SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 3 Arrangements in Respect of Ballot of Parents Regarding Acquisition of Self-Governing Status
1
The school board shall secure that all necessary arrangements for the ballot are made by such body as may be prescribed (in this Schedule referred to as “the prescribed body”).
2
The arrangements, and the exercise by the school board of any functions in relation to the ballot, shall accord with such guidance as the Secretary of State may from time to time publish for the purposes of this Schedule.
3
The ballot shall be a secret postal ballot of all parents of pupils for the time being in attendance at the school and any question as to whether a person is such a parent shall be determined by the school board; but on being requested to do so by the school board the education authority shall, for the purposes of the ballot, provide the board with a copy of the current list maintained by the authority, in respect of the school, under paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 to the 1988 Act (list of names of parents of pupils in attendance).
4
It shall be the duty of the school board to secure that the prescribed body take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that each person who is eligible to vote in the ballot is—
a
without prejudice to sub-paragraph (b) below, given such information about the consequence for the school of acquisition of self-governing status as may reasonably be expected to enable him to form a proper judgment as to whether such status should be sought for the school;
b
given such information, including (without prejudice to the generality of this sub-paragraph) information—
i
about the ballot and about the procedure for the acquisition of self-governing status; and
ii
in the case of a ballot held by virtue of section 15 of this Act, an explanation (which in the case of a ballot required by a notice under subsection (1) of that section shall repeat the reasons given in the notice by the Secretary of State for declaring the earlier ballot void) as to why a fresh ballot is to be held,
as may be prescribed;
c
informed that he is entitled to vote in the ballot; and
d
given an opportunity to do so by being provided timeously with a ballot paper which sets out the question as to whether such status should be sought for the school and invites him to vote “yes” or “no” to that question.
5
Before the ballot the school board shall make available, for inspection (at all reasonable times and free of charge), to every person employed to work at the school a document containing the information given under paragraph 4(a) and (b) above.
6
Subject to section 14 of this Act, and to the foregoing provisions of this Schedule, the arrangements shall be such as the school board think fit.