schools Forum, the LEA calls and records meetings, and disseminates the outcomes to schools. It is also responsible for managing the expenses of Schools Forum members. Agendas, minutes, membership and constitution of the Schools Forum are all available online.

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