Law

Education Reform Act 1988

United Kingdom · statute

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In force since 2026-04-01, as the publisher states.

Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.

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Contents: 272 provisions
  1. Title and introductory text
  2. 1 Duties with respect to the curriculum.
  3. 2 The National Curriculum.
  4. 3 Foundation subjects and key stages.
  5. 4 Duty to establish the National Curriculum by order.
  6. 5 Courses leading to external qualifications.
  7. 6 Collective worship.
  8. 7 Special provisions as to collective worship in county schools.
  9. 8 Religious education required in the basic curriculum: further provisions.
  10. 9 Exceptions, special arrangements and supplementary and consequential provisions.
  11. 10 Duties with respect to certain requirements.
  12. 11 Standing advisory councils on religious education.
  13. 12 Determination by advisory councils of the cases in which the requirement for Christian collective worship is not to apply.
  14. 12A Power of Secretary of State to direct advisory council to revoke determination or discharge duty.
  15. 13 Advisory councils: supplementary provisions.
  16. 14 Establishment of Councils.
  17. 15 Transfers of property and staff to Councils.
  18. 16 Development work and experiments.
  19. 17 Exceptions by regulations.
  20. 17A Exemption from sex education.
  21. 18 Pupils with statements of special educational needs.
  22. 19 Temporary exceptions for individual pupils.
  23. 20 Procedure for making certain orders: England.
  24. 21 Procedure for making certain orders: Wales.
  25. 22 Provision of information.
  26. 23 Complaints and enforcement.
  27. 24 Extension of certain provisions.
  28. 25 Interpretation of Chapter I.
  29. 26 Admissions to county and voluntary schools.
  30. 27 Standard numbers for admissions.
  31. 28 Procedure for reduction of standard number.
  32. 29 Special provisions in relation to admissions to primary schools.
  33. 30 Special arrangements in respect of admissions to aided or special agreement schools.
  34. 31 Consequential provisions.
  35. 32 Interpretation of Chapter II.
  36. 33 Schemes for financing county and voluntary schools.
  37. 34 Preparation and imposition of schemes.
  38. 35 Revision of schemes.
  39. 36 Delegation to governing body of management of school’s budget share.
  40. 37 Withdrawal of delegation.
  41. 38 Schemes: determination of budget shares.
  42. 39 Schemes: provision for financial delegation.
  43. 40 Initial implementation of delegation requirements under schemes.
  44. 41 Extension of delegation requirement under schemes in the case of primary schools.
  45. 42 Publication of schemes and financial statements, etc.
  46. 42A Certification of statements by Audit Commission.
  47. 43 Application of schemes to special schools.
  48. 44 Staff employed by the local education authority.
  49. 45 Staff at aided schools.
  50. 46 Staff: further provisions.
  51. 47 Community Schools.
  52. 48 New schools.
  53. 49 Required financial delegation apart from schemes.
  54. 50 Financial statements in respect of schools not covered by statements under section 42.
  55. 51 Interpretation of Chapter III and supplementary and consequential provisions.
  56. 52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  57. 53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  58. 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  59. 55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  60. 56 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  61. 57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  62. 58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  63. 59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  64. 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  65. 61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  66. 62 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  67. 63 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  68. 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  69. 65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  70. 66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  71. 67 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  72. 68 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  73. 69 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  74. 70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  75. 71 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  76. 72 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  77. 73 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  78. 74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  79. 75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  80. 76 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  81. 77 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  82. 78 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  83. 79 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  84. 80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  85. 81 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  86. 82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  87. 83 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  88. 84 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  89. 85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  90. 86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  91. 87 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  92. 88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  93. 89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  94. 90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  95. 91 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  96. 92 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  97. 93 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  98. 94 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  99. 95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  100. 96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  101. 97 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  102. 98 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  103. 99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  104. 100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  105. 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  106. 102 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  107. 103 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  108. 104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  109. 105 Agreements for establishment, etc., of city technology colleges and city colleges for the technology of the arts.
  110. 106 Prohibition of charges, etc., in maintained schools.
  111. 107 Provision for cases where education is provided partly during and partly outside school hours.
  112. 108 Recovery of wasted examination fees.
  113. 109 Permitted charges.
  114. 110 Charges and remissions policies.
  115. 111 Charges for board and lodging at boarding schools.
  116. 112 Extension of powers as to trusts for religious education.
  117. 113 Schemes under the Endowed Schools Acts.
  118. 114 Extension of power to require local education authority to defray expenses of establishing controlled school.
  119. 115 Power to determine times of school sessions, etc.
  120. 116 Provision for delegation of functions by governing bodies of county, voluntary and maintained special schools.
  121. 117 Obligation to enter pupils for prescribed public examinations.
  122. 118 General and supplementary provisions relating to charges.
  123. 119 Interpretation of Part I.
  124. 120
  125. 121 Initial incorporation of higher education institutions maintained by local authorities.
  126. 122 Orders incorporating higher education institutions maintained by local authorities in Wales.
  127. 122ZA Orders for further education corporations in England to become higher education corporations
  128. 122A Orders transferring further education corporations in Wales to higher education sector.
  129. 123 Provisions supplementary to sections 121 to 122A.
  130. 123A Principal powers of a higher education corporation in England
  131. 123B Supplementary powers of a higher education corporation in England
  132. 124 Powers of a higher education corporation in Wales.
