The Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

Statutory Instruments

2003 No. 424 (N.I. 12)

The Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

27th February 2003

PART IN.I.INTRODUCTORY

Title and commencementN.I.

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.

(2) Except as provided by the following provisions of this Article, this Order comes into operation on 1st April 2003.

(3) The following provisions come into operation on such day or days as the Department may by order appointF1

(a)Part II (together with Schedule 1);

(b)Part II of Schedule 3 and Article 40(2) so far as relating thereto.

(4) An order under paragraph (3) may make such transitional and saving provisions as appear to the Department to be necessary or expedient.

(5) The following provisions of this Order do not apply in relation to, or affect the operation of any other statutory provision in relation to, a financial year ending on or before 31st March 2003—

(a)Articles 10, 12 and 38; and

(b)in Part I of Schedule 3, the repeal of—

(i)Articles 113, 114 and 119 of the 1986 Order; and

(ii)Article 29 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 Order (NI 12).

F1fully exercised by SR 2005/133, 246

InterpretationN.I.

2.—(1) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c.33) applies to this Order as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

(2) In this Order—

  • “the 1986 Order” means the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (NI 3);

  • “the 1989 Order” means the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (NI 20);

  • “the 1997 Order” means the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (NI 5);

  • “the 1998 Order” means the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (NI 13).

(3) This Order shall be construed as one with the 1986 Order; and accordingly Article 2 of the 1986 Order, in so far as it relates to the interpretation of words or expressions used in that Order and in this Order, applies for the purposes of this Order as it applies for the purposes of that Order.

(4) F2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART IIN.I.FUNDING OF GRANT-AIDED SCHOOLS

The common funding scheme for grant-aided schoolsN.I.

3.—(1) There shall be a scheme ( “the common funding scheme”) for the funding of relevant schools.

(2) In this Part “relevant school” means a grant-aided school, other than a special school or a school established in a hospital.

(3) The common funding scheme—

(a)shall be prepared and adopted, and

(b)may be varied or replaced,

by the Department in accordance with the following provisions of this Article.

(4) The Department shall prepare a draft scheme after consultation with—

(a)[F3the Authority] ;

(b)the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools; and

(c)such other bodies and persons as it thinks fit.

(5) The Department shall send a copy of the draft scheme to—

(a)[F3the Authority] ;

(b)the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools; and

(c)each body or person consulted by it under paragraph (4)(c).

(6) [F3The Authority] shall, in such manner as the Department may direct—

(a)consult the Board of Governors of every relevantF4. . . school F5... about the draft scheme; and

(b)inform the Department of the outcome of those consultations.

Para. (7) rep. by 2003 NI 12

(8) The Department shall consider —

(a)any views submitted to it by a body or person mentioned in paragraph (5); and

(b)the outcome of the consultations mentioned in paragraph (6) and (7),

and shall then—

(i)adopt the scheme (either in the form of the draft or with such modifications as the Department thinks appropriate); and

(ii)publish the scheme.

(9) Subject to the paragraph (10), the scheme may be varied or replaced by a subsequent scheme made under this Article.

(10) If in the opinion of the Department a subsequent scheme prepared by it does not make any significant change to the previous scheme, paragraphs (5) to (8) do not apply in relation to that scheme and the Department may adopt and publish the scheme.

(11) It shall be the duty of [F3the Authority] to give effect to the common funding scheme for the time being adopted under this Article.

(12) On such day as the Department may by order appoint the following provisions of this Article shall cease to have effect—

(a)in paragraph (6), the words “controlled and maintained”; and

(b)paragraph (7).

Contents of the common funding schemeN.I.

4.—(1) The common funding scheme shall include—

(a)provision requiring the budget share of each relevant school for a financial year to be determined by the application of a formula ( “the common funding formula”) set out in the scheme;

(b)provision requiring the delegation by [F3the Authority] to the Board of Governors of each relevant controlled or maintained school of the management of the school's budget share for each financial year; and

(c)such other provisions as are required by this Part or Part VII of the 1998 Order to be included in the scheme.

(2) The common funding scheme may include such other provisions—

(a)as are authorised by this Part or Part VII of the 1998 Order to be included in the scheme; or

(b)as appear to the Department to be necessary or expedient in connection with the funding of relevant schools.

