The Schools Forum is a body of elected representatives from schools, academies, nursery and 16 to 19 year old education providers.
The forum acts as a consultative body that advises the council on matters affecting school funding such as changes to the local funding formula and arrangements for pupils with special educational needs.
Further information about the role and responsibilities of the Schools Forum can be found on the DfE Schools Forum website
Meetings are held on MS Teams. If you would like to attend a meeting please contact katherine.dalgliesh@cumbria.gov.uk.
Upcoming meeting dates
The next confirmed upcoming meetings are:
- 10 June 2026
Provisional meeting dates
Provisional meetings that are not yet confirmed are:
- 23 September 2026
- 4 November 2026
- 20 January 2027
- 9 June 2027
Previous meeting records and papers
14 January 2026
Schools Forum January 2026 Papers (PDF , 1.4MB)
5 November 2025
Schools Forum November 2025 Papers (PDF , 2.8MB)
17 September 2025
Agenda and papers
Schools Forum September 2025 Papers (PDF , 1.8MB)
11 June 2025
Agenda
Schools Forum Agenda 11 June 2025 (PDF , 176KB)
Papers
- Draft Minutes of the Schools Forum Meeting 15 January 2025 (PDF , 401KB)
- LA Scheme for Financing Schools and Pupil Referral Units June 2025 (PDF , 2MB)
- Schools Forum Report: Targeted SEN Funding, June 2025 (PDF , 215KB)
- Schools Forum Report: Maintained Schools Excess Surplus Balances, May 2025 (PDF , 268KB)
- Schools Forum Report: High Needs Budget Monitoring Q3 2024 to 2025 (PDF , 427KB)
- Schools Forum Report: De-Delegated Contingency Budget Monitoring Q3 to 2024 to 2025 (PDF , 301KB)
15 January 2025
Schools Forum Agenda and Papers 15 January 2025 (PDF , 2MB)
6 November 2024
Schools Forum Agenda and Papers 6 November 2024 (PDF , 543KB)
9 October 2024
Schools Forum Agenda and Papers 9 October 2024 (PDF, 99kb)
12 June 2024
Schools Forum Agenda and Papers 12 June 2024 (PDF, 5783kb)
17 January 2024
No records available
1 November 2023
School Forum 1 November 2023 Agenda and Meeting Papers (PDF, 655kb)
20 September 2023
Schools Forum 20 September 2023 Agenda and meeting paper v2 (PDF, 1082kb)
14 June 2023
- Schools Forum 14 June 2023 agenda and meeting papers (PDF, 1224kb)
- Schools Forum 14 June 2023 Appendix 1 to Revised LA Scheme for Financing Schools (PDF, 1229kb)6 January 2023
16 January 2023
Schools Forum Meeting 16 January 2023 Agenda (PDF, 127kb)
Meetings previous to this date relate to Cumbria County Council, and are available upon request from the the clerk, katherine.dalgliesh@cumbria.gov.uk.
Membership of Westmorland and Furness Schools Forum
Maintained Primary school members
- David Spruce, Appleby Primary School
- Vacancy
- Ian Nichol, Leven Valley Primary School
- Vacancy
- Michelle Hughes, Dalton St Mary's CofE Primary School
Maintained Secondary school members
- Stephen Gilby, Ullswater Community College
- Matthew Hardwick, UVHS / Emma Aubrey, Dowdales School
Academy Primary school member
- Huw Davies, Ghyllside School
Academy Secondary school members
- Jon Hayes, Queen Katherine School
- Simon Laheney, Furness Academy
- Mark Harris, Kirby Kendal School
- Nicola Carruthers, Queen Elizabeth School
Academy Special school member
Vacancy
Maintained Nursery school member
Alyssa Dobbs, Kendal Nursery School
Maintained Special school member
Dan Hinton, Sandgate School
Pupil referral unit representative
Lisa Balderstone, Newbridge House
Teachers Professional association member
Andy Brewerton, NEU
Non-teaching association member
Diane Clorley, Unison
Church of England Diocese representative
Charlotte Tudway / Laura Watson
Roman Catholic Diocese representative
Michael Merrick
16 to 19 Providers
- Scott Cubitt, Furness College
- Vacancy
Private Voluntary and Independent (PVI) early years provider
Peter Graveson, Sunny Brow Day Care
Observer Members
Cllr Janet Battye, Statutory Lead Member for Children's Services
Local Authority Representatives
- Isobel Booler, Assistant Director Education & Skills
- Claire Diggle, Group Accountant
- Amanda Chew, Finance Manager
Clerk
Katherine Dalgliesh, Directorate Support Manager