The Schools Forums (England) Regulations 2002

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations prescribe various matters relating to the establishment and functions of schools forums.

Regulation 2 prescribes the date by which each local education authority must establish a schools forum.

Regulation 3 prescribes the minimum number of members of the schools forum and the maximum proportion of non-schools members.

Regulation 4 provides for the appointment as schools members of head teachers and governors of maintained schools who have been elected in accordance with procedures determined by the local education authority, having regard to the representation of primary and secondary schools, special schools and different school categories.

Regulation 5 provides for the appointment by the local education authority of non-schools members to represent relevant organisations, which may include diocesan bodies. The regulation also provides for the Secretary of State to direct that such appointments should be terminated if an inappropriate organisation is represented.

Regulation 6 prescribes a quorum for schools forum meetings, and enables the local learning and skills council to nominate an observer.

Regulation 7 provides for the local education authority to consult the schools forum in relation to changes to the authority’s school funding formula, and Regulation 8 provides for the forum to be consulted on public supply or services contracts where the value exceeds the prescribed threshold for procurement. Regulation 9 prescribes a further list of the local education authority’s functions in relation to the schools budget on which the authority will annually consult the forum.

Regulations 10, 11 and 12 provide for the forum to inform the schools of all consultations carried out, for the forum expenses to be charged to the schools budget, and for the local education authority to reimburse the reasonable expenses of members of the forum.