(3) For the purposes of this Part and Part VII of the 1998 Order a school's budget share in respect of a financial year is—

(a)in relation to a controlled or maintained school, the amount management of which falls to be delegated to the Board of Governors of the school under the common funding scheme in respect of that year;

(b)in relation to a voluntary grammar school, the amount of the grant to be made to that school under Article 60(3)(a) of the 1989 Order or Article 61(2)(a) of the 1998 Order in respect of that year; and

(c)in relation to a grant-maintained integrated school, the amount of the grant to be made to that school under Article 77(2)(a) of the 1989 Order or Article 63(2)(a) of the 1998 Order in respect of that year.

(4) In this Article “formula” includes methods, principles and rules of any description, however expressed.

(5) The common funding formula—

(a)shall include provision for taking into account, in the case of each relevant school, the number and ages of pupils who—

(i)are, or are expected to be, registered at the school on such date or dates (whether before or during that year) as may be determined by or under the scheme; and

(ii)are not of a class or description excluded by the scheme from being taken into account for the purposes of any such provision;

(b)may include provision for taking into account factors affecting the particular needs of any class or description of school;

(c)may include provision for taking into account factors affecting the needs of individual schools which are subject to variation from school to school.

(6) The common funding formula may, in relation to a grammar school having a preparatory department, make special provision for the determination of the budget share of that school in so far as it relates to the preparatory department.

(7) The special provision made by virtue of paragraph (6) may include provision the effect of which is that the budget share of the school, in so far as it relates to the preparatory department—

(a)is substantially less than it would have been but for that provision; or

(b)is nil.

(8) In paragraphs (6) and (7) “preparatory department”, in relation to a grammar school, means that part of the school in which primary education is provided.

(9) The common funding scheme—

(a)shall provide for a school's budget share for a financial year to be determined initially before the beginning of that year; but

(b)may provide for that budget share to be revised from time to time.

(10) The common funding scheme may provide for amounts determined by or in accordance with the common funding scheme to be allocated to relevant schools (in addition to their budget share).

(11) The common funding scheme may provide for it to apply with such modifications as may be specified therein in relation to a school which becomes a relevant school at any time during the course of a financial year (whether by virtue of being newly established as such a school or by virtue of becoming such a school where it was previously an independent school).

Conditions as to financial delegationN.I.

5.—(1) The delegation under the common funding scheme of the management of a school's budget share shall be subject to such conditions—

(a)as may be imposed by the scheme; or

(b)as may be imposed in accordance with the scheme by [F3the Authority] .

(2) The common funding scheme shall require [F3the Authority] in imposing any conditions by virtue of paragraph (1)(b) to have regard to any guidance issued by the Department as to the conditions it regards as appropriate for imposition by [F3the Authority] .

Effect of financial delegationN.I.

6.—(1) In the case of each controlled and maintained school with a delegated budget, [F3the Authority] shall put at the disposal of the Board of Governors in respect of each financial year a sum equal to the school's budget share for that year, to be spent for the purposes of the school.

(2) The times at which, and the manner in which, any such sum is put at the disposal of the Board of Governors shall be such as may be provided by or under the scheme.

(3) [F3The Authority] may not delegate to the Board of Governors of a relevant controlled or maintained school the power to spend any amount appropriated by [F3the Authority] for the purposes of the school otherwise than as required or authorised by or under the scheme.

(4) The Board of Governors of a school which has a delegated budget—

(a)shall be entitled, subject to any provision made by or under the scheme, to spend any sum made available to it in respect of the school's budget share for a financial year as it thinks fit for the purposes of the school; and

(b)may delegate to the principal, to such extent as may be permitted by or under the scheme, its power under sub-paragraph (a) in relation to any part of that sum.

(5) The members of the Board of Governors of a school shall not incur any personal liability in respect of anything done in good faith in the exercise or purported exercise of their powers under paragraph (4).

Publication of financial statementsN.I.

7.—(1) The common funding scheme shall require [F3the Authority] —

(a)before the beginning of each financial year to prepare and publish a statement of the financial provision it plans to make in that year for relevantF6. . . schools F7...;

(b)after the end of each financial year to prepare and publish a statement of—

(i)resources actually used in that year for the purposes of all relevantF6. . . schools; and

(ii)resources so used which were used, or are treated by [F3the Authority] as having been used, for the purposes of each such school.

