Education Act 2005

39 Statement to be prepared by appropriate authority for school E+W

(1) Where there is sent to the appropriate authority for a maintained school either—

(a) a report of a section 28 inspection of the school, or

(b) a report of an inspection of the school by a member of the Inspectorate in which that person is required by section 35(1)(b) to state that he is of the opinion that special measures are required to be taken in relation to the school or that the school requires significant improvement,

the appropriate authority must prepare a written statement of the action which they propose to take in the light of the report and the period within which they propose to take it.

(2) It is the duty of the appropriate authority to prepare the statement within the period allowed by this subsection, that is—

(a) such period as may be prescribed, or

(b) if—

(i) the report states that the person making it is of the opinion that special measures are required to be taken in relation to the school or that the school requires significant improvement, and

(ii) either that person is a member of the Inspectorate or the report states that the Chief Inspector agrees with his opinion, and

(iii) the Assembly is of the opinion that the urgency of the case requires a shorter period,

such shorter period as the Assembly may direct;

but this subsection does not relieve the appropriate authority of any duty to prepare a statement which has not been performed within that period.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), where such a statement has been prepared by the appropriate authority, they must, before the end of the prescribed period, send copies of it—

(a) to the Chief Inspector,

(b) to whichever of the governing body and the [F1 local authority] are not the appropriate authority, and

(c) in such circumstances as may be prescribed, to such other persons (if any) as may be prescribed.

(4) Where the report in question is a report of a section 28 inspection of a school, subsection (3)(a) does not require a copy of the statement to be sent to the Chief Inspector unless the report states that the person making it is of the opinion—

(a) that special measures are required to be taken in relation to the school, or

(b) that the school requires significant improvement.

(5) If in the case of a maintained school—

(a) the statement is prepared in response to a report of an inspection of the school in which the person who made the report states that in his opinion special measures are required to be taken in relation to the school or that the school requires significant improvement, and

(b) either that person is a member of the Inspectorate or the report states that the Chief Inspector agrees with his opinion,

the appropriate authority must, before the end of the prescribed period, send a copy of the statement to the Assembly.

(6) In the case of a school having foundation governors, the appropriate authority must also send a copy of the statement to the person who appoints them and (if different) to the appropriate appointing authority.

(7) The appropriate authority must—

(a) make any statement prepared by them under this section available for inspection by members of the public, at such times and at such place as may be reasonable,

(b) provide a copy of the statement, free of charge or in prescribed cases on payment of such fee as they think fit (not exceeding the cost of supply), to any person who asks for one, and

(c) take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that every registered parent of a registered pupil at the school receives a copy of the statement as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(8) The duty under subsection (7)(c) is to be taken to be satisfied by the appropriate authority if they—

(a) take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that every registered parent of a pupil at the school receives, as soon as is reasonably practicable, a copy of a document prepared by them which—

(i) summarises the statement, and

(ii) contains a statement of the right to request a copy of it under paragraph (b), and

(b) provide a copy of the statement to every registered parent of a registered pupil at the school who asks for one.

(9) Where the governing body of a school have prepared a statement under this section, they must in the report under section 30 of the Education Act 2002 (c. 32) (governors' reports) state the extent to which the proposals set out in the statement (or, if there is more than one, the most recent statement) have been carried into effect.

Textual Amendments

F1 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. 13(2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 39 applied (with modifications) (1.9.2006 for W.) by 2000 c. 21 Sch. 7 para. 13(3)(b)(iii) (as substituted by Education Act 2005 (c. 18), ss. 46, 125, Sch. 5 para. 3(14)(c)); S.I. 2006/1338, art. 3, Sch. 1

C2 S. 39 applied (with modifications) (1.9.2006 for W.) by 2000 c. 21 Sch. 7 para. 6(3)(b)(iii) (as substituted by Education Act 2005 (c. 18), ss. 46, 125, Sch. 5 para. 3(8)(c)); S.I. 2006/1338, art. 3, Sch. 1