  133. 124ZA Instrument of government of higher education corporations in England
  134. 124ZB Proceedings etc. of higher education corporations in England
  135. 124A Constitution and conduct of higher education corporations in Wales.
  136. 124B Accounts.
  137. 124C Initial and transitional arrangements : Wales.
  138. 124D Exercise of Powers by Privy Council.
  139. 124E Articles of government: higher education corporations in England
  140. 125 Articles of government : higher education corporations in Wales.
  141. 125A Charitable status of a higher education corporation.
  142. 126 Transfer of property, etc., to higher education corporations.
  143. 127 Transfer of staff to higher education corporations.
  144. 128 Dissolution of higher education corporations in Wales.
  145. 127A Dissolution of higher education corporations in England
  146. 129 Designation of institutions.
  147. 129A Government and conduct of designated institutions.
  148. 129B Designated institutions conducted by companies.
  149. 130 Transfer of property, etc., to certain designated institutions.
  150. 131 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  151. 132 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  152. 133 Payments ...in respect of persons employed in the provision of higher or further education.
  153. 134 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  154. 135 Inspection of accounts.
  155. 136 Transfer to Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council of property and staff of NAB.
  156. 137 Control of disposals of land.
  157. 138 Construction of references to land held for the purposes of an institution.
  158. 139 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  159. 140 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  160. 141 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  161. 142 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  162. 143 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  163. 144 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  164. 145 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  165. 146 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  166. 147 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  167. 148 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  168. 149 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  169. 150 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  170. 151 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  171. 152 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  172. 153 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  173. 154 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  174. 155 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  175. 156 Government and conduct of certain further and higher education institutions.
  176. 157 Variation of trust deeds, etc.
  177. 158 Reports and returns to Secretary of State.
  178. 159 Information with respect to educational provision in institutions providing further or higher education.
  179. 160 Adjustments of block grant in respect of expenditure on advanced further education.
  180. 161 Interpretation of Part II.
  181. 162 Abolition of ILEA.
  182. 163 New local education authorities for areas in inner London.
  183. 164 Extension of functions of London Residuary Body.
  184. 165 Development plans for education.
  185. 166 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  186. 167 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  187. 168 Transfers of property, rights and liabilities.
  188. 169 Approval of management structure and senior appointments in initial period.
  189. 170 Establishment and functions of staff commission.
  190. 171 Remuneration of employees.
  191. 172 Power to transfer staff.
  192. 173 Compensation for loss of employment or loss or diminution of emoluments.
  193. 174 Continuity of employment in certain cases of voluntary transfer.
  194. 175 Offers of employment by inner London councils.
  195. 176 Provision of services and facilities by London Residuary Body.
  196. 177 Repayment by London Residuary Body of loans to ILEA.
  197. 178 Liability of London Residuary Body for redundancy and compensation payments.
  198. 179 Payment of pensions and pensions increase by London Residuary Body.
  199. 180 Custody of residuary property, etc.
  200. 181 Power of London Residuary Body to pay compensation.
  201. 182 Preparation of ILEA’s final accounts.
  202. 183 Directions of Secretary of State.
  203. 184 Preparatory expenditure of inner London councils.
  204. 185 London Residuary Body: financial provisions.
  205. 186 Transitional functions of London Residuary Body in respect of block grant.
  206. 187 Winding-up of London Residuary Body.
  207. 188 Control of contracts.
  208. 189 Control of disposals.
  209. 190 Wrongful contracts or disposals.
  210. 191 Penalties for contravention of section 188 or 189.
  211. 192 Charities.
  212. 193 Information and access to documents.
  213. 194 Concurrent employment.
  214. 195 Continuity of exercise of functions.
  215. 196 Interpretation of Part III.
  216. 197 Education Assets Board.
  217. 198 Transfers under Parts I and II.
  218. 199 Loan liabilities excepted from transfer under Part II.
  219. 200 Grant-maintained schools: school property.
  220. 201 Wrongful disposals.
  221. 202 The University Commissioners.
  222. 203 Duty of Commissioners.
  223. 204 Powers of Commissioners.
  224. 205 Procedure for exercise of Commissioners’ powers.
  225. 206 Exclusion of visitor’s jurisdiction.
  226. 207 Power to make incidental, etc., provisions by Order in Council.
  227. 208 Corresponding provision for Northern Ireland.
  228. 209 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  229. 210 Grants for the education of travellers and displaced persons.
  230. 211 Grants in respect of special provision for immigrants
  231. 212 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  232. 213 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  233. 214 Unrecognised degrees.
  234. 215 Unrecognised degrees: enforcement.
  235. 216 Identification of bodies granting or providing courses for recognised awards etc.
  236. 217 Unrecognised degrees: Northern Ireland and Channel Islands.
  237. 218 School and further and higher education regulations.
  238. 218A Regulations under section 218(6): further provision.
  239. 219 Powers of the Secretary of State in relation to certain educational institutions.
  240. 220 Extension of functions of Audit Commission.
  241. 221 Avoidance of certain contractual terms.
  242. 222 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  243. 223 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  244. 224 Superannuation for staff of Further Education Unit.
  245. 225 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  246. 226 Services for schools in other member States providing education for British children.
  247. 227 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  248. 228 Transfer of property to grant-aided institutions in Wales.
  249. 229 Power to make different provision for Wales in regulations under the 1944 and 1967 Acts.
  250. 230 Stamp duty.
  251. 231 Power to make incidental, consequential, transitional and supplementary provisions.
  252. 232 Orders and regulations.
  253. 233 Expenses.
  254. 234 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  255. 235 General interpretation.
  256. 236 Commencement.
  257. 237 Amendments and repeals.
  258. 238 Citation, extent etc.
  259. SCHEDULE 1
  260. SCHEDULE 2
  261. SCHEDULE 3
  262. SCHEDULE 4
  263. SCHEDULE 5 Transition to Grant-Maintained Status
  264. SCHEDULE 6 Courses of Higher Education
  265. SCHEDULE 7 Higher education corporations in Wales established before the appointed day
  266. SCHEDULE 7A Higher education corporations in Wales established on or after the appointed day: instruments of government made by Privy Council
  267. SCHEDULE 8 The Funding Councils and the Assets Board
  268. SCHEDULE 9 Determination of Full-time Equivalent Enrolment Numbers
  269. SCHEDULE 10 Supplementary Provisions with respect to Transfers
  270. SCHEDULE 11 The University Commissioners
  271. SCHEDULE 12 Minor and Consequential Amendments
  272. SCHEDULE 13 Repeals

