The Schools Forums (Wales) Regulations 2003

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 provides that each local education authority must establish a schools forum by 30th November 2003.

Regulation 3 prescribes the minimum number of members of the schools forum and the maximum proportion of non-schools members. It also contains provisions as to members terms of office and for premature termination in specified circumstances.

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, so as to secure that primary and secondary schools, special schools and different school categories are appropriately represented.

Regulation 5 provides for the appointment by the local education authority of non-schools members to represent relevant organisations, which may include diocesan bodies and Trade Unions.

Regulation 6 makes provision for the meetings and proceedings of forums.

Regulation 7 provides for the authority to consult the forum annually on the exercise of their functions in relation to their schools budget and changes to their financial scheme.

Regulation 8 provides for the local education authority to consult the schools forum in relation to changes to the authority’s school funding formula.

Regulation 9 provides for the forum to be consulted on public supply or services contracts where the value exceeds the prescribed threshold for procurement and on service level agreements for the supply of goods and services by the authority to schools.

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