Learning and Skills Act 2000

81 After section 26 of that Act insert—

“26A Plans of local learning and skills councils

(1) In preparing a school organisation plan a local education authority in England shall have regard to the plans of any relevant local learning and skills council published under section 22 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000.

(2) Subsection (3) applies if a school organisation plan prepared by a local education authority in England is being considered by the school organisation committee or by the adjudicator.

(3) The committee or the adjudicator shall have regard to the plans of any relevant local learning and skills council published under section 22 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000.

(4) A local learning and skills council is a relevant council if any of its area falls within the area of the local education authority concerned.

26B Plans of National Council

(1) In preparing a school organisation plan a local education authority in Wales shall have regard to the plans of the National Council for Education and Training for Wales published under section 43 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000.

(2) Subsection (3) applies if a school organisation plan prepared by a local education authority in Wales is being considered by the school organisation committee or by the adjudicator.

(3) The committee or the adjudicator shall have regard to the plans of the National Council for Education and Training for Wales published under section 43 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000.

(4) In this section references to the school organisation committee are to the committee established by the authority under regulations made under section 27.

(5) In this section references to the adjudicator are to—

(a) such person appointed as adjudicator under those regulations as may be determined in accordance with them, or

(b) such persons appointed as a panel of adjudicators under those regulations as may be so determined.”