(2) A statement prepared under this Article shall—

(a)be prepared in such form and at such times, and

(b)contain such particulars,

as may be required by or under the scheme.

(3) [F3The Authority] shall furnish—

(a)the Board of Governors of each relevant school, and

(b)the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools,

with a copy of each statement prepared by [F3the Authority] under this Article.

(4) A Board of Governors shall secure that a copy of any statement furnished to it under this Article is available for inspection (at all reasonable times and free of charge) at the school.

(5) In this Article a reference to the use of resources is a reference to their expenditure, consumption or reduction in value.

(6) On such day as the Department may by order appoint the words “controlled and maintained” in paragraph (1)(a) and (b) shall cease to have effect.

Interpretation of this PartN.I.

8.—(1) In this Part—

(a)references to a school which has a delegated budget are references to a school managed by a Board of Governors to which [F3the Authority] has for the time being delegated the management of the school's budget share in pursuance of the scheme;

(b)the Board of Governors of a school to which [F3the Authority] is required by the scheme to delegate the management of the school's budget share is said to have a right to a delegated budget.

(2) In this Part—

  • “the scheme” means the common funding scheme under Article 3;

  • F8...

(3) References in this Part—

(a)to a school's budget share are to be construed in accordance with Article 4(3);

(b)to a relevant school are to be construed in accordance with Article 3(2).

(4) The Department may by order subject to affirmative resolution substitute for references in this Part to a financial year references to such other period as the Department may determine.

(5) Directions and guidance given by the Department under this Part shall—

(a)be in writing; and

(b)be published in such manner as the Department thinks fit.

Article 9—Amendments

F9PART IIIN.I.BOARDS: FINANCE AND THE DUTY OF BEST VALUE

F9Financing of boardsN.I.

Resource allocation plansN.I.

F910.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Funding of boardsN.I.

F911.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Accounts of boardsN.I.

F912.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F9The duty of best valueN.I.

The duty of best valueN.I.

F913.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contracts: exclusion of non-commercial considerationsN.I.

F914.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Power to modify statutory provisions and confer new powersN.I.

F915.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Repeal of competition provisionsN.I.

F916.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART IVN.I.SCHOOLS

Welfare and protection of pupilsN.I.

Duty on Boards of Governors to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupilsN.I.

17.—(1) It shall be the duty of the Board of Governors of a grant-aided school to safeguard and promote the welfare of [F10pupils attending] the school at all times when such pupils are—

(a)on the premises of the school; or

(b)in the lawful control or charge of a member of the staff of the school.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply in relation to pupils for whom accommodation is provided by the Board of Governors of a voluntary school (as to whom broadly corresponding provision is made by Article 176(1) of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (NI 2)).

(3) Article 101 of the 1986 Order (directions by Department as to performance of duties imposed by or under the Education Orders) shall apply in relation to the duty imposed on the Board of Governors of a voluntary school by Article 176(1) of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 as it applies in relation to duties imposed on such a Board of Governors by or under any provision of the Education Orders.

Child protection measuresN.I.

18.—(1) It shall be the duty of the Board of Governors of a grant-aided school—

(a)to determine the measures to be taken at the school (whether by the Board of Governors, the staff of the school or other persons) with a view to protecting pupils from abuse (whether at school or elsewhere);

(b)to review those measures—

(i)from time to time; and

(ii)(without prejudice to head (i)) at such times as the Department may direct;

(c)in determining or reviewing those measures to have regard to any guidance given by the Department, [F3the Authority] F11... and (in the case of a Catholic maintained school) the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools;

(d)to prepare a written statement of such measures and to secure that—

(i)a copy of that statement is given (free of charge) to the parents of all registered pupils at the school and to the staff of the school; and

(ii)copies of the statement are available for inspection (at all reasonable times and free of charge) at the school; and

(e)to secure that such measures are taken.

(2) Directions under paragraph (1)(b)(ii) may be given—

(a)in relation to grant-aided schools generally;

(b)in relation to a class or description of grant-aided school; or

(c)in relation to any particular grant-aided school or schools.

