Oldham Schools Forum

What is the Schools Forum?

The Schools Forum is a statutory body under the Education Act 2002. Schools Forums were set up to give schools greater involvement in the distribution of funding within their LEA and became mandatory in January 2003.

The Schools Forum must be consulted on issues such as schools funding formula, contracts for supplies and services and financial aspects of the Education

Department’s function including arrangements for special educational needs, the use of pupil referral units, free school meals, insurance and early years.

What is the role of the Schools Forum?

The role of the Schools Forum is to provide advice to the authority on the formulation of key aspects of strategy and budget whilst having regard to wider educational issues.

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

Membership

In Oldham the Schools Forum is made up of:

6 primary headteachers
4 secondary headteachers
1 special school headteacher
5 primary governors
3 secondary governors
1 special school governor
2 elected member
1 diocesan member
1 representative from Trade Unions
1 representative from Early Years Development Partnership

The Learning and Skills Council attend as an observer to the meetings.

Can anyone go to the meetings?

Partners who are not members of the group are involved and invited to attend when relevant agenda items arise.

Once a year the meeting would be open to members of the public to observe and, at the discretion of the Chair, participate. It is requested that you give notice if you wish to attend the meeting and that you notify the LEA of any questions in advance so that replies can be researched. At other times of the year the Schools Forum will consider written questions submitted via the LEA.