Education Act 1996

186 Initiation of procedure by governing body

(1) Where the governing body of a school which is eligible for grant-maintained status decide by a resolution passed at a meeting of that body to hold a ballot of parents on the question whether grant-maintained status should be sought for the school, they shall—

(a) secure that the ballot is held in accordance with section 189 within the period of 10 weeks beginning with the date of the resolution, and

(b) give notice in writing that the ballot is to be held—

(i) to the local education authority, and

(ii) if the school is a voluntary school, to any person holding property on trust for the purposes of the school.

(2) Notice under subsection (1)(b) must be given within the period of five days beginning with the date of the resolution; but in determining that period no account shall be taken of—

(a) Saturday, Sunday, Good Friday and Christmas Day, or

(b) any day which is a bank holiday in England and Wales.

(3) This section does not apply if in the case of the school in question a ballot has been held in accordance with section 189 within the period of 12 months ending with the date immediately preceding the date of the resolution, unless the Secretary of State gives consent in writing for a new ballot to be held.