Further and Higher Education Act 1992

2 Full-time education for 16 to 18 year-olds

(1) It shall be the duty of each council to secure the provision for the population of their area of sufficient facilities for education to which this subsection applies, that is, full-time education suitable to the requirements of persons over compulsory school age who have not attained the age of nineteen years.

(2) That duty extends to all persons among that population who may want such education and have not attained the age of nineteen years.

(3) A council shall discharge that duty so as—

(a) to secure that the facilities are provided at such places, are of such character and are so equipped as to be sufficient to meet the reasonable needs of all persons to whom the duty extends, and

(b) to take account of the different abilities and aptitudes of such persons.

(4) A council may secure the provision of facilities for education to which subsection (1) above applies for persons to whom that duty does not extend.

(5) A council shall discharge their functions under this section so as to make the most effective use of the council’s resources and, in particular, to avoid provision which might give rise to disproportionate expenditure.

(6) In discharging those functions a council shall have regard to any education to which subsection (1) above applies provided by schools maintained by local education authorities, grant-maintained schools, special schools not maintained by local education authorities, city technology colleges or city colleges for the technology of the arts.