Schools Forum

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

• 5 November 2025
• 14 January 2026
• 10 June 2026

Previous meeting records and papers

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
• David Nattrass, Morland School, Culgaith School, Kirkby Stephen School, Crosby Ravensworth School
• 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

Vacancy

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

Vacancy

Church of England Diocese representative

Charlotte Tudway / Laura Watson

Roman Catholic Diocese representative

Michael Merrick 

16 to 19 Providers

• Nicola Cove, Furness College
• Kelvin Nash, Kendal College

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
• Susan Milburn, Group Accountant

Clerk

Katherine Dalgliesh, Directorate Support Manager