Schools Forum

The Schools Forum is a statutory body whose purpose is to advise on matters relating to the authority's schools budget. It must be consulted on:

• proposed changes to the school funding formula
• proposed contracts for certain supplies and services paid from the schools' budget and invitation to tender for these contracts
• annually on the schools' budget
• other matters concerning the funding of schools.

The Schools Forum also has decision-making powers on proposals from the local authority to move away from the requirements of the school funding regulations in response to local circumstances. It also acts as an advisory body to the Cabinet. The members of the forum are accountable to the groups that they represent – schools, governing bodies and trades unions. Governors can contact their reps about the work of the forum.

Meetings will commence at 8.30am on the following dates, and will be held at The Professional Development Centre (PDC), 229 Bethnal Green Road, E2 6AB.

• 4 March 2015
• 17 June 2015
• 30 September 2015
• 9 December 2015
• 20 January 2016
• 3 March 2016
• 20 April 2016
• 15 June 2016
• 12 October 2016
• 7 December 2016
• 18 January 2017
• 1 March 2017
• 14 June 2017

Governors represent the phase of school i.e. nursery, primary, secondary and special, not type of school, i.e. community or voluntary. You are welcome to contact them with queries about the work of the forum. 

Further information, including the full membership, is available from Runa Basit on 020 7364 4302 or email runa.basit@towerhamlets.gov.uk.