Proposed changes to this act

No one has proposed a change to this act yet.

272 provisions

38 Schemes: determination of budget shares.

(1) The provision to be included in a scheme for determining the budget share for any financial year of each school required to be covered by the scheme in that year shall require that share to be determined (and from time to time revised) by the application of a formula laid down by the scheme for the purpose of dividing among all such schools the aggregated budget for that year of the local education authority concerned. (2) In this section “formula” includes methods, principles and rules of any description, however expressed; and references in this Chapter, in relation to a scheme, to the allocation formula under the scheme, are references to the formula laid down by the scheme in accordance with subsection (1) above. (3) The allocation formula under a scheme— (a) shall include provision for taking into account, in the case of each school required to be covered by the scheme in any financial year, the number and ages of registered pupils at that school on such date or dates as may be determined by or under the scheme in relation to that year; and (b) may include provision for taking into account any other factors affecting the needs of individual schools which are subject to variation from school to school (including, in particular, the number of registered pupils at a school who have special educational needs and the nature of the special educational provision required to be made for them). (3A) The allocation formula under a scheme shall not include provision for taking into account persons provided with— (a) part-time education suitable to the requirements of persons of any age over compulsory school age; or (b) full-time education suitable to the requirements of persons who have attained the age of nineteen years (4) In the case of any scheme, the following heads or items of expenditure, so far as taken into account in determining the general schools budget of the local education authority concerned for any financial year, shall be left out of account in determining the authority’s aggregated budget for that year— (a) all expenditure of a capital nature; (b) all expenditure in respect of the repayment of the principal of, the payment of interest on and the discharge of any other financial obligation in connection with any loan raised to meet expenditure of a capital nature; (c) expenditure falling to be taken into account in determining central government grants of any prescribed description; and (d) such other items of expenditure as may be prescribed.

