Bexley Schools Forum

Constitution

Title

The Forum shall be called the 'BEXLEY SCHOOLS' FORUM'.
Interpretation

In this constitution, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings hereby assigned to them:-

'The Council' means the Council of the Bexley London Borough acting as the Local Authority.

'Head Teacher' means a head teacher of a Bexley School.

'The Forum' means the Bexley Schools Forum established by this instrument.

'Member' means a member of the Bexley Schools Forum and includes a substitute member.

'Governor' means governor of a Bexley maintained school.

The Interpretation Act 1978 shall apply to the interpretation of this instrument as it applies to the interpretation of an Act of Parliament.

Membership

The Forum shall comprise 22 voting members appointed on the following basis.

Primary School head teachers ...	4
Secondary School head teachers ...	4
Primary School governors ...	4
Secondary School governors ...	4
Special Schools head teacher ...	1
Special Schools governor ...	1
Non-School Members ...	4

For the purposes of this constitution, Pupil Referral Units shall be included under the special schools category.

The 4 Non-School Members shall be appointed on the following basis:

Church of England and Catholic Diocesan Authorities ...	2
Teachers' professional associations ...	2

In addition 9 Observer Members, with no voting rights, shall be appointed as follows:

Learning and Skills Council ...	1
Cabinet Members for Education ...	2
Lifelong Learning, Leisure, Arts and Culture Chair, Vice Chair and opposition spokesperson on the Education, Leisure, Arts and Culture Scrutiny Committee ...	3
Business Academy Bexley ...	1
Parent Governor Representative (primary) ...	1
Parent Governor Representative (secondary) ...	1

Observer Members may speak at meetings with the agreement of the Chair.

The appointment of a governor representative shall be the decision of the Bexley Governor's Forum.

The appointment of a head teacher representative shall be the decision of the appropriate head teacher conference.

To preserve the balance and integrity of the forum nominations for both voting and non-voting members shall be confined to discrete representatives i.e. head teacher as head teacher member exclusively, councillor as non-school member exclusively.

Determination of appointments

A member who ceases to be qualified from being a member of the Forum, or who is absent without sufficient cause from three consecutive meetings of the Forum, or who communicates in writing to the Secretary a wish to resign, shall thereupon cease to be a member.

Casual vacancies shall be filled as soon as practicable. In respect of casual vacancies arising for a governor or head teacher representative, these shall be filled on the nomination of the Governors Forum or appropriate Head Teachers' Conference and hold office for the remainder of the term of office of members of the Forum.
Term of office

The term of office of members of the Forum shall be four years expiring at the date of the annual meeting of the Council. The next term of office shall run from 2006 to 2010.
Chair and Vice Chair

The Chair and Vice Chair of the Forum shall be elected annually (in July or thereabouts) from among the voting members of the Forum.
Secretary

The Assistant Director (Strategic Planning & Resources) shall be the Secretary to the Forum (hereinafter referred to as `the Secretary`) and shall undertake the appropriate duties including those referred to in this constitution.
Meetings of the Forum

The Forum shall meet as often and at such times as they shall determine bearing in mind the statutory requirements to hold meetings. Additional meetings may be convened on the requisition of the Secretary by four voting members and shall be held within ten working days from the date of receipt of the requisition.

Where a working group is established from the membership of the Schools’ Forum, the principle of representation shall be observed.
Voting

Voting at meetings of the Forum shall be by a show of hands. The Chair shall have a second or casting vote in the event of an equality of votes.
Quorum

The quorum for a meeting of the Forum shall be at least twelve of the voting members.
Attendance of other persons at meetings

A substitute member may attend meetings of the Forum where the member, voting or non voting is unable for any reason to do so, provided that, so far as is practicable the Secretary is notified of any such substitution prior to the meeting.

Officers of the Council may attend meetings of the Forum as appropriate.
Convening of meetings, agenda and minutes

The Secretary shall convene all meetings of the Forum and shall send to each member, not less than five clear days before a meeting, the agenda setting out the business to be transacted. No business other than that stated in the agenda shall, except in cases of extreme urgency, be conducted at the meeting.

Any member, voting or non voting, may notify the Secretary of items coming within the functions of the Forum that he/she wishes to be included in the agenda for the next following meeting. At least ten clear days notice of such items must be given.

Minutes of all meetings of the Forum shall be prepared by the Secretary and copies circulated to all members as soon as possible after each meeting. The minutes will be submitted to the next following meeting of the Forum for confirmation as a true record and shall, upon approval by the Forum, be signed as such by the Chair.

Where urgent business arises between scheduled meetings, the Secretary shall, in the first instance, attempt to convene an additional meeting. If that is not practical, the Secretary shall aim to clear the decision/canvass views of the Forum members by telephone and/or email. Exceptionally, the Secretary shall seek the view of the Chair and the decision taken or views received would be reported to the next full meeting of the Schools Forum for ratification.
Members expenses

Members shall be entitled to receive expenses for the attendance at meetings of the Forum in accordance with the scheme approved by the Council, as appended to this constitution.
Function and terms of reference

The functions of the Forum shall be in accordance with the requirements of the Schools Forum (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 and any subsequent enactments. In particular the Council shall consult the Forum on:
1. any proposed changes in relation to the factors and criteria that were taken into account, or the methods, principles and rules that have been adopted, in their formula made in accordance with regulations made under the School Finance (England) Regulations 2006 and the financial effect of any such change.
2. on the terms of any proposed contract for supplies or services being a contract paid or to be paid out of the Council’s schools budget at least one month prior to the issue of invitations to tender where either
  1. the estimated value of the proposed public services contract is not less than the specific threshold which applies to the relevant authority in pursuance of Regulation 7 (1) of the Public Services Contracts Regulations 1993; or
  2. the estimated value of the proposed public supply contract is not less than the specific threshold which applies to the relevant authority in pursuance of Regulation 7(2) of the Public Supply Contracts Regulations 1995
3. in respect of the Council's functions relating to the schools' budget, in connection with the following:
  1. the arrangements to be made for the education of pupils with special educational needs;
  2. arrangements for the use of pupil referral units and the education of children otherwise than at school;
  3. arrangements for early years education;
  4. arrangements for insurance;
  5. prospective revisions to the relevant authority's scheme for the financing of schools;
  6. administrative arrangements for the allocation of central government grants paid to schools via the Council and
  7. arrangements for free school meals; and
4. any other matters concerning the funding of schools as the Council or Forum sees fit.
The Forum shall, as soon as reasonably possible, inform the governing bodies of schools maintained by the Council of all consultations carried out with the Forum.
Working Groups

The Forum may set up working groups to discuss specific issues and produce draft advice for the Forum to consider. Membership of working groups shall, as far as practical, reflect the profile of the full Forum. The Secretary of the Schools Forum, or a representative, will attend all meetings of Working Groups and arrange for meeting minutes to be taken. Meeting minutes of working groups will be provided to all members of the full Schools Forum.
Confidentiality of proceedings

The Forum may set up working groups to discuss specific issues and produce draft advice for the Forum to consider. Membership of working groups shall, as far as practical, reflect the profile of the full Forum. The Secretary of the Schools Forum, or a representative, will attend all meetings of Working Groups and arrange for meeting minutes to be taken. Meeting minutes of working groups will be provided to all members of the full Schools Forum.
Commencement

This constitution was amended and approved by the Authority on 9 March 2006.