Education Act 1996

402 Obligation to enter pupils for public examinations. E+W

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), the governing body of a maintained school shall secure that each registered pupil at the school is entered, at such time as they consider appropriate, for each prescribed public examination for which he is being prepared at the school at the time in question in each syllabus for that examination for which he is being so prepared.

(2) The governing body are not required to secure that a pupil is entered for any examination, or for an examination in any syllabus for that examination, if either—

(a) they consider that there are educational reasons in the case of that particular pupil for not entering him for that examination or (as the case may be) for not entering him for that examination in that syllabus, or

(b) the parent of the pupil requests in writing that the pupil should not be entered for that examination or (as the case may be) for that examination in that syllabus;

[F1 but this subsection does not apply to an examination which is part of the assessment arrangements for the fourth key stage and applies in the case of that pupil.]

[F2 (2A) But subsection (2) does not apply to—

(a) an examination which is part of the assessment arrangements for the fourth key stage and applies in the case of that pupil (if the pupil is registered at a school maintained by a local authority in England), or

(b) an examination which is part of the assessment arrangements for pupils of compulsory school age who have completed the school year in which the majority of the pupils in their class attained the age of 14 and applies in the case of that pupil (if the pupil is registered at a school maintained by a local authority in Wales).]

(3) The governing body are not required to secure that a pupil is entered for any examination in any syllabus for that examination if they have secured his entry for another prescribed public examination in a corresponding syllabus.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3) a syllabus for a prescribed public examination shall be regarded as corresponding to a syllabus for another prescribed public examination if the same course of study is provided at the school in preparation for both syllabuses.

(5) As soon as practicable after determining whether or not to secure the entry of any pupil for a prescribed public examination in any syllabus for which he is being prepared at the school, the governing body shall notify the pupil’s parent in writing of their determination in relation to each such syllabus.

(6) In this section—

(a) “maintained school” includes [F3 a community or foundation special school] established in a hospital;

[F4 (aa) “assessment arrangements” and “fourth key stage”—

(i) in relation to a school maintained by a [F5 local authority] in England, have the same meaning as in Part 6 of the Education Act 2002 (the curriculum in England), [F6 and]

(ii) [F7 in relation to a school maintained by a [F5 local authority] in Wales, have the same meaning as in Part 7 of that Act (the curriculum in Wales); and]]

[F8 (ab) “assessment arrangements”, in relation to a school maintained by a local authority in Wales, has the same meaning as in Part 4 of the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (assessment and progression);]

(b) references to a prescribed public examination shall be construed in accordance with section 462.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 402(2) omitted (1.9.2022 for specified purposes, 1.9.2023 for specified purposes) by virtue of The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (Consequential Amendments) (Primary Legislation) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/744), reg. 1(3), Sch. 2 para. 2(4)(a)

F2 S. 402(2A) inserted (1.9.2022 for specified purposes, 1.9.2023 for specified purposes) by The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (Consequential Amendments) (Primary Legislation) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/744), reg. 1(3), Sch. 2 para. 2(4)(b)

F3 Words in s. 402(6) substituted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 140(1), Sch. 30 para.101 (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F4 S. 402(6)(aa) substituted (1.10.2002 for E. for certain purposes, 19.12.2002 for W. and otherwise prosp.) for word at the end of s. 402(6)(a) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), ss. 215(1), 216(4), Sch. 21 para. 45 (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2439, art. 3; S.I. 2002/3185, art. 4, Sch. Pt. 1

F5 Words in Act substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), Sch. 2 para. 7(2) (with Sch. 2 para. 7(4)(5))

F6 Word in s. 402(6)(aa) omitted (1.9.2022 for specified purposes, 1.9.2023 for specified purposes) by virtue of The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (Consequential Amendments) (Primary Legislation) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/744), reg. 1(3), Sch. 2 para. 2(4)(c)(i)(aa)

F7 S. 402(6)(aa)(ii) omitted (1.9.2022 for specified purposes, 1.9.2023 for specified purposes) by virtue of The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (Consequential Amendments) (Primary Legislation) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/744), reg. 1(3), Sch. 2 para. 2(4)(c)(i)(bb)

F8 S. 402(6)(ab) inserted (1.9.2022 for specified purposes, 1.9.2023 for specified purposes) by The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (Consequential Amendments) (Primary Legislation) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/744), reg. 1(3), Sch. 2 para. 2(4)(c)(ii)