Propose a change

39 Schemes: provision for financial delegation.

(1) A scheme shall include provision for requiring, in the case of each secondary school required to be covered by the scheme in any financial year, the delegation by the local education authority concerned to the governing body of the school of the management of the school’s budget share for that year. (2) A scheme shall include provision for requiring, in the case of each primary school required to be covered by the scheme in any financial year which— (a) satisfies the qualifying condition on a qualifying date in relation to that year which falls before the beginning of that year; or (b) falls in accordance with the scheme to be regarded as qualifying for delegation in respect of that year on the assumption that, if a forecast made in accordance with the scheme of the number of registered pupils it will have on a qualifying date in relation to that year which falls within that year proves to be correct, it will satisfy the qualifying condition on that date; the delegation by the local education authority concerned to the governing body of the school of the management of the school’s budget share for that year. (3) For the purposes of this section— (a) a primary school is to be treated as satisfying the qualifying condition at any time when it has two hundred or more registered pupils; and (b) “qualifying date” means, in relation to any financial year, any date which is a qualifying date in accordance with any provision made by or under the scheme in question. (4) References in this Chapter to the delegation requirement under any scheme are references— (a) in relation to a secondary school required to be covered by the scheme in any financial year, to any provision included in the scheme by virtue of subsection (1) above; and (b) in relation to a primary school required to be covered by the scheme in any financial year, to any provision included in the scheme by virtue of subsection (2) above. (5) The application of the delegation requirement under a scheme in relation to any school is subject to section 40 of this Act in the case of any school to which that section applies. (6) Subject to subsections (7) and (8) below, once the delegation requirement under a scheme applies in relation to a primary school in respect of any financial year it shall continue to apply in respect of each succeeding financial year. (7) Subject to subsection (8) below, the delegation requirement under a scheme shall cease to apply in relation to a primary school to which that requirement for the time being applies if the number of registered pupils at the school— (a) falls below the number for the time being required under subsection (3)(a) above for such a school to be treated as satisfying the qualifying condition or, in the case of a school to which that requirement applies by virtue of any provision made under subsection (2)(b) above, either fails to reach or falls below that number; and (b) remains below that number for such period as may be specified in the scheme. (8) Where subsection (7) above applies in the case of any primary school the delegation requirement under the scheme in question shall cease to apply in relation to the school as from the beginning of the financial year beginning next after the period mentioned in paragraph (b) of that subsection comes to an end in the case of that school. (9) The application of subsections (7) and (8) above in relation to any school is without prejudice to the subsequent application of the delegation requirement under the scheme in question in relation to that school in respect of any financial year subsequent to that mentioned in subsection (8). (10) A scheme may provide for the delegation by the local education authority concerned to the governing body of any school to which the delegation requirement under the scheme does not apply in any financial year of the management of the school’s budget share for that year. (11) Any delegation by a local education authority under a scheme to the governing body of any school of the management of the school’s budget share shall be subject to such conditions as may be imposed by or under the scheme. (12) Conditions so imposed may in particular relate to— (a) the arrangements to be made for management of the expenditure of any sum made available to the governing body of any school in accordance with the scheme (and in particular for authorising expenditure, or transactions involving commitments to expenditure, to be met from any such sum); (b) the keeping and audit of accounts and records with respect to such expenditure, and the keeping of records with respect to such transactions; and (c) the provision to the local education authority concerned by the governing body of— (i) copies of accounts and records required to be kept by virtue of any condition imposed under paragraph (b) above; and (ii) such other documents and information relating to the application of any such sum as the authority may from time to time require.

Propose a change

40 Initial implementation of delegation requirements under schemes.

(1) The delegation requirement under a scheme shall not apply in relation to any school which comes within the scheme in any financial year falling within the scheme’s initial period until a date specified in the scheme. (2) For the purposes of this section, a scheme’s initial period (subject to any order made under subsection (4) below) is the period of three years beginning with the date on which the scheme as first made under section 33 of this Actcomes into force. (3) Different dates may be specified under subsection (1) above in relation to different schools or categories of school and in relation to schools coming within the scheme in different financial years or at different times within the same financial year; but— (a) each date so specified must coincide with the beginning of a financial year; and (b) no date may be so specified which falls after the beginning of the financial year next following the end of the scheme’s initial period. (4) The Secretary of State may by order— (a) substitute a date specified in the order for any date specified in a scheme under subsection (1) above (including one so specified by virtue of a previous order under this subsection); and (b) extend any scheme’s initial period until such date as may be specified in the order. (5) For the purposes of this section, a school— (a) comes within a scheme in any financial year if that financial year is the first financial year in which the school is required to be covered by the scheme; and (b) comes within the scheme at the beginning of that year if it is then a school required to be so covered and otherwise at the time within that year when it first becomes such a school.

Propose a change

41 Extension of delegation requirement under schemes in the case of primary schools.

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations— (a) amend paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section 39 of this Act by substituting a lower number for the number of registered pupils for the time being required under that paragraph for a primary school to be treated as satisfying the qualifying condition for the purposes of that section; or (b) amend subsection (1) of that section so as to require a scheme to include such provision as is there mentioned in relation to primary schools as well as secondary schools and make in any other provisions of this Chapter such consequential amendments as appear to him to be required. (2) Any such regulations may provide that any scheme shall have effect with such modifications as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate in consequence of any provision made in those regulations by virtue of subsection (1)(a) or (b) above.

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42 Publication of schemes and financial statements, etc.

