Education Act 1996 (c. 56)

(The document as of February, 2008)

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13 (1) The following provisions shall not apply--

(a) section 458 (charges and remission of charges for board and lodging in maintained and grant-maintained schools);

(b) section 514 (power of LEA to provide board and lodging otherwise than at school and recovery of charges from parents); and

(c) section 517(3) (payment by LEA of fees where pupil attends non-maintained school because of shortage of places in maintained and grant-maintained schools).

(2) Any charges payable to the local education authority, the funding authority or the governing body of a grant-maintained school under this Schedule may be recovered summarily as a civil debt.

14 (1) Section 438 shall have effect as if for subsection (5) there were substituted--

" (5) If--

(a) within the period mentioned in subsection (3), the parent--

(i) applies to the funding authority, or the local education authority by whom the notice was served, for education to be provided for the child at a school which is not a school maintained by a local education authority or a grant-maintained school, and

(ii) in the case of an application to the funding authority, notifies the local education authority by whom the notice was served of the application,

(b) the child is offered a place at the school, and

(c) either the funding authority are required under paragraph 9 of Schedule 4 to pay the fees payable in respect of the education provided at the school or the local education authority agree to pay the whole of those fees under paragraph 10 of that Schedule,

that school shall be named in the order. "

(2) Section 440 shall have effect as if for subsection (3) there were substituted--

" (3) If at any time--

(a) the parent applies to the funding authority or the local education authority by whom the notice was served for education to be provided for the child at a school which is not a school maintained by a local education authority or a grant-maintained school and is different from the school named in the order,

(b) the child is offered a place at the school,

(d) the parent requests the local education authority to amend the order by substituting that school for the one currently named,

the authority shall comply with the request. "

Part IV Functions where responsibility either shared or transferred

Introductory

15 If an order under section 27(1)(a) or (b) applies to the area of a local education authority, this Part of this Schedule has effect in respect of that area in relation to relevant education.

Responsibility for providing sufficient school places

16 In relation to any power under section 211 to publish proposals for the establishment of a grant-maintained school--

(a) references to establishing a school for the purpose of providing primary education include establishing a primary school which also provides secondary education; and

(b) references to establishing a school for the purpose of providing secondary education include establishing a secondary school which also provides primary education.

17 (1) Where relevant education is only primary education--

(a) no proposals may be published under section 260 in respect of any grant-maintained school which is a secondary school or if the implementation of the proposals would cause the school to become a secondary school;

(b) no proposals may be published under section 268 in respect of any grant-maintained secondary school; and

(2) Where relevant education is only secondary education--

(a) no proposals may be published under section 260 in respect of any grant-maintained school which is a primary school or if the implementation of the proposals would cause the school to become a primary school;

(b) no proposals may be published under section 268 in respect of any grant-maintained primary school; and

18 The funding authority shall not by virtue of paragraph 3 or 5 be under any duty in respect of junior pupils who have not attained the age of five.

Boarding schools

19 The powers of the funding authority to publish proposals under sections 211 and 260 or to give notice of proposals under section 339 may, in particular, be so exercised as to secure the provision of boarding accommodation at boarding schools.

Other modifications of this Act

20 Section 259 shall have effect as if the funding authority were among the persons who may submit objections under subsection (6) of that section to proposals under that section.

21 Section 267 shall have effect as if--

(a) the reference in subsection (3) to the local education authority included the funding authority; and

(b) the funding authority were among the persons who may submit objections under subsection (7) of that section to proposals under that section.

22 Section 272 shall have effect as if--

(a) paragraph (a) of subsection (1) were omitted, and

(b) the funding authority were among the persons required to be consulted under subsection (5)(b).

23 Section 426(4) shall have effect as if the reference to the Secretary of State were to the funding authority.

Section 32.

SCHEDULE 5 Special agreements

Preservation of special agreements

1 Any special agreement in force immediately before the commencement of this Act shall continue in force despite the repeal by this Act of Schedule 3 to the [1944 c. 31.] Education Act 1944.

Variation of special agreements

2 (1) A special agreement may be varied by a further agreement between the local education authority and the governors of the school to which it relates, or in such other manner (if any) as may be specified in the agreement.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) has effect subject to the requirements of paragraph 3.

