Southwark Schools Forum

Constitution and terms of reference

The Southwark Schools Forum is a statutory body that advises the council on issues related to school budgets, like formula funding, contracts and provision for the education of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

You can read more about the constitution and terms of reference (PDF, 140.8 KB).

High needs subgroup  

This group sits within the Schools Forum. It oversees spending on children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). 

Read the high needs subgroup terms of reference (PDF, 117.2 KB)

Schools financial support panel

This panel manages 3 funding streams for the forum. Schools can apply for these when they need to cover unforeseen costs outside their normal budget.

Read the schools financial support panel terms of reference (PDF, 410.96 KB)

Forum members

The forum’s membership comprises representatives of the various sectors of the education community in Southwark like: 

• nursery schools
• primary schools
• secondary schools
• academies
• primary school governors
• unions
• the Diocesan authorities  

The 14 to 19 sector, early years providers, pupil referral units and staff are also represented on the forum. You can read more about the Forum's membership. (PDF, 89.61 KB)

Schools Forum meetings

The Schools Forum meets face-to-face 4 to 5 times a year in a location within Southwark, with scheduled meetings for the 2025/26 academic year as follows:

• Thursday 2 October 2025
• Thursday 11 December 2025
• Thursday 15 January 2026
• Thursday 19 March 2026
• Thursday 25 June 2026

All meetings commence at 2pm and run for no more than 2 hours.

Members of the public are welcome to attend meetings. If you would like to attend an upcoming Schools Forum meeting as an observer, contact the Schools Forum clerk (contact details are below).

The agenda and reports for each meeting will be displayed on this webpage at least one day before the meeting date. If you require papers before that, contact the clerk. 

Schools Forum vacancies

Archdiocese of Southwark Schools’ Commission (Roman Catholic)

Currently, there is one vacancy for a representative from the Archdiocese of Southwark Schools’ Commission. 

The local authority has asked the commission to let us know who will be taking up this position. 

Academy Secondary School Representative

Currently, there is one vacancy for a representative from Academy Secondary Schools.

The local authority has asked Academy Schools to let us know who will be taking up this position.

Early year providers (Private and voluntary institutions)

Currently, there is one vacancy for a representative from Early year providers (Private and voluntary institutions).

The local authority has asked Early year providers (Private and voluntary institutions) to let us know who will be taking up this position. 

Meeting reports for academic year 2024-2025

19 September 2024

• SF September 2024 - Agenda Schools Forum Meeting 19 September 2024 (PDF, 187.96 KB)
• SF September 2024 - Item 4 240613 Schools Forum Draft Minutes June 24 (PDF, 224.18 KB)
• SF September 2024 - Item 5 240919 Schools Forum Constitution and Terms of Reference (PDF, 426.12 KB)
• SF September 2024 - Item 6 240919 Internal Audit Schools Annual Summary Report 2023-24 (PDF, 64.23 KB)
• SF September 2024 - Item 6 AGSC BDO Schools Summary Report 2023-24 (PDF, 234.75 KB)
• SF September 2024 - Item 7 240919 Central Expenditure Review (PDF, 218.75 KB)
• SF September 2024 - Item 8 DSG 24-25 DSG Monitoring Safety Valve Update (PDF, 81.06 KB)
• SF September 2024 - Item 9 DSG 25-26 Schools Funding Formula (PDF, 233.19 KB) 

12 December 2024

• SF December 2024 - Agenda Schools Forum Meeting 12 December 2024 (PDF, 391.98 KB)
• SF December 2024 - Item 4 Schools Forum Draft Minutes September 2024 (PDF, 796.33 KB)
• SF December 2024 - Item 5a HNSG Minutes 12 November 2024 (PDF, 411.7 KB)
• SF December 2024 - Item 5b Banding Review - High Needs Sub Group - October 24 (PDF, 620.78 KB)
• SF December 2024 - Item 5c Safety Valve - High Needs Sub Group Update - November 24 (PDF, 231.3 KB)
• SF December 2024 - Item 5d Governance Improvement Action Plan 28 November 2024 (PDF, 206.26 KB)
• SF December 2024 - Item 6 DSG Budget Monitoring Report (PDF, 270.34 KB)
• SF December 2024 - Item 7 2025-26 Funding Updates (PDF, 266.76 KB)
• SF December 2024 - Item 8 Centrally Retained Expenditure (PDF, 362.31 KB)
• SF December 2024 - Item 10 Forward Plan 2024-25 and January Draft Agenda (PDF, 215.02 KB)

