School Standards and Framework Act 1998

15 Cases where [F1local authority] may exercise powers of intervention.E+W

(1)This section applies to a maintained school by virtue of this subsection if—

(a)the [F1local authority] have—

(i)given the governing body a warning notice in accordance with subsection (2), and

(ii)given the head teacher of the school a copy of the notice at the same time as the notice was given to the governing body;

(b)the governing body have failed to comply, or secure compliance, with the notice to the authority’s satisfaction within the compliance period; and

(c)the authority have given reasonable notice in writing to the governing body that they propose to exercise their powers under [F2any one or more of sections 16, 16A and 17] (whether or not the notice is combined with a notice under section 62(3)(c)).

(2)A [F1local authority] may give a warning notice to the governing body of a maintained school where—

(a)the authority are satisfied—

(i)that the standards of performance of pupils at the school are unacceptably low and are likely to remain so unless the authority exercise their powers under [F3any one or more of sections 16, 16A and 17], or

(ii)that there has been a serious breakdown in the way the school is managed or governed which is prejudicing, or likely to prejudice, such standards of performance, or

(iii)that the safety of pupils or staff of the school is threatened (whether by a breakdown of discipline or otherwise) [F4, or—

(iv)that the governing body have failed to comply with a provision of an order under section 122 of the Education Act 2002 (teachers' pay and conditions) that applies to a teacher at the school, or

(v)that the governing body have failed to secure that the head teacher of the school complies with such a provision]; and

(b)the authority have previously informed the governing body and the head teacher of the matters on which that conclusion is based; and

(c)those matters have not been remedied to the authority’s satisfaction within a reasonable period.

(3)For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) a “warning notice” is a notice in writing by the [F1local authority] setting out—

(a)the matters referred to in subsection (2)(b);

(b)the action which they require the governing body to take in order to remedy those matters; and

(c)the period within which that action is to be taken by the governing body (“the compliance period”).

[F5(3A)For the purposes of subsection (2)(a) the standards of performance of pupils at a school are low if they are low by reference to any one or more of the following—

(a)the standards that the pupils might in all the circumstances reasonably be expected to attain,

(b)where relevant, the standards previously attained by them, or

(c)the standards attained by pupils at comparable schools.]

[F6(4)This section applies to a maintained school by virtue of this subsection if—

(a)following an inspection of the school under Chapter 3 of Part 1 of the Education Act 2005, the Chief Inspector has given the Assembly a notice under subsection (2) of section 37 of that Act in a case falling within subsection (1)(a)(ii) or (b)(ii) of that section (school requiring significant improvement), and

(b)where any subsequent inspection of the school has been made under that Chapter, the notice has not been superseded by—

(i)the person making the subsequent inspection making a report stating that in his opinion the school no longer requires significant improvement, or

(ii)the Chief Inspector giving the Assembly a notice under subsection (2) of section 37 of that Act in case falling within subsection (1)(a)(i) or (1)(b)(i) of that section (school requiring special measures).]

F7(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F8(6)This section applies to a maintained school by virtue of this subsection if—

(a)following an inspection of the school under Chapter 3 of Part 1 of the Education Act 2005, the Chief Inspector has given the Assembly a notice under subsection (2) of section 37 of that Act in a case falling within subsection (1)(a)(i) or (b)(i) of that section (school requiring special measures), and

(b)where any subsequent inspection of the school has been made under that Chapter, the notice has not been superseded by the person making the subsequent inspection making a report stating that in his opinion the school no longer requires special measures.]

F9(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1Words 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), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 10(2) (with Sch. 2 para. 10(4))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 15(4) modified (E.) (2.9.2002) by The Education Act 2002 (Transitional Provisions etc.) (England) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2113 ), {reg. 4(a)}

S. 15(4) modified (W.) (19.12.2002) by The Education Act 2002 (Transitional Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/3184), reg. 3(a)