(3) In this Article “abuse” includes sexual abuse and abuse causing physical or mental harm to a child.

School discipline measures to prevent bullyingN.I.

19.—(1) Article 3 of the 1998 Order (responsibility of Board of Governors and principal for discipline) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (2)(b) (consultation by Board of Governors before making or revising statement of general principles concerning discipline) for the words “the parents of registered pupils at the school” there shall be substituted “ the registered pupils at the school and the parents of those pupils ”.

(3) In paragraph (3)(a)(ii) (principal to determine measures to be taken to encourage good behaviour and respect for others on the part of pupils) at the end there shall be added “ and, in particular, preventing all forms of bullying among pupils ”.

(4) In paragraph (3) after sub-paragraph (a) there shall be inserted—

“(aa)before determining such measures, to consult the registered pupils at the school and the parents of those pupils;” .

AdmissionsN.I.

Admission appeals: tribunal procedures and expensesN.I.

20.—(1) In Article 15(8) of the 1997 Order (regulations as to constitution and procedure of admission appeal tribunals) after sub-paragraph (d) there shall be inserted—

“(dd)may provide for tribunals to sit in private, except in such circumstances as may be specified in, or determined in accordance with, the regulations;” .

(2) In Article 15(10) of the 1997 Order (travelling and subsistence allowances to members of admission appeal tribunals to be on such conditions and at such rates as the Department may determine) the words “ , on such conditions and at such rates as the Department may determine, ” shall be omitted.

(3) After that paragraph there shall be inserted—

“(10A) Payments under paragraph (10) shall be made at such rates and on such conditions as may be—

(a)determined by the board; and

(b)approved by the Department.” .

Parental preferences for admission to nursery schoolsN.I.

21.—(1) In Article 23 of 1998 Order (arrangements for applications for admission to pre-school education to be made directly to the Board of Governors of the school concerned) for paragraphs (1) and (2) there shall be substituted—

“(1) Every board shall make arrangements for the parent of a child resident in the area of the board—

(a)to express (in order of preference) his preferences as to the school at which he wishes pre-school education to be provided for his child;

(b)where any of those schools provides both full time and part-time pre-school education, to express his preference as to which kind of pre-school education he wishes to be provided for his child; and

(c)to give reasons for his preferences.

(2) Where the parent of a child has expressed his preferences under arrangements under paragraph (1)—

(a)the parent shall be taken as making an application for admission of the child to the school which is the first preference of the parent; and

(b)if that application is refused, the parent shall then be taken as making an application for admission of the child to the school which is the second preference of the parent,

and so on, taking each preference of the parent in order.

(2A) Where—

(a)a school provides both full-time and part time education; and

(b)a parent's expressed preferences include both,

paragraph (2) shall be read as if references to admission to a school were references to admission to a school for the particular kind of pre-school education (that is to say part-time or full-time) which is specified in the preference in question.” .

(2) This Article does not apply in relation to any admission to a school taking effect, or proposed admission which would take effect, in a school year ending on or before 31st July 2004.

Admission to special schools of children resident outside Northern IrelandN.I.

22.—(1) [F3The Authority] may make arrangements for the admission to a special school F12... of a child who is resident outside Northern Ireland and has special educational needs.

(2) Arrangements made in respect of a child under this Article shall not be for a period of more than one school year at a time; but further arrangements may be made under this Article for a subsequent school year in respect of the same child and the same special school.

(3) [F3The Authority] may only enter into arrangements under this Article in respect of a special school and a school year (or a part thereof) if [F3the Authority] is of the opinion that doing so will not, in the school year in question, prevent the admission to the school of a child resident in Northern Ireland.

(4) Articles 128 to 131 of the 1989 Order (which restrict the charges which can be made in respect of pupils at a grant-aided school) shall not apply to a special school in relation to a pupil admitted to the school in accordance with arrangements under this Article; and accordingly in Article 127 of the 1989 Order after paragraph (4) there shall be inserted—

“(4A) Those Articles do not apply to a special school in relation to a pupil admitted to the school in accordance with arrangements under Article 22 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.” .

(5) [F3The Authority] may, in respect of a pupil admitted to a special school in accordance with arrangements under this Article, make such charges as it may determine.

MiscellaneousN.I.

