Education Act 1996

496 Power to prevent unreasonable exercise of functions.E+W

(1)If the Secretary of State is satisfied (either on a complaint by any person or otherwise) that a body to which this section applies have acted or are proposing to act unreasonably with respect to the exercise of any power conferred or the performance of any duty imposed by or under this Act, he may give such directions as to the exercise of the power or the performance of the duty as appear to him to be expedient (and may do so despite any enactment which makes the exercise of the power or the performance of the duty contingent upon the opinion of the body).

(2)The bodies to which this section applies are—

(a)any local education authority, [F1and]

F2[(b)the governing body of any community, foundation or voluntary school [F3, of any community or foundation special school, or of any maintained nursery school] .]

[F4(5)This section is subject to sections 508I and 509AE (complaints about transport arrangements etc).]

Textual Amendments

F1Word in s. 496(2)(a) inserted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 140(1), Sch. 30 para. 129(a) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F2S. 496(2)(b) substituted (1.9.1999) for s. 496(2)(b)(c) by 1998 c. 31, ss. 140(1), 145(3), Sch. 30 para. 129(b) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F3Words in s. 496(2)(b) substituted (8.1.2007) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), ss. 168(1), 188(2)

F4S. 496(5) inserted (12.1.2010 for specified purposes, 1.4.2010 in so far as not already in force) by Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22), s. 269(4), Sch. 2 para. 7; S.I. 2009/3317, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3); S.I. 2010/303, art. 3, Sch. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 496 applied (with modifications) (10.2.2009) (with application in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The School Admissions (Co-ordination of Admission Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/3090), regs. 1(1), 10

C2S. 496 modified (1.11.1996) by 1988 c. 40, s. 219(3) (as substituted (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 582(1), 583(2), Sch. 37 Pt. I para. 77 (with ss. 1(4), 561, 562, Sch. 39))

S. 496 modified (1.9.1998) by 1997 c. 44, s. 43(4); S.I. 1998/386, art. 2(4), Sch. 1 Pt. IV

S. 496 modified (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 44(7) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

S. 496 modified (1.4.2001 (E.), 1.4.2002 (W.)) by 2000 c. 21, s. 113(3) (with s. 150); S.I. 2001/654, art. 2(2), Sch. Pt. II (with art. 3); S.I. 2001/2705, art. 2(1), Sch. Pt. I

C3S. 496 extended (1.11.1996) by 1992 c. 13, s. 56(3) (as added (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 582(1), 583(2), Sch. 37 Pt. I para. 112 (with ss. 1(4), 561, 562, Sch. 39))

S. 496 extended (1.11.1996) by 1992 c. 13, s. 57(6)(a) (as substituted (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 582(1), 583(2), Sch. 37 Pt. I para. 113 (with ss. 1(4), 561, 562, Sch. 39))

S. 496 extended (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 24, Sch. 4 para. 10 (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

C4S. 496: power to apply conferred (1.10.1998) by 1998 c. 31, s. 105(7) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1998/2212, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I

C6S. 496 continued (W.) (22.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1274, art. 3(4)(a)

C7S. 496 modified by 2000 c. 21, s. 113A(10) (as inserted (1.4.2003 for E., 1.8.2004 for W.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), ss. 72(1), 216(4) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2003/124, art. 4; S.I. 2004/1728, art. 4, Sch. Pt. 1)

C8Ss. 495-498 modified (1.4.2003 for E.; 31.10.2005 for W.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), ss. 34(7), 216(4) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2003/124, art. 4; S.I. 2005/2910, art. 4, Sch.

C9S. 497: power to apply conferred by 1998 c. 31, s. 89(2) (as inserted (1.10.2002 for E., 1.2.2006 for W.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), ss. 48, 216(4) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2439, art. 3; S.I. 2006/172, art. 4, Sch.)