Agenda item

To consider a report from the Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education and Skills (copy enclosed)

Cabinet considered a report which asked members to establish a Schools Forum for Westmorland and Furness, and to approve the constitution of a Joint Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE).

Each Local Authority was required by law to establish a Schools Forum.  The current Cumbria Schools Forum would cease to exist on 31 March 2023 and two new Forums would be established, one for each of the two new authorities. 

The role of the Schools Forum had been summarised in the Education Skills and Funding Agency (ESFA) Guidance ‘Schools forum powers and responsibilities’.  Essentially the Schools Forum had a consultative, or decision-making role (depending of the specific decision being made) in respect of schools/education financing.

The Schools Forum was not a committee of the Local Authority. Its membership was largely made up of senior managers/governors from schools and academies. The Schools Forums (England) Regulations 2012 (‘the Regulations’) provided a framework for the appointment of members but allowed a considerable degree of discretion in order to accommodate local priorities and practice.

The membership of the Westmorland and Furness Schools Forum needed to include:-

·           school members,

·           academy members,

·           special school member(s),

·           early years member(s),

·           post 16 member(s),

·           pupil referral unit member(s).

It was proposed that there would also be representatives from the local dioceses and teaching/non-teaching professional associations.  At least two thirds of the membership must be made up of school and academy members. The balance between primary, secondary and academy members should be broadly proportionate to the pupil numbers in each category.

The Forum would operate using the constitution set out in Appendix 1 of the report.  Once established and quorate the Schools Forum could make changes to its membership to respond to changes to the educational landscape in its area.

Nominees were currently being sought to serve on the Westmorland and Furness Schools Forum. 

Section 390 of the Education Act 1996 required a Local Authority to constitute a SACRE, the role of which was to advise the Local Authority on religious worship in community schools and in foundation schools which did not have a religious character, and the religious education to be given in accordance with an agreed or other syllabus, along with other functions as set out in the Education Act 1996.

The membership of the SACRE had been largely determined by Section 390 of the Education Act 1996. There were four committees within the SACRE –

A   Christian denominations (other than Church of England) and other faiths

B   Church of England

C   Teacher Associations

D   The Local Authority

There was currently a Cumbria wide SACRE and the proposal was that a Joint SACRE would operate for Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness from 1 April 2023, initially using the constitution at Appendix 3 of the report and with the initial membership as listed at Appendix 4.

Currently there were no members listed in Committee D. As matters stand, the constitution asked Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness to appoint two members each.  It was understood that such appointments would be made at the Councils’ respective AGMs due to be held in April.

Operating a joint SACRE would enable a seamless transition. That was particularly important, as the agreed syllabus review (which was legally required to take place every five years) was currently underway.

Councillor Sanderson proposed the recommendations, which was seconded by Councillor Hughes.

A unanimous vote to approve the recommendations was taken.

RESOLVED, that the Shadow Cabinet

(1)     Established the Schools Forum for Westmorland and Furness; and

(2)     Constituted a Joint SACRE in accordance with the constitution attached at Appendix 3 of the report and appoints those listed in Appendix 4 of the report as members of the SACRE.