Education Reform Act 1988

212 Grants relating to aided or special agreement schools

(1) The Secretary of State may pay grants to the governing body of any aided school or special agreement school in respect of any preliminary expenditure incurred by them for the purposes of any scheme for the transfer of the school to a new site or the enlargement or alteration of the school premises.

(2) Where any persons propose or are considering whether to propose—

(a) that a school established by them, or by persons whom they represent, should be maintained by a local education authority as an aided school; or

(b) that a school which may be so established should be so maintained;

the Secretary of State may pay grants to them in respect of any preliminary expenditure incurred by them for the purposes of any scheme for the provision of a site for the school or of any buildings which would be school buildings.

(3) Grants under subsection (1) or (2) above may be paid in respect of any such scheme as is mentioned in that subsection whether or not—

(a) the details of any such scheme had been formulated at the time the expenditure was incurred;

(b) where such details were not formulated at that time, they are subsequently formulated;

(c) the governing body or persons in question had determined to proceed with any such scheme at that time; or

(d) where the governing body or persons had not determined so to proceed at that time, they subsequently determine to proceed with any such scheme.

(4) Expenditure in respect of which such grants are payable includes, in particular, costs incurred in connection with—

(a) the preparation of plans and specifications for any proposed construction, enlargement or alteration of buildings which are or would be school buildings; and

(b) estimating the sums which would be expended if any such works were carried out;

but does not include any sums expended in carrying out any such works.

(5) A grant under subsection (1) or (2) above shall not exceed 85 per cent. of the expenditure in respect of which it is paid.

(6) Where—

(a) a grant is paid under subsection (1) above in the case of any school; or

(b) a grant is paid under subsection (2) above in the case of any school which becomes, or is established as, a voluntary school;

the grant shall for the purposes of section 14 of the 1944 Act or section 98 of this Act be treated as expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State (otherwise than in connection with repairs) in respect of the school premises.