The grant requirements

3 (1) A special agreement shall provide for the making of a grant by the local education authority to persons specified in the agreement in consideration of the execution by those persons of the proposals to which the agreement relates.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), the amount of any such grant shall be not less than half, and not more than three-quarters, of the cost of executing the proposals to which the agreement relates.

(3) Where the proposals include proposals for establishing a playing field or any buildings of a kind which it is, under section 45(2)(b), the duty of the local education authority to provide, then--

(a) if the proposals as respects the playing field or buildings are to be executed by the persons specified in the agreement, the amount of the grant (so far as attributable to the cost thereof) shall be equal to the whole of the cost; and

(b) if those proposals are to be executed by the local education authority, the cost thereof shall be borne by them and excluded in computing the amount of the grant.

Religious education

4 (1) A special agreement may provide--

(a) for the giving of religious education in the school in accordance with the provisions of the trust deed relating to it, or (where provision for that purpose is not made by such a deed) in accordance with the practice observed in the school before it became a voluntary school; and

(b) for the employment in the school, for the purpose of giving such religious education, of such number of reserved teachers as may be specified in the agreement.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1)(a) has effect subject to section 378(1)(c) and any arrangements made under section 378(2).

Repayment of grants

5 Any grant made in respect of a school in pursuance of a special agreement may, at any time while the school is a special agreement school, be repaid by the governing body to the local education authority by whom the school is maintained.

Modification of obligations with respect to repairs and alterations

6 Where a special agreement is in force in relation to a school, then, until the proposals to which the agreement relates have been carried out--

(a) the provisions of Part II relating to the respective obligations of the governing bodies of voluntary schools and the local education authority in respect of repairs and alterations to the premises of the school shall not have effect in relation to the school; and

(b) the respective obligations of the governing body of the school and the local education authority in relation to those matters shall instead be such as may be determined by agreement between the governing body and the authority or, in default of agreement, by the Secretary of State.

Section 39.

SCHEDULE 6 Transfer of premises where voluntary school changes to county school

1 In connection with proposals by a local education authority under section 35(1)(b) for the maintenance as a county school of a school which is for the time being maintained by them as a voluntary school, they and the school's governing body may make an agreement for the transfer to the authority of any interest in the school premises which is held by any persons for the purposes of any trust deed relating to the school.

2 Such an agreement shall not take effect unless it has been approved by the Secretary of State.

3 The Secretary of State shall not approve such an agreement unless--

(a) he is satisfied that due notice of the agreement has been given to--

(i) any persons (other than the governing body) who have an interest in the school by virtue of a trust deed relating to it, and

(ii) any other persons who appear to him to be concerned; and

(b) he is satisfied that the execution of the agreement will effect the transfer of all interests necessary for the purpose of enabling the authority to maintain the school as a county school.

4 Before approving an agreement under this Schedule, the Secretary of State shall consider any representations made to him by or on behalf of any persons appearing to him to be concerned with the proposed transfer.

5 An agreement under this Schedule--

(a) may provide for the transfer to the authority, subject to any conditions, reservations and restrictions specified in the agreement, either of the whole of any such interest as is referred to in paragraph 1 or of a lesser interest in the premises, and

(b) may include such other provisions (whether relating to the consideration for the transfer or otherwise) as may be agreed upon between the authority and the governing body.

6 Where an agreement under this Schedule has been approved by the Secretary of State, the governing body may, whether or not the interest to be transferred under the agreement is vested in them, convey that interest to the authority.

7 Where a person other than the governing body has a right to the occupation or use of the school premises or any part of them for a particular purpose, no provision of an agreement under this Schedule shall affect that right unless he has consented to it.

8 In this Schedule "premises" includes a teacher's dwelling-house.

Section 88(1).

SCHEDULE 7 Incorporation of governing bodies of county, voluntary and maintained special schools

Name and seal of incorporated body

1 (1) A governing body incorporated under section 88(1) shall be known as "The governing body of ..." with the addition of the name of the school.

(2) The application of the seal of any such governing body must be authenticated by the signature--

(a) of the chairman of the governing body, or

(b) of some other member authorised either generally or specially by the governing body to act for that purpose,

together with the signature of any other member.

