The Schools Forum is a statutory consultative body which the Learning Trust is required to consult on a range of key issues affecting schools. These include -
- the schools funding formula and the initial determination of the schools budget;
- specific financial issues relating to the schools budget (e.g. arrangements for the early years service, special needs, insurance, free school meals)
- service contracts to be paid out of the schools budget.
Since 2006, the Forum also has had powers to take decisions on various finance-related issues that the Trust would previously have had to refer to the Secretary of State for decision.