(1) A scheme shall be published in such manner as may be prescribed— (a) on its coming into force; and (b) on such subsequent occasions as may be prescribed. (2) The following provisions of this section apply where in the case of any local education authority the authority’s financial provision for county and voluntary schools is subject to regulation by a scheme. (3) Before the beginning of each financial year the authority shall prepare a statement of the financial provision they plan to make in that year for county and voluntary schools maintained by them. (4) The statement shall contain the following particulars in relation to the financial year in question— (a) the amount of the general schools budget of the authority for that year (as initially determined for the purposes of the scheme); (b) the amount of the authority’s aggregated budget for that year (as so determined); (c) such particulars as may be prescribed of amounts deducted in respect of— (i) excepted heads or items of expenditure; or (ii) excluded expenditure under the scheme; in arriving at the amount specified in the statement by virtue of paragraph (b) above; (d) such particulars of the allocation formula under the scheme as may be prescribed; (e) in the case of each school required to be covered by the scheme in that year, the planned expenditure per pupil arising from the division of the school’s budget share (as so determined) by the initial pupil number; (f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (g) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (h) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (i) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (j) such further information with respect to the financial provision the authority plan to make in that year for county and voluntary schools maintained by them as may be prescribed. (5) For the purposes of subsection (4) above— (a) “the initial pupil number” means, in relation to a financial year, the number of registered pupils at the school in question required under the scheme to be used in applying the allocation formula under the scheme for initial determination of the school’s budget share for the year; and (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6) After the end of each financial year the authority shall prepare a statement containing such information with respect to— (aa) the planned financial provision in that year specified in the statement prepared by the authority under subsection (3) above (a) expenditure actually incurred in that year for the purposes of all schools required to be covered by the scheme; and (b) expenditure so incurred which was incurred, or is treated by the authority as having been incurred, for the purposes of each such school; as may be prescribed. (7) A statement prepared under this section shall be prepared in such form, and published in such manner and at such times, as may be prescribed. (8) The authority shall furnish— (a) the governing body of each school required to be covered by the scheme in any financial year, and (b) the governing bodies of such grant-maintained schools in the authority’s area and grant-maintained special schools mentioned in section 34(4)(c) of this Act as may be prescribed, with a copy of each statement prepared by the authority under this section in relation to that year or, in such circumstances as may be prescribed, with such part or parts of it as may be prescribed. (9) The governing body of each such school shall secure that a copy of any such statement furnished to them under subsection (8) above is available for inspection (at all reasonable times and free of charge) at the school.

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42A Certification of statements by Audit Commission.

(1) This section applies where in the case of any local education authority the authority’s financial provision for county and voluntary schools is subject to regulation by a scheme. (2) Any such local education authority shall, if directed to do so by the Secretary of State, require the Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England and Wales to make arrangements in accordance with section 29(1)(d) of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 for certifying such statement or statements prepared by the authority under section 42 of this Act as may be specified in the directions; and any statement under that section shall be treated for the purposes of section 29(1)(d) of that Act as a return by the authority. (3) The arrangements made by the Audit Commission in pursuance of subsection (2) above shall include arrangements for sending a copy of any such statement or statements as so certified to the Secretary of State. (4) Directions given under subsection (2) above may relate to any local education authority or to local education authorities generally or to any class or description of such authorities.

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43 Application of schemes to special schools.

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations require or authorise schemes to cover special schools maintained by local education authorities. (2) Sections 39(1) and (10) and 40 of this Act shall not apply to schools required to be covered by a scheme by virtue of regulations under subsection (1) above. (3) Regulations under subsection (1) above may require or authorise schemes to include provision for requiring the delegation by the local education authority concerned to the governing body of the school of the management of the school’s budget share for the year— (a) in the case of all schools required to be covered by a scheme in any financial year by virtue of the regulations; or (b) in the case of such schools required to be covered by a scheme in any financial year by virtue of the regulations as the Secretary of State may direct. (4) The Secretary of State may by regulations— (a) make in any provisions of this Chapter such amendments as appear to him to be required in consequence of any provision made in regulations under subsection (1) above; and (b) provide that any scheme shall have effect with such modifications as appear to him to be appropriate in consequence of any provision so made.

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44 Staff employed by the local education authority.