(3) Every document purporting to be an instrument made or issued by or on behalf of any such governing body and--

(a) to be duly executed under the seal of the governing body, or

(b) to be signed or executed by a person authorised by the governing body to act in that behalf,

shall be received in evidence and be treated, without further proof, as being so made or issued unless the contrary is shown.

Powers of incorporated body

2 (1) A governing body incorporated under section 88(1) may do anything (including in particular the things referred to in the following sub-paragraphs) which appears to them to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of or in connection with the exercise of any of the functions conferred on them under or in pursuance of any enactment.

(2) A governing body so incorporated may--

(a) acquire and dispose of land and other property;

(b) enter into contracts, other than contracts of employment;

(d) accept gifts of money, land and other property and apply it, or hold and administer it on trust, for any of those purposes; and

(e) do anything incidental to the conduct of the school.

(3) Sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) have effect subject to--

(a) any provisions of the instrument of government or articles of government for the school, and

(b) if the school has a delegated budget (as defined in section 115(b)) any provisions of the scheme falling within section 101(1) which covers the school.

(4) The governing body so incorporated of an aided school may enter into contracts for the employment of teachers and other staff, subject to any provisions of the articles of government for the school other than any provisions for the time being excluded by section 137(2) (aided schools having delegated budgets) from applying to the school.

Property, rights and liabilities

3 On the incorporation under section 88(1) of a governing body ("the new governing body") for a school which, immediately before the incorporation date, was conducted by a temporary governing body constituted under arrangements made under section 96 or 97--

(a) all land and other property which, immediately before the date of incorporation, was property of the temporary governing body used or held for the purposes of the school, and

(b) all rights and liabilities of the temporary governing body subsisting immediately before that date which were acquired or incurred for those purposes,

shall be transferred to and, by virtue of this Act, vest in the new governing body.

4 On the incorporation under section 88(1) of a governing body ("the new governing body") constituted under an instrument of government for two or more schools grouped in pursuance of a resolution under section 89--

(a) all land and other property which, immediately before the date of incorporation, was property of the governing body of any of those schools used or held for the purposes of the school in question, and

(b) all rights and liabilities of the governing body of any of those schools subsisting immediately before that date which were acquired or incurred for those purposes,

shall be transferred to and, by virtue of this Act, vest in the new governing body.

Contracts of employment

5 Without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs 3 and 4, where those provisions effect a transfer of rights and liabilities under a contract of employment--

(a) the contract shall have effect from the date of incorporation as if originally made between the employee and the incorporated governing body, and

(b) without prejudice to sub-paragraph (a) above, anything done before that date by or in relation to the former employer in respect of that contract or the employee shall be deemed from that date to have been done by or in relation to the incorporated governing body,

but no right of the employee to terminate his contract of employment if a substantial change is made to his detriment in his working conditions shall arise by reason only of the change of employer effected by those provisions.

Dissolution and discontinuance

6 (1) A governing body incorporated under section 88(1) are dissolved by virtue of this paragraph--

(a) if the school they conduct is discontinued;

(b) where the school becomes a grant-maintained school or grant-maintained special school, when the local education authority cease to maintain the school; or

(2) Where such a governing body conduct two or more schools, sub-paragraph (1) applies when, in relation to each of the schools, paragraph (a), (b) or (c) is satisfied.

7 (1) Where such a governing body are to be dissolved by reason of--

(a) the discontinuance of the county, voluntary or maintained special school which they conduct, or

(b) in the case of a governing body conducting two or more such schools, the discontinuance of each such school conducted by them,

they shall have power to transfer any land or other property of theirs which is used or held for the purposes of the school to any person who provides education.

(2) Where such a governing body are so dissolved--

(a) any such land or property for which no provision has been made under sub-paragraph (1) for transfer, and

(b) all rights and liabilities of the governing body subsisting immediately before the date of dissolution which were acquired or incurred for the purposes of the school in question,

shall be transferred to and, by virtue of this Act, vest in the local education authority.

(3) Sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply to any land or other property held by the governing body on trust for the purposes of a voluntary school; and any such land or other property so held shall be transferred to and, by virtue of this Act, vest in the trustees of the school.

