Education Act 1996

Change of status from controlled school to aided school E+W

52 Proposals for changing a controlled school to an aided school. E+W

(1) Where the governing body of a controlled school propose to apply for an order under section 54 directing that the school should become an aided school, they shall, after consultation with the local education authority—

(a) publish their proposals in such manner as may be required by regulations, and

(b) submit a copy of the published proposals to the Secretary of State.

(2) Proposals published under this section shall be accompanied by a statement which—

(a) explains the effect of section 53; and

(b) specifies the date on which the proposals are intended to be implemented.

(3) A governing body who submit proposals to the Secretary of State under this section shall provide him with such information as he may reasonably require in order to be able to give proper consideration to them.

53 Objections to proposals. E+W

(1) Objections to any proposals published under section 52 may be submitted to the Secretary of State by any of the following—

(a) any ten or more local government electors for the area of the local education authority by whom the school is maintained;

(b) the governing body of any voluntary school affected by the proposals; and

(c) any local education authority concerned.

(2) Objections may be so submitted within the period of two months beginning with the date on which the proposals are first published.

(3) For the purposes of this section proposals under section 52 shall be taken to have been first published—

(a) on the day on which the requirements of regulations under that section with respect to the publication of the proposals are satisfied; or

(b) where different such requirements are satisfied on different days, on the last of those days.

(4) Where any such requirement imposes a continuing obligation with respect to the publication of any proposals, the requirement shall for the purposes of subsection (3) be taken to be satisfied on the first day in respect of which it is satisfied.

54 Order by Secretary of State. E+W

(1) On an application duly made to him by the governing body of any controlled school the Secretary of State may by order direct that, as from such date as is specified in the order, the school shall be an aided school.

(2) The Secretary of State shall not make an order under this section unless he is satisfied that the governing body will be able and willing—

(a) with the assistance of grants under section 65, to defray the expenses mentioned in section 59(2) and (3), and

(b) to pay to the local education authority any compensation payable by the governing body under section 56.

(3) Where the Secretary of State proposes, in making an order under this section, to specify under subsection (1) a date which is different from that specified in pursuance of section 52(2)(b), he shall first consult the governing body and the local education authority as to the date which it would be appropriate to specify in the order.

(4) Where, in consequence of an order made under this section, an amount will be payable by a governing body by way of compensation under section 56, the order—

(a) shall specify the amount of the compensation so payable and the date by which it must be paid; and

(b) may impose such conditions in relation to its payment as the Secretary of State thinks fit.

(5) An order under this section may make such provision (including provision modifying any provision made by or under this Act) as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in connection with the transition of the school in question from controlled to aided status.

(6) In particular, an order under this section may make provision—

(a) as to the circumstances in which, and purposes for which, the school is to be treated before the date specified under subsection (1) as if it were an aided school;

(b) as to the time by which the new instrument of government and articles of government (appropriate for an aided school) are to be made for the school, and the consent and consultation required before they are made;

(c) where the local education authority propose to pass a resolution under section 89 to group the school when it becomes an aided school, as to the consent required before that resolution is passed;

(d) as to the appointment and dismissal of staff for the school;

(e) as to the arrangements to be made in relation to the admission of pupils to the school; and

(f) as to functions exercisable by, or in relation to, the governing body or the governors of any category specified in the order.

55 Variation of order under section 54. E+W

(1) Where the Secretary of State has made an order under section 54, he may, on the application of the local education authority or the foundation governors of the school, by order vary the order under that section so as to specify—

(a) a different date from that specified under subsection (1) of that section, or

(b) a different amount from that specified under subsection (4) of that section.

(2) The foundation governors of a school shall consult the other governors before applying to the Secretary of State under this section.

(3) Before making an order under this section the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) the local education authority, where the application is by the foundation governors, and

(b) the foundation governors, where the application is by the local education authority.

(4) Where foundation governors are consulted by the Secretary of State under subsection (3), they shall, before giving him their views, consult the other governors of the school.

56 Compensation payable by governing body to local education authority. E+W

(1) Where a controlled school becomes an aided school by virtue of an order under section 54, the governing body shall pay to the local education authority, in accordance with the order, an amount by way of compensation for relevant capital expenditure incurred in respect of the school by the authority or a predecessor of theirs.

(2) In subsection (1) “relevant capital expenditure” means—

(a) expenditure incurred under section 60 (or under paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the M1 Education Act 1946) in providing buildings which form part of the school premises;

(b) expenditure incurred under section 63 (or under section 2 of the M2 Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1953) in defraying expenses of establishing the school; or

(c) expenditure incurred under section 64 (or under section 1 of the Education Act 1946) in defraying expenses of enlarging the school.

(3) The amount payable by way of compensation under this section shall be—

(a) such as may be agreed by the governing body and the local education authority, or

(b) failing such agreement, such as the Secretary of State thinks fit, having regard to the current value of the property in question.

(4) The Secretary of State may, for the purpose of assisting him in any determination which he is required to make under subsection (3), appoint such person as he thinks competent to advise him on the valuation of property.

(5) No contribution, grant or loan shall be paid, or other payment made, by the Secretary of State to the governing body of a controlled school in respect of any compensation payable by them under this section.

Marginal Citations

M1 1946 c. 50.

M2 1953 c. 33.