The Surrey Schools Forum

The background and purpose of The Surrey Schools Forum is that the Government requires local authorities (LA) to maintain a Schools Forum to represent schools’ views on matters relating to the total Schools’ Budget. This budget includes delegated budgets to schools and funding in private nurseries, a number of centrally managed functions, largely relating to the provision of support for pupils with special education needs (SEN), out-County and independent SEN placements.

Regulations prescribe three main functions on which the LA must consult the forum as follows:

  • On changes to the schools funding formula
  • On the terms of contracts to be let by the LA for services to schools, paid from the schools budget. (Subject to a de-minimis level)
  • On issues relating to the management of the Schools Budget, including:
  • arrangements for the education of pupils with special needs
  • arrangements for the use of pupil referral units and education of children otherwise than at school
  • arrangements for early years provision
  • insurance arrangements
  • administration of central government grants to schools
  • arrangements for free school meals

In addition to its role as a consultative body, the forum has decision-making powers in specific areas, as follows:

  • Approving increases to the DFE prescribed limits on centrally managed expenditure
  • Formula changes during multi-year funding periods (in exceptional and limited circumstances)
  • To agree the level of school specific contingency held
  • Approving minor amendments to the Minimum Funding Guarantee as provided by the School Finance (England) regulations
  • To agree arrangements for combining elements of the centrally managed budget with elements of other services where there are resulting benefits for schools and pupils
  • Charges to the Schools Budget relating to prudential borrowing, termination of employment costs and special education needs transport costs
  • The right to approve changes to the authority’s Scheme for Financing Schools

The Forum is made up of school members representing the Maintained sector - Secondary, Primary, Special and Nursery Schools both Headteachers and Governors are among those elected to represent their sector at the Forum meetings. Also attending the meetings as non school members are the Diocesan and Teaching Association / TU representatives and a representative from each of SEN, Early Years / PVI and 14 – 19 Partnership sectors. There are also representatives from those schools who are now Academies (an increasing proportion).

Additional information relating to the Surrey Schools Forum can be found on the Schools Forum pages of the Surrey County Council website. will be able to see a list of current members and how to contact and have an opportunity to read the minutes of previous meetings.

Membership (as at February 1st 2016)

Primary representatives / School / Email address
Kate Keane (Head) / Ewell Grove Infant and Nursery School /
Lynn Tarrant (Head) / Shawfield Primary School /
Joanna Hastings (Head) / Ottershaw C of E Infant and Junior /
Rona Mackie (Head) / Guildford Grove Primary School /
June Kershaw (Head) / South Camberley Primary School /
Tim Smith (Head) / St Giles C of E Infant School /
Jane Douglass (Head) / North Downs Primary School /
Tanya Dakin (Head) / Auriol Junior /
Ruth Murton (Governor) / West Byfleet Junior School /
Eric Peacock(Governor) / Thorpe C of E Infant School /
Secondary representatives / School / Email address
Chris Lee (Head) / Broadwater School /
Judith Langley (Head) / Kings International College for Business and the Arts /
Eric Skyte (Governor) / Therfield School /
Special representative / School / Email address
Matthew Sartin (Head) / Portesbery School /
Annette Crozier (Governor) / Federation of Manor Mead and Walton Leigh schools /
Nursery representative / School / Email address
Elaine McCrimmon (Head) / Guildford Children's Centre /
Pupil referral unit representative / School / Email address
Jo Ashworth (Head) / North West Surrey Secondary Short Stay School /
Academy representatives / School / Email address
Andrew Carter / South Farnham /
Rhona Barnfield / Howard of Effingham School /
Ben Bartlett / Hinchley Wood School /
Ian Hylan / Tomlinscote School /
Geoff Wyss / George Abbot School /
Sue Tresilian / Sythwood School /
Jed Donnelly / Wishmore Cross School /
Vacancy
Non school representatives / Phase / Email address
Sian Bath / Early Years (private, voluntary, independent sector) /
Michael Hall / Guildford Diocese /
Tamsin Honeybourne / Trades Union /
Fred Greaves / Trades Union /
Andrea Collings / SEN (Family Voice) /
Jayne Dickinson / East Surrey College (post 16 provider rep) /
Julianne Birch / Surrey A & B Catholic Schools /