(1) This section applies to a county, controlled or special agreement school at any time when it has a delegated budget. (2) None of the following shall have effect in relation to a school to which this section for the time being applies— (a) sections 34 and 35 of the 1986 Act (determination of staff complement for schools by local education authority and general provisions about appointment and dismissal of staff); (b) any provision made by the articles of government in accordance with any of sections 36 to 41 of that Act (procedure for appointments, suspensions and dismissals); and (c) any provision of section 40 of that Act (appointment and dismissal of clerk to the governing body) other than subsection (5). (3) Subject to the following provisions of this section— (a) the appointment, suspension and dismissal of staff at a school to which this section for the time being applies and the determination of their duties, grading and remuneration; and (b) the application in relation to such staff of— (i) any disciplinary rules and procedures; and (ii) any procedures for affording to them opportunities for seeking redress of any grievances relating to their employment; shall be subject to Schedule 3 to this Act. (4) Within the period of five years beginning with the date on which the financial year begins in which any county, controlled or special agreement school first has a delegated budget under a scheme, it shall be the duty of the local education authority concerned to amend the articles of government of the school so as to include a statement indicating that provisions made by the articles in accordance with any of sections 36 to 41 of the 1986 Act (specifying those provisions) are superseded by this section and Schedule 3 to this Act during any period when the school has a delegated budget. (5) This section is subject to the provisions of sections 27 and 28 of the 1944 Act (which relate to religious education).

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45 Staff at aided schools.

(1) This section applies to an aided school at any time when it has a delegated budget. (2) None of the following shall have effect in relation to a school to which this section for the time being applies— (a) section 22(4) of the 1944 Act (power of local education authority to give directions to governors of aided school as to number and conditions of service of school maintenance staff); and (b) any provision of the articles of government conferring any functions on a local education authority with respect to the number of teachers or other staff to be employed at the school or the appointment or dismissal of such teachers or other staff (including any such provision required by section 24(2) of that Act). (3) Subject to any provision of the articles of government of any such school other than any provision for the time being excluded by subsection (2) above from applying to the school, the governing body of the school shall have (if they would not otherwise do so apart from any provision of the articles so excluded) power to appoint, suspend and dismiss staff as they think fit. (4) Subsection (6) below applies if in the case of any such school— (a) the governing body of the school agree with the local education authority to accord advisory rights to the chief education officer of the authority in relation to the appointment or dismissal of teachers at the school; or (b) in default of such agreement the Secretary of State determines that it would be appropriate in the case of the school that such rights should be accorded to the chief education officer of the authority. (5) Advisory rights accorded by an agreement or determination under subsection (4) above in the case of any school may relate to the appointment or dismissal, or both to the appointment and the dismissal, either of head teachers and deputy head teachers alone or of all teachers at the school. (6) During any period while an agreement or determination under subsection (4) above is effective in the case of any school, the chief education officer of the authority, or an officer of the authority nominated by him, shall be entitled to attend all proceedings of the governing body relating to any action to which the advisory rights accorded to him extend (including interviews) for the purpose of giving advice to the governing body. (7) The agreement of a governing body for the purposes of subsection (4)(a) above shall be given in writing and may only be withdrawn by notice in writing to the local education authority. (8) A determination by the Secretary of State for the purposes of subsection (4)(b) above may be withdrawn at any time (without prejudice to a further determination for those purposes). (9) The governing body of a school to which this section for the time being applies shall, on dismissing any member of the staff of the school employed by them, notify the local education authority in writing of the reasons for the dismissal. (10) Where any member of the staff at any such school is employed by the local education authority, paragraphs 8 to 10 of Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect in relation to his dismissal or withdrawal from the school as they have effect in relation to the dismissal or withdrawal from a school to which section 44 of this Act applies of a person employed to work at the school. (11) Within the period of five years beginning with the date on which the financial year begins in which any aided school first has a delegated budget under a scheme, it shall be the duty of the local education authority concerned to amend the articles of government of the school so as to include a statement indicating that provisions of the articles of a kind mentioned in subsection (2)(b) above (specifying those provisions) are superseded by this section during any period when the school has a delegated budget.

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46 Staff: further provisions.

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) Subject to subsection (3) below, it shall be for the governing body of any such school to determine— (a) whether any payment should be made by the local education authority concerned in respect of the dismissal, or for the purpose of securing the resignation, of any member of the staff of the school; and (b) the amount of any such payment. (3) Subsection (2) above does not apply in relation to any payment which the authority are required to make— (a) by virtue of any contract other than one made in contemplation of the impending dismissal or resignation of the member of staff concerned; or (b) under any statutory provision. (4) The local education authority concerned— (a) shall take such steps as may be required for giving effect to any determination of the governing body of any such school under subsection (2) above; and (b) shall not make, or agree to make, any payment to which that subsection applies in respect of the dismissal, or for the purpose of securing the resignation, of any member of the staff of any such school otherwise than in accordance with any such determination. (5) Costs incurred by the local education authority concerned in respect of the dismissal or premature retirement, or for the purpose of securing the resignation, of any member of the staff of any such school shall not be met from the school’s budget share for any financial year except in so far as the authority have good reason for deducting those costs, or any part of those costs, from that share. (6) The fact that the authority have a policy precluding dismissal of their employees by reason of redundancy is not to be regarded as a good reason for the purposes of subsection (5) above.

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47 Community Schools.

