The School Organisation (Establishment and Discontinuance of Schools) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Schedule Insertion of Schedule A1

Regulation 25 Schedule A1 Information to be included in a specification for a new school Regulation 5 Part 1 Information about the new school Reason for the new school 1 A statement explaining why the new school should be established. Special educational needs 2 A summary of the local authority’s strategy for children with special educational needs and disabilities and how the establishment of the school is compatible with that strategy. Geographical area 3 A statement describing the geographical area where the majority of the children who are likely to be admitted to the school reside. Funding 4 The funding that will be made available for the establishment of the school, including the funding that will be made available prior to the opening of the school. Part 2 Requirements for the new school Mainstream, special or alternative provision school 5 Whether the school should be a mainstream school, special school or alternative provision school. Location 6 The location of the site or sites including, where appropriate, the postal address or addresses. 7 The current ownership and tenure (freehold or leasehold) on which the site will be held, and if the site will be held on a lease, details of the proposed lease. Ethos and religious character 8 A short statement setting out the ethos which the local authority desire the school to have, any religious character which the local authority desire the school to have and any philosophy the local authority desire the school to adhere to. Pupil admissions 9 The age range and sex of pupils for whom provision should be made at the school, including whether the school should include provision for pupils below compulsory school age and whether the school should provide sixth form education. 10 The maximum number of pupils for whom provision should be made at the school. 11 The expected admission number for the school year in which the school is to open. 12 The expected annual increase in the number of pupils for whom provision is to be made at the school. Special educational needs provision: mainstream schools 13 Whether the school should have provision that is recognised by the local authority as reserved for children with special educational needs and if so, the type of special educational needs. Special educational needs provision: special schools 14 The type or types of special educational needs or disabilities for which the school should make provision. 15 The number of places for pupils with special educational needs which are expected to be commissioned by local authorities and the local authorities by whom places are expected to be commissioned. Travel 16 The expected arrangements for travel of pupils to the school. Opening date 17 The date on which the local authority desire that the school will open. Facilities 18 Whether the local authority desires that the school’s facilities be made available for community use. Alternative provision schools 19 The arrangements which the alternative provision school should have for— (a) the referral of pupils to the school; and (b) the transition of pupils from the school to a mainstream school or, in the case of pupils who have reached the end of Key Stage 4, to education destinations, apprenticeships, employment or other destinations. 20 The type or types of placements which the alternative provision school should offer, including whether the placements should be full time or part time and whether they should be long term or short term. 21 The support which the management committee of the pupil referral unit or the proprietor of the alternative provision Academy should provide to pupils and staff at mainstream schools. Part 3 Interpretation of Schedule 22 In this Schedule— “admission number” means the number of pupils in any relevant age group admitted to a school in a school year; “Key Stage 4” means the fourth key stage, within the meaning of section 82 of the Education Act 2002. .