16 January 2025

• SF January 2025 – Agenda Schools Forum 16 January 2025 (PDF, 384.4 KB)
• SF January 2025 – Item 3 Schools Forum Constitution and Terms of Reference (PDF, 403.68 KB)
• SF January 2025 – Item 5b SF Governance Improvement Action Plan update (PDF, 469.2 KB)
• SF January 2025 – Item 6 Dedicated Schools Grant 2025 to 2026 Allocation (PDF, 533.03 KB)
• SF January 2025 – Item 7 Centrally Retained Expenditure (PDF, 491.8 KB)
• SF January 2025 – Item 8 DSG 2025 to 2026 Schools Funding Formula (PDF, 843.1 KB)
• SF January 2025 – Item 8 Appendix School Budgets (PDF, 224.28 KB)
• SF January 2025 – Item 9 DSG 2025 to 2026 High Needs Block (PDF, 749.74 KB)
• SF January 2025 – Item 10 DSG 2025 to 2026 Early Years Block (PDF, 498.42 KB)
• SF January 2025 – Item 13 Forward Plan 2024 to 2025 and March Draft Agenda (PDF, 412.15 KB)
• SF January 2025 – Minutes of 16 January 2025 meeting (PDF, 721.3 KB)

20 March 2025

• SF March 2025 - Agenda Schools Forum 20 March 2025 (PDF, 219.02 KB)
• SF March 2025 - Item 4 Previous Schools Forum Minutes 16 Jan 2025 (PDF, 722.78 KB)
• SF March 2025 - Item 5A SF Governance Improvement Action Plan update 25-02-25 (PDF, 459.41 KB)
• SF March 2025 - Item 6 Training programme 200325 (PDF, 214.18 KB)
• SF March 2025 - Item 7 Schools Financial Procedures Manual 200325 (PDF, 203.91 KB)
• SF March 2025 - Item 8A HNSG Minutes 25.02.25 200325 (PDF, 384.6 KB)
• SF March 2025 - Item 8B SVA impact on attainment and absence (PDF, 313.82 KB)
• SF March 2025 - Item 8C Banding Redesign Resource Base Review Progress 200325 (PDF, 283.02 KB)
• SF March 2025 - Item 10 Penalty Notices Update 200325 (PDF, 420.62 KB)
• SF March 2025 - Item 12 Forward Plan 2024-25 and March Draft Agenda SF 200325 (PDF, 215.09 KB)
• SF March 2025 - minutes of 20 March 2025 meeting (PDF, 307.07 KB)

26 June 2025

• SF June 2025 - Agenda Schools Forum 26 June 2025 (PDF, 137.2 KB)
• SF June 2025 - Item 3 Schools Forum Annual Membership Update 2025.06.26 (PDF, 129.85 KB)
• SF June 2025 - Item 4 Previous Schools Forum Minutes 20 March 2025 (PDF, 299.9 KB)
• SF June 2025 - Item 6 Governance Improvement Task and Finnish Group Concluding report (PDF, 338.59 KB)
• SF June 2025 - Item 7 Scheme for Financing schools 2025-26 2025.06.26 (PDF, 131.41 KB)
• SF June 2025 - Item 7 Appendix 2 2025-26 Scheme for Financing Schools 2025.06.26 (PDF, 625.58 KB)
• SF June 2025 - Item 8 2024-25 Dedicated Schools Grant Outturn (PDF, 164 KB)
• SF June 2025 - Item 9 DSG 2024-25 Schools Outturn Balances (PDF, 203.3 KB)
• SF June 2025 - Item 11 Forward Plan 2025-26 and October Draft Agenda SF 26.06.25 (PDF, 122.48 KB)
• SF June 2025 - Item 11 Schools Forum Meeting Dates 2025-26 (PDF, 116.54 KB)
• SF June 2025 - Schools Forum Minutes 26 June 2025 (PDF, 276.82 KB)

Useful links

• Funding of schools and academies
• Information for local authorities, school leaders, governing bodies about forum duties
• Schools Forum powers and responsibilities
• Schools Forum operational and good practice guide
• The Schools Forum (England) Regulations 2012
• School and academy funding
• Southwark Council's Scheme for Financing Schools April 2023
• School Funding report presented to the Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission (agenda item 6) in February 2024 
   

Contact us

You can contact Hayley Furniss (Schools Forum clerk) by:

• calling 020 7525 5083
• emailing hayley.furniss@southwark.gov.uk