(1) This section applies to any school to which section 44 or 45 of this Act for the time being applies which is a community school. (2) For the purposes of this section, a school is a community school if— (a) activities other than school activities (“non-school activities") are carried on on the school premises; and (b) all non-school activities which are so carried on are carried on under the management or control of the governing body of the school. (3) A scheme may provide for applying sections 44(3), 45(10) and 46 of and Schedule 3 to this Act in relation to persons employed to work— (a) partly for the purposes of school activities and partly for the purposes of non-school activities carried on on the premises of a school to which this section applies; or (b) solely for the purposes of non-school activities so carried on; as if all activities so carried on were school activities.

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48 New schools.

(1) Schedule 4 to this Act has effect for the purpose of applying the provisions of this Chapter and Schedule 3 to this Act in relation to new schools which have temporary governing bodies. (2) In this section and in Schedule 4 to this Act— “new school” and “relevant proposal” have the same meanings respectively as in Schedule 2 to the 1986 Act (where “new school" covers both a school proposed to be established which will on implementation of the relevant proposal be maintained by a local education authority and a school which will be so maintained on the implementation in relation to an existing school of the relevant proposal); and “temporary governing body” means a temporary governing body constituted for a new school under an arrangement made under section 12 of that Act (excluding such a governing body who fall by virtue of paragraph 3(5) of that Schedule to be treated as if they were the governing body constituted under the provisions of that Act that apply following the implementation of the relevant proposal).

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49 Required financial delegation apart from schemes.

(1) In respect of any period during which any county, voluntary or special school maintained by a local education authority does not have a delegated budget it shall be the duty of the authority to make available a sum of money which the governing body of the school are to be entitled to spend at their discretion during that period (but subject to subsection (2) below) on books, equipment, stationery and such other heads of expenditure (if any) as the authority may specify or as may be prescribed. (2) A governing body to whom any sum is made available under this section— (a) shall comply in spending that sum with such reasonable conditions as the authority think fit to impose; and (b) may delegate to the head teacher, to such extent as they may specify, their powers in relation to that sum. (3) Before making any regulations for the purposes of subsection (1) above, the Secretary of State shall consult such associations of local authorities as appear to him to be concerned and any local authority with whom consultation appears to him to be desirable.

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50 Financial statements in respect of schools not covered by statements under section 42.

(1) Every local education authority shall prepare a statement under subsection (5) below in respect of any financial year before the first financial year in respect of which the authority are required to prepare a statement under section 42 of this Act (including the financial year current at the time when this section comes into force). (2) Subject to subsection (3) below, every local education authority who maintain one or more special schools during the whole or any part of any financial year after the last financial year to which subsection (1) above applies shall prepare a statement under subsection (5) below in respect of that financial year. (3) Subsection (2) above shall not apply in relation to such an authority in respect of any financial year in respect of which the authority are required to prepare a statement under section 42 of this Act which, by virtue of any provision made by regulations under section 43 of this Act, is required to include information with respect to the special school or (as the case may be) with respect to each of the special schools concerned. (4) The schools required to be covered by a statement prepared by a local education authority under subsection (5) below in respect of any financial year are— (a) in the case of a statement required by subsection (1) above, any county, voluntary or special school maintained by the authority during the whole or any part of that year; and (b) in the case of a statement required by subsection (2) above, any special school so maintained other than one in respect of which, by virtue of any provision so made, any information is required to be included in a statement prepared by the authority in respect of that year under section 42 of this Act. (5) The statement shall give the following particulars with respect to the financial provision initially planned by the authority in respect of the financial year to which the statement relates for the schools required to be covered by the statement— (a) the initial amount appropriated for meeting expenditure in that year in respect of all such schools; (b) the amount remaining (referred to below in this section as the general expenditure amount) after deducting from the amount specified in the statement by virtue of paragraph (a) above the aggregate amount of the initial amounts so appropriated in respect of— (i) expenditure of a capital nature; (ii) expenditure in respect of the repayment of the principal of, the payment of interest on and the discharge of any other financial obligation in connection with any loan raised to meet expenditure of a capital nature; and (iii) expenditure of such other descriptions as may be prescribed; (c) such particulars as may be prescribed of amounts so deducted; (d) in the case of each such school, the share of— (i) the general expenditure amount; and (ii) such of the amounts so deducted by virtue of paragraph (b)(iii) above as may be prescribed; which is appropriated by the authority for meeting expenditure for the purposes of the school; (e) in the case of each such school, the amount of any expenditure of a capital nature initially planned for the purposes of the school; (f) such particulars of the basis on which the authority determine the share of each such school for the purposes of the information required to be included in the statement under paragraph (d) above as may be prescribed; and (g) such further information with respect to the financial provision initially planned by the authority for the schools required to be covered by the statement as may be prescribed. (6) After the end of each financial year in respect of which a local education authority are required to prepare a statement under subsection (5) above the authority shall prepare a statement containing such information with respect to— (a) expenditure actually incurred in that year for the purposes of all schools required to be covered by the statement under subsection (5); and (b) expenditure so incurred which was incurred, or is treated by the authority as having been incurred, for the purposes of each such school; as may be prescribed. (7) Each statement prepared under this section in respect of any financial year shall be prepared in such form, and published in such manner and at such times, as may be prescribed. (8) The authority shall furnish the governing body of any school required to be covered by a statement prepared under subsection (5) above in respect of any financial year with a copy of each statement prepared by the authority under this section in relation to that year. (9) A governing body to whom a copy of any such statement is furnished under subsection (8) above shall secure that a copy of the statement is available for inspection (at all reasonable times and free of charge) at the school. (10) Where only one school is required to be covered by a statement prepared under subsection (5) above— (a) references in this section to all schools required to be so covered shall be read as references to the school in question; (b) that subsection shall apply with the omission of paragraphs (d) to (f); and (c) subsection (6) above shall apply with the omission of paragraph (b).