Removal of members of Boards of GovernorsN.I.

23.—(1) The Department may by regulations provide for the removal by the Department of all of the voting and co-opted members of the Board of Governors of a grant-aided school ( “the relevant school”)—

(a)in prescribed circumstances; or

(b)in such circumstances as may be determined by the Minister of Education in accordance with the regulations.

(2) Regulations under paragraph (1)—

(a)shall provide for the formation of a new Board of Governors for the relevant school;

(b)may provide for the exercise by a prescribed person or body of prescribed functions of the Board of Governors of the relevant school during such period as may be prescribed; and

(c)may, for the purposes of any provision made by virtue of sub-paragraph (a) or (b), provide for any prescribed provisions of the Education Orders to apply in relation to the relevant school with such modifications as may be prescribed.

(3) Regulations under paragraph (1) shall require the Department before exercising any power of removal conferred by the regulations—

(a)to consult such bodies and persons as may be prescribed;

(b)to give to the Board of Governors of the relevant school such notice as may be prescribed of its intention to exercise the power of removal;

(c)to afford the Board of Governors an opportunity to make representations to the Department concerning the matter; and

(d)to consider any representations so made.

(4) The Department may by regulations provide for the removal from office by a relevant authority of any member of the Board of Governors of a grant-aided school appointed by it—

(a)in prescribed circumstances; or

(b)in such circumstances as may be determined by the Minister of Education in accordance with the regulations.

(5) Regulations under paragraph (4)—

(a)shall provide for the appointment of a person to hold office in place of the member removed for the remainder of his term of office; and

(b)may for that purpose provide for any prescribed provisions of the Education Orders to apply in relation to that appointment with such modifications as may be prescribed.

(6) Regulations under paragraph (4) shall require the relevant authority before exercising any power of removal conferred by the regulations—

(a)to consult such bodies and persons as may be prescribed;

(b)to give to such persons or bodies as may be prescribed such notice as may be prescribed of its intention to exercise the power of removal;

(c)to afford to such bodies or persons as may be prescribed an opportunity to make representations to the relevant authority concerning the matter; and

(d)to consider any representations so made.

(7) This Article and any regulations under this Article have effect in relation to a grant-aided school notwithstanding any provision for the time being contained in—

(a)the scheme of management of the school; or

(b)any other instrument of government of the school;

and any such scheme or instrument shall have effect accordingly.

(8) In this Article, in relation to a Board of Governors—

  • “co-opted members” means members co-opted under Article 122 or 139 of the 1989 Order;

  • “relevant authority” means a body by which, or person by whom, any member of the Board of Governors is appointed;

  • “voting members” has the same meaning as Article 122 of the 1989 Order.

(9) In this Article “appoint” includes nominate and choose.

Development proposals for grant aided schoolsN.I.

24.  In Article 14 of the 1986 Order (development proposals for grant-aided schools) for paragraph (5) there shall be substituted—

“(5) Before a proposal concerning an existing school is submitted to the board under paragraph (2), the person making the proposal shall consult the following persons (or representatives of them)—

(a)the Board of Governors of the school concerned;

(b)the teachers employed at that school; and

(c)the parents of registered pupils at that school.

(5A) Before a proposal concerning an existing school is submitted to the Department by the board under paragraph (1) or (3), the board shall consult the following persons (or representatives of them)—

(a)the Board of Governors of the school concerned;

(b)the teachers employed at that school; and

(c)the parents of registered pupils at that school.

(5B) Before a proposal concerning any school is submitted to the Department by the board under paragraph (1), (2) or (3), the board shall consult the trustees and managers (or representatives of them) of any other school which would, in the opinion of the board, be affected by the proposal.” .

Appeals against expulsion: tribunal proceduresN.I.

25.  In Article 49(10) of the 1986 Order (regulations as to constitution and procedure of tribunals hearing appeals against expulsion of pupils) after sub-paragraph (d) there shall be inserted—

“(da)may provide for an appeal tribunal in considering an appeal to have regard in particular to any matters specified in the regulations;

(db)may provide for appeal tribunals to sit in private, except in such circumstances as may be specified in, or determined in accordance with, the regulations;” .

Curriculum, etc. complaints: tribunal proceduresN.I.