8 (1) This paragraph applies where such a governing body dissolved by virtue of paragraph 6 are the governing body of two or more schools grouped in pursuance of a resolution under section 89.

(2) Where none of the schools in the group are discontinued, then in the case of each school formerly a member of the group--

(a) all land and other property which, immediately before the date of dissolution, was property of the governing body used or held for the purposes of that school, and

(b) all rights and liabilities of the governing body subsisting immediately before that date which were acquired or incurred for those purposes,

shall be transferred to and, by virtue of this Act, vest in the new governing body of the school in accordance with the order providing for the instrument of government for the school.

(3) An order made by virtue of sub-paragraph (2) may provide that--

(a) the whole or any part of any such land and other property which was property of the governing body used or held for the purposes of the schools in the group, and

(b) any such rights and liabilities of the governing body which were acquired or incurred for those purposes,

shall be transferred to and, by virtue of this Act, vest in the new governing body of the school.

(4) Where not all of the schools in the group are discontinued, then in the case of each school formerly a member of the group which is not discontinued--

(a) all land and other property which, immediately before the date of dissolution, was property of the governing body used or held for the purposes of that school, and

(b) all rights and liabilities of the governing body subsisting immediately before that date which were acquired or incurred for those purposes,

shall be transferred to and, by virtue of this Act, vest in the new governing body of the school in accordance with the order providing for the instrument of government for the school.

(5) An order made by virtue of sub-paragraph (4) may provide that--

(a) the whole or any part of any such land and other property which was property of the governing body used or held for the purposes of any school which is to be discontinued or the schools in the group, and

(b) any such rights and liabilities of the governing body which were acquired or incurred for those purposes,

shall be transferred to and, by virtue of this Act, vest in the new governing body of the school.

(6) Sub-paragraph (5) does not apply to any land or other property held by the governing body on trust for the purposes of a voluntary school; and any such land or other property so held shall be transferred to and, by virtue of this Act, vest in the trustees of the school.

9 (1) This paragraph applies in relation to the governing body of two or more schools grouped in pursuance of a resolution under section 89.

(2) Where one or more schools conducted by the governing body are discontinued but the governing body are not dissolved by reason of the discontinuance, then in the case of each school formerly a member of the group which is discontinued--

(a) all land and other property which, immediately before the date of dissolution, was property of the governing body used or held for the purposes of that school, and

(b) all rights and liabilities of the governing body subsisting immediately before that date which were acquired or incurred for those purposes,

shall be held by the governing body for the purposes of the schools in the group.

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply to any land or other property held by the governing body on trust for the purposes of a voluntary school; and any such land or other property so held shall be transferred to and, by virtue of this Act, vest in the trustees of the school.

(4) Where, in the case of one or more schools conducted by the governing body, new governing bodies are constituted under Chapter IV of Part II to conduct those schools but the governing body are not dissolved by reason of the constitution of such bodies, then in the case of each school formerly a member of the group--

(a) all land and other property which, immediately before the date of dissolution, was property of the governing body used or held for the purposes of that school, and

(b) all rights and liabilities of the governing body subsisting immediately before that date which were acquired or incurred for those purposes,

shall be transferred to and, by virtue of this Act, vest in the new governing body of the school in accordance with the order providing for the instrument of government for the school.

10 For the purposes of this Schedule, references to the discontinuance of a school are--

(a) to the local education authority ceasing to maintain it in accordance with proposals under section 167 (discontinuance of county or voluntary schools) or section 339 (discontinuance of special schools), or

(b) to its discontinuance under section 173 (discontinuance by governors of voluntary schools).

Supplementary provisions about transfers

11 Where a transfer under this Schedule relates to registered land, it shall be the duty of the transferor--

(a) to execute any such instrument under the Land Registration Acts 1925 to 1986,

(b) to deliver any such certificate under those Acts, and

as he would be required to execute, deliver or do in the case of a transfer by agreement between the transferor and the transferee.

12 Paragraphs 6 to 8 of Schedule 10 to the [1988 c. 40.] Education Reform Act 1988 (construction of agreements) shall apply in relation to transfers effected by this Schedule as they apply to transfers to which that Schedule applies.

Section 88(2).

