After section 497 of the M1Education Act 1996 there shall be inserted—
(1)This section applies to a local education authority’s functions (of whatever nature) which relate 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.
(2)If the Secretary of State is satisfied (either on a complaint by any person interested or otherwise) that a local education authority are failing in any respect to perform any function to which this section applies to an adequate standard (or at all), he may exercise his powers under subsection (3) or (4).
(3)The Secretary of State may under this subsection direct an officer of the authority to secure that that function is performed in such a way as to achieve such objectives as are specified in the direction.
(4)The Secretary of State may under this subsection give an officer of the authority such directions as the Secretary of State thinks expedient for the purpose of securing that the function—
(a)is performed, on behalf of the authority and at their expense, by such person as is specified in the direction, and
(b)is so performed in such a way as to achieve such objectives as are so specified;
and such directions may require that any contract or other arrangement made by the authority with that person contains such terms and conditions as may be so specified.
(5)Where the Secretary of State considers it expedient that the person specified in directions under subsection (4) should perform other functions to which this section applies in addition to the function to which subsection (2) applies, the directions under subsection (4) may relate to the performance of those other functions as well; and in considering whether it is expedient that that person should perform any such additional functions, the Secretary of State may have regard to financial considerations.
(6)Any direction under this section may either—
(a)have effect for an indefinite period until revoked by the Secretary of State, or
(b)have effect until any objectives specified in the direction have been achieved (as determined in accordance with the direction).
(7)Any direction given under subsection (3) or (4) shall be enforceable, on an application made on behalf of the Secretary of State, by an order of mandamus.
(1)Where the Secretary of State gives directions under section 497A(4) to an officer of a local education authority, the person specified in those directions shall, in the performance of the function or functions specified in the directions, be entitled to exercise the powers conferred by this section.
(2)The specified person shall have at all reasonable times—
(a)a right of entry to the premises of the authority, and
(b)a right to inspect, and take copies of, any records or other documents kept by the authority, and any other documents containing information relating to the authority, which he considers relevant to the performance of the specified function or functions.
(3)In exercising the right to inspect records or other documents under subsection (2), the specified person—
(a)shall be entitled at any reasonable time to have access to, and inspect and check the operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been in use in connection with the records or other documents in question, and
(b)may require—
(i)the person by whom or on whose behalf the computer is or has been so used, or
(ii)any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material,
to afford him such assistance as he may reasonably require (including, in particular, the making of information available for inspection or copying in a legible form).
(4)Without prejudice to subsection (2), the authority shall give the specified person all assistance in connection with the performance of the specified function or functions which they are reasonably able to give.
(5)Subsection (2) shall apply in relation to any school maintained by the authority as it applies in relation to the authority; and without prejudice to that subsection (as it so applies)—
(a)the governing body of any such school shall give the specified person all assistance in connection with the exercise of his functions which they are reasonably able to give; and
(b)the governing body of any such school and the authority shall secure that all such assistance is also given by persons who work at the school.
(6)Any reference in this section to the specified person includes a reference to any person assisting him in the performance of the specified function or functions.
(7)In this section “document” and “records” each include information recorded in any form.”
Marginal Citations