School budgets and finance
Schools Forum
The Schools Forums (Wales) Regulations 2003 require each Council to establish a Schools Forum. The Schools Forum is key to developing informed and confident dialogue between the Council and schools on budgetary issues, including schools' funding levels for the coming year, pressures on future years' budgets, changes to the local funding formula and reviewing contracts / service level agreements for services to schools.
The Council consults with the Schools Forum annually on matters relating to its schools' budget and revisions to its Scheme for Financing Schools. The Forum is a consultative and advisory body, and not a decision making body.
The Powys Schools Forum comprises 23 members, with no more than one quarter being non-school members. School members must include a proportionate number of representatives of primary schools, secondary schools, community schools, voluntary schools and at least one must be a representative of a special school. At least one school member must be a parent governor.
2023 Current Members
Representing School Governors
Graham Taylor, Rhayader C in W School (Chair)
Maurice Thorn, Ysgol Calon Cymru
Huw Pattrick, Ysgol Maesydderwen
Bev Matthews, Ysgol y Mynydd Du
Margot Jones, Llanidloes Primary & High School Federation
Sara Davies, Brecon High School
Jenny Miller, Ysgol Penmaes Special School
Kath Roberts-Jones, Ysgol Brynllywarch Special School
Carol Rowlands, Caersws Primary School
Representing Primary Headteachers:
Jess Stuart-Lyon, Ysgol Trefonnen C in W Community Primary School
Rob Francis, Crickhowell Primary School
Bethan G Jones, Llanbrynmair School
Ashley Bennett, Sennybridge CP School
1 vacancy
Representing Secondary Headteachers
Claire Jones, Crickhowell High School
Phil Grimes, Ysgol Maesydderwen
Richard Jenkins, Brecon High School
1 vacancy
Representing Special School Headteachers
Angharad Bryn-Jones, Ysgol Penmaes Special School
Representing Professional Bodies/Trade Unions
Danielle Hillidge (NASUWT)
Dan Owen (ASCL)
1 vacancy (non-teaching trade union representative)
Representing Diocesan Authorities
John Meredith (Diocesan Director of Education)
Observers
Councillor Peter Roberts (Cabinet member for a Learning Powys)
Councillor David Thomas (Cabinet Member for Finance & Corporate Transformation)
Councillor Gwynfor Thomas (Chair of the Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee)
Financing Schools
The Scheme for Financing Schools sets out the financial relationship between the Authority and the maintained schools which it funds. It contains requirements relating to financial management and associated issues, binding on both the Authority and on schools.
The Scheme applies to all community, voluntary controlled and aided, foundation and community special schools maintained by the Authority.
Download the Powys scheme for financing schools (PDF) [378KB]
School Funding - Section 52 Budget Statement
Welsh Government Regulations require each Local Education Authority (LEA) to publish annually Section 52 Statements
- Part 1 containing particulars of planned expenditure for individual schools
- Part 2 information with respect to the methodology for determining schools' budget shares
- Part 3 information with respect to the budget share of each of the authority's schools