SCHEDULE 8 Membership and proceedings etc. of governing bodies of county, voluntary and maintained special schools

Introductory

1 In this Schedule, except where a school of a particular category is referred to--

"governing body" means the governing body of a county, voluntary or maintained special school, and
"school" means a county, voluntary or maintained special school.

Co-option or other appointment of governors

2 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), where the instrument of government for a county, controlled or maintained special school provides for one or more persons to be co-opted by governors as members of the governing body, it shall not make any provision which has the effect of restricting those governors in their choice of person to co-opt.

(2) The instrument of government for a county, controlled or maintained special school shall require the governors concerned, in co-opting a person to be a member of the governing body--

(a) to have regard--

(i) to the extent to which they and the other governors are members of the local business community, and

(ii) to any representations made to the governing body as to the desirability of increasing the connection between the governing body and that community, and

(b) where it appears to them that no governor of the school is a member of the local business community or that it is desirable to increase the number of governors who are, to co-opt a person who appears to them to be a member of that community.

(3) In this paragraph references to the co-option of governors--

(a) are to the co-option of governors required to be co-opted by virtue of section 79; but

(b) do not include the co-option of foundation governors.

3 If--

(a) the instrument of government for a school provides for one or more governors to be appointed by persons acting jointly, and

(b) those persons fail to make an agreed appointment,

the appointment shall be made by, or in accordance with a direction given by, the Secretary of State.

4 The instrument of government for a voluntary school shall name the person or persons (if any) who are entitled to appoint any foundation governor.

Ex officio governors

5 If a school has more than one head teacher (whether or not as a result of two or more schools being grouped under section 89), each of them shall be a governor (ex officio) unless he chooses not to be.

6 The instrument of government for a voluntary school may provide for any foundation governorship to be held ex officio by the holder of an office named in the instrument.

Election of governors

7 (1) In this paragraph "the appropriate authority"--

(a) in relation to a county, controlled or maintained special school, means the local education authority, and

(b) in relation to an aided or special agreement school, means the governing body.

(2) The appropriate authority in relation to a school shall determine--

(a) for the purposes of an election of parent governors, any question whether a person is a parent of a registered pupil at the school, and

(b) for the purposes of an election of teacher governors, any question whether a person is a teacher at the school.

(3) The appropriate authority shall make all necessary arrangements for, and determine all other matters relating to, an election of parent governors or teacher governors.

(4) The power conferred by sub-paragraph (3)--

(a) includes power to make provision as to qualifying dates, but

(b) does not include power to impose any requirement as to the minimum number of votes required to be cast for a candidate to be elected.

(5) Any election of parent governors or teacher governors which is contested shall be held by secret ballot.

(6) The arrangements made under sub-paragraph (3) shall, in the case of any election of a parent governor, provide for every person who is entitled to vote in the election to have an opportunity to do so by post or, if he prefers, by having his ballot paper returned to the school by a registered pupil at the school.

(7) Where a vacancy for a parent governor is required to be filled by election, the appropriate authority shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that every person who is known to them to be a parent of a registered pupil at the school is--

(a) informed of the vacancy and that it is required to be filled by election;

(b) informed that he is entitled to stand as a candidate, and vote, at the election; and

Qualifications of governors and tenure of office

8 No person shall be qualified for membership of a governing body unless he is aged 18 or over at the date of his election or appointment.

9 No person shall at any time hold more than one governorship of the same school.

10 (1) Regulations may make provision as to the circumstances in which persons are to be disqualified for holding office as governors of schools.

(2) The instrument of government for a school may make provision as to circumstances in which persons are to be disqualified for holding office as governors of the school.

(3) The fact that a person is qualified to be elected or appointed as a governor of a particular category of a school does not disqualify him for election or appointment as a governor of any other category of that school.

11 (1) The instrument of government for a county, controlled or maintained special school shall provide for each governor, other than one who is a governor ex officio, to hold office for a term of four years.

(2) The instrument of government for an aided secondary school shall provide for each governor appointed by a person named in the instrument as a sponsor of the school to hold office for such term (not being less than five nor more than seven years) as may be specified in the instrument.

(3) This paragraph shall not be taken to prevent a governor--

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