Schools Forum

How to attend forum meetings, records of previous meetings and membership information.

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 Microsoft Teams. If you would like to attend a meeting please contact frances.crackles@cumbria.gov.uk. 

Information about the next meeting

We've published the papers for the Schools Forum Meeting on 23 September 2026 (PDF , 574KB). This document may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

The papers contain the following information: 

  • a meeting agenda
  • an update on Schools Forum members
  • the minutes of the last Schools Forum meeting, held on 10 June 2026
  • an action log from previous meetings
  • the minutes of the last meeting held by the High Needs Budget Working Group, held on 16 June 2026
  • a dedicated schools grant (DSG) outturn report for 2025 to 2026
  • a report on maintained schools balances for 2025 to 2026, and 2026 to 2027
  • a school funding formula report for 2027 to 2028
  • appendix one to the school funding formula report, for very sparse secondary schools (VSSS) modelling

Upcoming meeting dates

The next confirmed upcoming meetings are:

  • 23 September 2026 
  • 4 November 2026 
  • 20 January 2027 
  • 9 June 2027  

Previous meeting records and papers

2025 to 2026

2024 to 2025

2023 to 2024

Meetings previous to this date relate to Cumbria County Council, and are available upon request from the the clerk, frances.crackles@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

Kate Garside, 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 and Skills
  • Claire Diggle, Group Accountant
  • Amanda Chew, Finance Manager

Clerk

Frances Crackles, Education Support Officer.