The current arrangements for Local Management of Schools were implemented in April 1999.  The role of Schools Financial Services is to play a major role in developing and supporting Local Management in Birmingham Schools.

This includes responsibility for:

• refinements and developments to the Authority's Approved Fair Funding Scheme;
  
  

• assessing the impact of new legislation on the Authority's
  
  
• Approved Fair Funding Scheme;
  
  

• developing the Authority's formulae, to ensure they continue to reflect Education Service policy;

• assessing the impact of new legislation of Local Management in schools, to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in the allocation of resources;
  
  
• ensuring that schools' are consulted and their views are reflected in Scheme development;
  
  
• managing LMS contingencies and making allocations to schools where appropriate.

Change agents

The strategy relates to fulfilling a role of 'change agents' on Local Management issues. This involves working with multi-disciplinary teams of Headteachers, officers and the Teachers' Associations, to take forward a whole range of educational issues which may have implications for local management. High priority is placed on maintaining links with schools and to ensure that schools' experiences and needs are reflected in the work. The importance given to the consultation process, when Scheme developments are proposed, is evidence of the commitment to ensure that the Fair Funding Scheme reflects schools' views.

Legislative Change

The working environment is one of continuing legislative change, relating to the funding of schools and the operation of the Education Service. To respond to this continual change, Schools Financial Services acts as a point of focus to analyse and predict the consequences of revised funding arrangements in the future funding of schools.

Targets

Schools Financial Services is committed to ensuring that it achieves the Fair Funding targets as identified in its service development plan and work programmes. Targets include the achievement of deadlines for submission of Scheme changes to the DfES and ensuring that consultation on Scheme changes are successfully organised and supported. Training for governors and school based staff on Fair funding and financial management issues offered is monitored through the completion of course evaluation sheets and reviewed to ensure that the needs of schools continue to be met.

Formula Funding

Schools Financial Services is the first point of contact for schools on all issues relating to the principles of formula finding and other aspects of the Fair Funding Scheme. This also includes day to day management of the funds relating to:

• Errors in formula

• Additional Place/Pupil Numbers
• School based emergencies
• Lost and stolen

Fair Funding Development

This is managed by the Fair Funding Development and Associated Task Groups.  This web site gives information about:

• Fair Funding Development Group (FFDG): role, membership, terms of reference and notes of meetings from September 2000 to date.
  
  
• Associated Task Groups: role, membership, terms of reference and notes of meeting from September 2000 to date
  
  
• Approved Fair Funding Scheme Manual

General information about Fair Funding can be found on the DfES website.