Part VI Inspection of local education authorities and school inspections

Chapter I Inspection of local education authorities

38 Inspection of LEAs.

1

The Chief Inspector—

a

may, and

b

if requested to do so by the Secretary of State, shall,

arrange for any local education authority to be inspected under this section.

2

An inspection of a local education authority under this section shall consist of a review of the way in which the authority are performing any function of theirs (of whatever nature) which relates to the provision of education—

a

for persons of compulsory school age (whether at school or otherwise), or

b

for persons of any age above or below that age who are registered as pupils at schools maintained by the authority.

3

A request by the Secretary of State under this section may relate to one or more local education authorities, and shall specify both—

a

the local education authority or authorities concerned, and

b

the functions of theirs to which the inspection is to relate.

4

Before making any such request the Secretary of State shall consult the Chief Inspector as to the matters to be specified in the request in accordance with subsection (3).

5

Any inspection under this section shall be conducted—

a

by one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools in England or (as the case may require) Wales, or

b

by any additional inspector authorised under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the M1School Inspections Act 1996;

but he may be assisted by such other persons (whether or not members of the Chief Inspector’s staff) as the Chief Inspector thinks fit.

6

For the purposes of this section a local education authority shall provide the Chief Inspector with such information as may be prescribed, and shall do so in such form and—

a

within such period following a request made by the Chief Inspector in any prescribed circumstances, or

b

at such other times,

as regulations may provide.

7

In this section and sections 39 to 41 “the Chief Inspector” means—

a

in relation to a local education authority in England, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools in England; and

b

in relation to a local education authority in Wales, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales;

and in those sections references to “the inspector” in relation to an inspection under this section are references to the person conducting the inspection.