26.  F13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Consultation of schools by samplingN.I.

27.—(1) F14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) F15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) In Article 11 of the 1998 Order (school performance targets) in paragraph (3) (persons and bodies to be consulted before regulations are made under that Article) in sub-paragraph (c) for the words “every grant-aided school appearing to it to be affected” there shall be substituted “ a sample of affected schools ”.

(4) After that paragraph there shall be inserted—

“(3A) In paragraph (3)(c) “a sample of affected schools” means a number of grant-aided schools selected by the Department as being a representative sample of all such schools affected by the regulations.” .

Costs under approved contractsN.I.

28.  In Article 25(4) of the 1997 Order (definition of costs of relevant authority on foot of an approved contract) for the words from “the payments made” to the end there shall be substituted “ all sums paid or payable by the relevant authority under the contract, whether so paid or payable during the term of the contract or on or after its termination ”.

PART VN.I.MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTARY

Amendments to the 1986 OrderN.I.

Determination of travelling and subsistence allowancesN.I.

29.—(1) In Article 79 of the 1986 Order in paragraph (1) (travelling and subsistence payments to members of boards and others to be on such conditions and at such rates as the Department may determine) the words “ , on such conditions and at such rates as the Department may determine, ” shall be omitted.

(2) After that paragraph there shall be inserted—

“(1A) Payments under paragraph (1) shall be made at such rates and on such conditions as may be—

(a)determined by the board; and

(b)approved by the Department.” .

F16(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F16(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F16(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F16(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Officers of boardsN.I.

F1730.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Principals on teaching appointments committeeN.I.

F1731.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Amendments to the 1989 OrderN.I.

Programme of training by boardsN.I.

32.—(1) Article 149 of the 1989 Order (programmes of training by boards) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1) (board to prepare and submit programme to Department at such times and in such form as the Department may direct) the following shall be omitted—

(a)the words “, at such times and in such form as the Department may direct,”; and

(b)the words “and submit to the Department”.

(3) Paragraph (3) (power of Department to request information in connection with submitted programme) and paragraph (4) (power of Department to approve submitted programme) shall be omitted.

(4) In paragraph (5) (duty to give effect to approved programme) for “approved by the Department” substitute “ prepared by it ”.

(5) For paragraph (6) (revision or amendment of programme) there shall be substituted—

“(6) A board may at any time prepare a revised programme or an amendment to an existing programme; and paragraphs (2) and (5) apply in relation to any such revised programme or amendment as they apply in relation to the original programme.” .

Terms of appointment of members of CCMSN.I.

33.—(1) In paragraph 5 of Schedule 8 to the 1989 Order (terms of appointment of members of Council for Catholic Maintained Schools), sub-paragraph (2) (which provides for certain members of the Council to be appointed at a different time from the other members) shall cease to have effect.

(2) In consequence of paragraph (1), the following provisions of that Schedule shall cease to have effect—

(a)in paragraph 3(11) the words “(except paragraph 5(2))”;

(b)in paragraph 5(1) the words “Subject to sub-paragraph (2),”;

(c)in paragraph 5(3) the words “or (2)” and “or (as the case may be) sub-paragraph (2)”.

(3) The term of office of a person who immediately before the coming into operation of this Article is a member of the Council appointed in accordance with paragraph 5(2) of Schedule 8 to the 1989 Order shall expire on the day preceding that from which the first of the next subsequent appointments made to the Council in accordance with paragraph 5(1) of that Schedule are effective.

Amendments to the 1998 OrderN.I.

Provision of secondary education for pupils by institutions of further educationN.I.

34.  In Article 83 of the 1998 Order for paragraph (2) there shall be substituted—

“(2) A board may arrange for secondary education to be provided by an institution of further education—

(a)on behalf of the Board of Governors of a grant-aided school in its area, to meet the needs of any registered pupils at the school who are in key stage 4; or

(b)to meet the needs of any child over the age of 14 but under compulsory school age who is resident in its area and is not a registered pupil at any grant-aided school.” .

The General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland: fees and proceduresN.I.

35.—(1) Chapter I of Part VI of the 1998 Order (the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In Article 35(3) (person not to be employed as teacher unless registered) at the beginning there shall be inserted “ Subject to such exceptions as may be provided for by or under regulations, ”.

