Education Act 1996

372 Functions of head teacher: county, controlled and maintained special schools

(1) The articles of government for a county, controlled or maintained special school shall—

(a) provide for the determination and organisation of the secular curriculum for the school to be the responsibility of the head teacher, and

(b) require the head teacher to secure that that curriculum is followed within the school.

(2) The articles shall provide that, in discharging his duties in relation to the secular curriculum for the school, the head teacher shall consider the statement made by the local education authority under section 370 and those made by the governing body by virtue of section 371.

(3) The articles shall also provide that, in discharging those duties, the head teacher shall have regard to any representations with regard to the determination or organisation of the secular curriculum—

(a) which are made to him by any persons connected with the community served by the school, or

(b) which are made to him by the chief officer of police and are connected with that officer’s responsibilities.

(4) The articles shall also provide that, in discharging those duties, the head teacher shall ensure that the secular curriculum—

(a) so far as it relates to sex education, is compatible with the governing body’s policy (as expressed in the statement made by them by virtue of section 371(3)) except where that policy is incompatible with any part of the syllabus for a course which forms part of that curriculum and leads to a public examination;

(b) so far as it relates to other matters, is compatible with the policy of the local education authority (as expressed in the statement made by them under section 370) as modified by the statement made by the governing body by virtue of section 371(2), and

(c) is compatible with the provisions of this Act and any other enactments relating to education (including, in particular, provisions relating to children with special educational needs).

(5) In relation to sex education subsection (4) has effect subject to section 404(3).