(1)The governing body of any county, voluntary or maintained special school, or of any grant-maintained school, may—
(a)provide courses of initial training for school teachers, or
(b)join in a partnership or association with other eligible institutions, or (alone or jointly with other eligible institutions) establish a body, for the purpose of providing such courses.
(2)Courses of initial teacher training so provided shall be open only to persons holding a degree or equivalent qualification granted by a United Kingdom institution or an equivalent degree or other qualification granted by a foreign institution.
For this purpose—
(a)a “United Kingdom institution” means an institution established in the United Kingdom, other than one which is, or is affiliated to or forms part of, an institution whose principal establishment is outside the United Kingdom; and
(b)a “foreign institution” means any institution other than a United Kingdom institution.
(3)In relation to an exercise of the powers conferred by subsection (1), the governing body shall have all the same supplementary and incidental powers as it has in relation to the conduct of the school.
(4)The above provisions have effect notwithstanding any provisions of the instrument of government or articles of government for the school.
(5)For the purposes of [F1section 35, 41 or 259 of the Education Act 1996] (procedure in case of certain proposals for alteration of school) an exercise of the powers conferred by this section, or ceasing to exercise them, shall not be treated as involving a significant change in the character of the school.
(6)Any exercise by the governing body of a school of the powers conferred by this section shall not be treated, for the [F2purposes of Chapter IV of Part II of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (financing of maintained schools), as being undertaken for the purposes of the school.]
(7)Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the power of the governing body of a school, as an ordinary incident of the conduct of the school—
(a)to provide training for persons employed as teachers at the school, or
(b)to participate in the provision of teacher training as part of a course provided by another institution.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 12(5) substituted (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 582(1), 583(2), Sch. 37 Pt. I para. 127(2) (with ss. 1(4), 561, 562, Sch. 39).
F2Words in s. 12(6) substituted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 140(1), Sch. 30 para. 54(c) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1998/2212, art. 2(4), Sch.1 Pt. IV.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 12 extended (21.9.1994) by S.I. 1994/2247, art. 2.
S. 12 explained (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 177(1), 583(2) (with ss. 1(4), 561, 562, Sch. 39).
S. 12 explained (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 294(1), 583(2) (with ss. 1(4), 561, 562, Sch. 39).