(3) In Article 36(3)(f)(iii) (procedures in connection with cases of misconduct to be specified in regulations) after the words “specified in” there shall be inserted “ or determined under ”.

(4) After Article 36(4) (regulations to authorise charging of fees by Council in respect of certain matters) there shall be inserted—

“(4A) The Council, in exercising any power to fix fees authorised by virtue of paragraph (4), shall have regard to the expenditure of the Council in exercising—

(a)its functions under this Order relating to registration; and

(b)all other functions conferred on it under this Order or any other statutory provision.” .

MiscellaneousN.I.

Abolition of corporal punishmentN.I.

36.—(1) Corporal punishment given by, or on the authority of, a member of staff to a child—

(a)for whom education is provided at any school or institution of further education, or

(b)for whom education is provided, otherwise than at school, under any arrangements made by [F3the Authority] under Article 86 of the 1998 Order,

[F18(c)for whom education is provided, otherwise than at a school or institution of further education, in pursuance of arrangements made by the Board of Governors of a school under Article 21 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006,]

cannot be justified in any proceedings on the ground that it was given in pursuance of a right exercisable by the member of staff by virtue of his position as such.

(2) Paragraph (1) applies to corporal punishment so given to a child at any time, whether at the school, institution or other place at which education is provided for the child, or elsewhere.

(3) In this Article any reference to giving corporal punishment to a child is to doing anything for the purpose of punishing that child (whether or not there are other reasons for doing it) which, apart from any justification, would constitute battery.

(4) However, corporal punishment shall not be taken to be given to a child by virtue of anything done for reasons that include averting—

(a)an immediate danger of personal injury to, or

(b)an immediate danger to the property of,

any person (including the child himself).

(5) In this Article—

  • “child” means a person under the age of 18;

  • “member of staff”, in relation to the child concerned, means—

    (a)

    any person who works as a teacher at the school, institution or other place at which education is provided for the child, or

    (b)

    any other person who (whether in connection with the provision of education for the child or otherwise)—

    (i)

    works at that school, institution or place, or

    (ii)

    otherwise provides his services there (whether or not for payment),

    and has lawful control or charge of the child.

Reports and returnsN.I.

37.—(1) A body to which this paragraph applies shall—

(a)make such reports and returns; and

(b)give such information,

to the Department as the Department may reasonably require for the purposes of its functions under any statutory provision.

(2) Paragraph (1) applies to—

(a)[F3the Authority] ;

(b)the trustees of a school;

(c)the Board of Governors of a grant-aided school;

(d)the proprietor of an independent school;

(e)the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools;

F19(f). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(g)the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment.

(3) A body to which this paragraph applies shall—

(a)make such reports and returns; and

(b)give such information,

to [F3the Authority] as [F3the Authority] may reasonably require for the purposes of its functions under any statutory provision.

(4) Paragraph (3) applies to—

(a)the trustees of a school;

(b)the Board of Governors of a grant-aided school; and

(c)the proprietor of an independent school.

(5) [F20The Authority] shall—

(a)make such reports and returns; and

(b)give such information,

to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure as that Department may reasonably require for the purposes of its functions under any statutory provision.

F21(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7) A body to which this paragraph applies shall—

(a)make such reports and returns; and

(b)give such information,

to the Department for Employment and Learning as that Department may reasonably require for the purposes of its functions under any statutory provision.

(8) Paragraph (7) applies to—

F22(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)the managers of a college of education;

(c)the governing body of a university; and

(d)the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment.

(9) In Article 21 of the Further Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (NI 15) in paragraph (1)(b) (duty of governing body of institution of further education to provide information to [F3the Authority] for the purposes of its functions under the Education Orders) for the words “the Education Orders” there shall be substituted “ any statutory provision ”.

Annual report of boardsN.I.

F2338.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Supplementary provisionsN.I.

RegulationsN.I.

39.—(1) Regulations under this Order shall be subject to negative resolution.

(2) Regulations under this Order may contain such incidental, supplementary and transitional provisions as appear to the Department to be appropriate.

Article 40—Amendments and repeals

N.I.

Schedule 1—Amendments

N.I.

Schedule 2—Amendments

N.I.

Schedule 3—Repeals