Item 11 - Update to Devolved School Management (DSM) Guidance
West Dunbartonshire Council · 15 June 2022
Back to Educational Services Committee — 15 June 2022 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by Chief Education Officer – Laura Mason Education Committee: Wednesday 15 June 2022 Subject: Update to Devolved School Management (DSM) Guidance 1. Purpose 1.1 This report is to seek approval from members on changes made to the Devolved School Management (DSM) Guidance in Education establishments. 2. Recommendations 2.1 Members are asked to: Approve the update to the Devolved School Management (DSM) Guidance contained in Appendix 1. 3. Background 3.1 Devolved School Management (DSM) was introduced in 1993 to enhance and improve the management of resources at school level. The DSM guidance was reviewed nationally in 2006, and again in 2012, taking account of the changing economic and financial climate for both Local Authorities and the Scottish Government. In June 2017 the Scottish Government consulted on changes to DSM as part of the wider "Fair Funding to Achieve Excellence and Equity in Education" consultation, resulting in new updated DSM guidelines, published in summer 2019, that built and improved upon the DSM Guidelines of 2012 and, critically, reflected and integrated with the Education Reform Programme and priorities that emerged from the Scottish Government and COSLA Education Reform Joint Agreement of June 2018. These Guidelines can be found at https://www.gov.scot/policies/schools/devolved-school- management/ 3.2 The updated DSM principles, agreed by the Fair Funding Reference Group and building on and enhancing the foundations and principles of the 2012 guidance, are: • Subsidiarity and Empowerment • Collaboration • Accountability and Responsibility • Clarity and Equity 3.3 These principles reflect the National Improvement Framework aims of ITEM 11
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excellence through raising attainment and achieving equity. The principles also fully endorse those proposed in the Fair Funding consultation: • support excellence and equity – ensuring every child and young person has the same opportunity to succeed; • be fair – placing the needs of all children and young people at the centre; • be simple, transparent and predictable – ensuing the costs of delivering education can be easily understood and explained and that schools are able to manage and plan ahead with certainty; and • deliver value for money – ensuring that every penny spent is used effectively. 4. Main Issues 4.1 The guidance has been brought up to date to reflect that there are certain areas of spend that are either aggregated across establishments, or unsuitable to be devolved to establishments. These are: • Rent in relation to school premises • Capital expenditure, including PPP/PFI costs • Property Insurance • Non-Domestic Rates • Statutory Local Authority contracted work on managing the school estate • Corporate support function costs for example Finance, HR, and Legal functions • School clothing grants • Education Maintenance Allowances • Home to school pupil transport • Premature retirement costs • Local Authority Information Management Systems (SEEMiS) • School meals • Waste Collection • Energy costs • Carbon charges • Janitorial and Cleaning staff costs • Central support services • SQA Examination fees • Long Term Sickness Absence • Family Leave Costs • Visiting Teachers • Music Instructors 4.2 Our guidance identifies the following areas as suitable to be devolved: • Cover School Funded • Others Training Costs Not Paid Through salaries
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• Accidental/Malicious Damage • Fixtures & Fittings • Cleaning Materials • Window Cleaning • Rep & Maintenance • Health & Safety • Other Property Costs • Driver Recharges • Employee Related Travel • Printing • Postages • Purchase of Computer Equipment • Small Office Equip/Computer Purchases & Repair • Classroom Materials • Text Books • Work Experience Scheme Expenses • Parent Council • PE Facilities • Other Admin Costs • Education Activity Grant • Education Mini Bus • Invigilators Expenses 4.3 The DSM scheme will be subject to 3-yearly review involving stakeholders and a peer Local Authority and will be published following Committee approval of the scheme. If required by legislative changes there could be a review within the 3 year period. 4.4 The DSM scheme and summary document will be published on the West Dunbartonshire Council website with a link provided on all school websites. 5. People Implications 5.1 There are no direct people implications arising from this report. 6. Financial and Procurement Implications 6.1 Although the DSM process documents financial processes, there are no direct financial or procurement implications arising from this report. 7. Risk Analysis 7.1 Failure to review and provide adequate guidance on the management of devolved school finance poses the risk that the Council will not fulfil the requirements of fulfilling its financial regulations and providing best value. 8. Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA)
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8.1 An equalities screening has been carried out for this report and there are no equalities issues identified. 9. Consultation 9.1 Legal Services and the Section 95 Officer have been consulted in relation to the content of this report. A reference group of central officers and Head Teachers was established through which we considered and developed the changes to our guidance. 10. Strategic Assessment 10.1 The provision of guidance on Devolved School Management contributes to the strategic priority of having open, accountable & accessible local government.
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Laura Mason Chief Education Officer Date: 15/06/2022 Person to Contact: Andrew Brown – Senior Education Officer - andrew.brown@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Appendices: Appendix 1 – DSM Guidance Background Papers: EIA Screening Wards Affected: All wards
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