URL: https://democracy.croydon.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=2657

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: To provide Cabinet with the recommendation of Schools Forum on 2026 to 2027 Schools Formula Factors paid out of Dedicated Schools Grant DSG. The DfE requires evidence of Cabinet approval of the Formula Factors which then forms the basis of Schools Budget for 2026/27. The timing of Cabinet approval will be tricky as the council has not received the Authority Proforma Tool (APT) which forms the basis of calculating these formula factors. In addition, the Schools Forum meeting is scheduled until 19th January 2026 whilst the APT deadline will be a few days later. Nonetheless, it is proposed that his paper come to February 2026 Cabinet.

Content: To provide Cabinet with the recommendation of Schools Forum on 2026 to 2027 Schools Formula Factors paid out of Dedicated Schools Grant DSG. The DfE requires evidence of Cabinet approval of the Formula Factors which then forms the basis of Schools Budget for 2026/27. The timing of Cabinet approval will be tricky as the council has not received the Authority Proforma Tool (APT) which forms the basis of calculating these formula factors. In addition, the Schools Forum meeting is scheduled until 19th January 2026 whilst the APT deadline will be a few days later. Nonetheless, it is proposed that his paper come to February 2026 Cabinet. The Executive Mayor and Cabinet AGREED to:   2.1       Note the funding factor values reported in Appendix B which are the range of factors available to use in setting 2026/27 schools funding.   2.2       Note that most of Croydon’s schools funding formula factors are either at the National Funding Formula (NFF) or are already mirroring the NFF. Therefore, there is no further requirement to bring any of the formula factors closer to NFF.   2.3       Note the extract of the Schools Forum minute in Appendix D (relating to schools funding formula factors) and how voting decisions have informed the recommendations in this report.   2.4       Approve the provisional funding formula factors for Croydon mainstream schools (as shown in Appendix C and recommendation to Schools Forum and extract of the minute of Schools Forum meeting shown in Appendix D) for the financial year 2026/27 in line with the recommendations voted by Schools Forum on 19th January 2026;   2.5       Approve the statutory spend of £348.07m of Schools Block DSG funding for 2026/27 for Schools Budget;   2.6       Support the Schools Forum approval and the transfer of £1.2m from the school’s block to the High Needs block as part of DSG Deficit Management Plan.

Date of Decision: February 11, 2026