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51 Interpretation of Chapter III and supplementary and consequential provisions.

(1) In this Chapter— “expenditure of a capital nature” means, in relation to a local education authority, expenditure treated by that authority as expenditure of a capital nature; and “governors’ report” means, in relation to the governing body of any school to which section 30 of the 1986 Act applies, the report they are required to prepare by virtue of that section. (2) In this Chapter— (a) references to a scheme are references— (i) to a scheme made by a local education authority under section 33 of this Act as from time to time revised under section 35 of this Act; and (ii) in a context referring to a particular local education authority, to a scheme so made by that authority; (b) references to a school’s budget share for any financial year— (i) shall be read in accordance with subsection (2)(a) of that section; and (ii) include references to that share as from time to time revised in accordance with the scheme under which it is determined; (c) references to the general schools budget of a local education authority shall be read in accordance with subsection (4)(a) of that section; (d) references to the aggregated budget of a local education authority shall be read in accordance with subsection (4)(b) of that section; (e) references to excepted heads or items of expenditure shall be read in accordance with subsection (4)(b)(i) of that section; (f) references to a school in respect of which financial delegation is required for any financial year shall be read in accordance with subsection (6)(a) of that section; (g) references to a school which has a delegated budget shall be read in accordance with subsection (6)(b) of that section; (h) references, in relation to a scheme, to excluded expenditure under the scheme shall be read in accordance with subsection (6)(c) of that section; and (i) references to the delegation requirement under a scheme shall be read in accordance with section 39(4). (3) During any period when a school has a delegated budget under any scheme any provisions of the articles of government of the school which are inconsistent with the operation during that period of any provisions of this Chapter or of the scheme shall be of no effect to the extent of that inconsistency. This subsection does not apply to any provision of the articles of government such as is referred to in section 44(2)(b) or 45(2)(b) of this Act (in relation to which provision corresponding to that made by subsections (4) and (5) below is made by sections 44(4) and 45(11) respectively). (4) Within the period of five years beginning with the date on which the financial year begins in which any school first has a delegated budget under a scheme, it shall be the duty of the local education authority concerned, if the articles of government of the school contain any provision to which subsection (3) above applies, to amend the articles so as to include in relation to that provision or (as the case may be) in relation to each such provision contained in the articles the statement required by subsection (5) below. (5) The statement shall specify— (a) the provision or provisions of the articles in question; (b) the provision of this Chapter or of the scheme (the “overriding provision") with the operation of which any provision of the articles specified under paragraph (a) above is inconsistent; and (c) the extent of the inconsistency; and shall indicate that, during any period when the school has a delegated budget, any provision of the articles so specified is superseded by the overriding provision to the extent that it is inconsistent with it. (6) Any amendment of the articles of government of a school required by section 44(4) or 45(11) of this Act or by subsection (4) above shall be made by order under section 1 of the 1986 Act; but section 2 of that Act shall not apply in relation to any order made under section 1 by virtue of this subsection. (7) It shall be for the Secretary of State to determine any question arising under a scheme as to whether a primary school required to be covered by the scheme is within the delegation requirement under the scheme. (8) Section 29 of the 1986 Act (which requires provisions to be contained in articles of government of schools with respect to financial statements and financial delegation and is superseded by the provisions of this Chapter), and any provision included in the articles of government of any school by virtue of that section, shall cease to have effect. (9) In section 30(2)(h) of that Act (financial statement to be included in governors’ annual report to parents), for sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) there shall be substituted the following sub-paragraphs— (i) reproducing or summarising any financial statement of which a copy has been furnished to the governing body by the authority under section 42 or 50 of the Education Reform Act 1988 since the last governors’ report was prepared; (ii) indicating, in general terms, how any sum made available to the governing body by the authority in respect of the school’s budget share within the meaning of Chapter III of Part I of that Act or under section 49 of that Act in the period covered by the report was used; .

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