[Termination of occupation by Academy of land held by trustees: notice of termination and power of Secretary of State to make directionE+W
16(1)This paragraph applies if—E+W
(a)land has been held for the purposes of a maintained school by the trustees of the school,
(b)the land is held by the trustees for the purposes of an Academy, and
(c)the termination of the Academy's occupation of the land would have the result that it was not reasonably practicable for the Academy to continue to be conducted at its existing site.
(2)A notice given by the trustees to the Academy proprietor that purports to terminate the Academy's occupation of the land is not effective unless—
(a)the period of notice is reasonable, having regard to the length of time that it would take to terminate the Academy arrangements, and in any event is not less than two years, and
(b)a copy of the notice is given to the Secretary of State and the local authority by which the school was maintained at the same time as the notice is given to the proprietor.
(3)Where the trustees give, at the same (or substantially the same) time, notices purporting to terminate an Academy's occupation of two or more pieces of land held by the trustees for the purposes of the Academy, then for the purpose of determining whether sub-paragraph (1)(c) applies in relation to any of those pieces of land, regard may be had to the combined effect of terminating the Academy's occupation of both or all of them.
(4)If a question arises as to whether the termination of an Academy's occupation of any land would have the result mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(c) (including a question as to whether sub-paragraph (3) applies in any particular circumstances), it is to be determined by the Secretary of State.
(5)Sub-paragraph (6) applies where a notice that is effective to terminate an Academy's occupation of land relates to publicly funded land.
(6)The Secretary of State may make one or more of the following directions—
(a)a direction that the land or any part of the land be transferred to such local authority as the Secretary of State may specify, subject to the payment by that authority of such sum by way of consideration (if any) as the Secretary of State determines to be appropriate;
(b)a direction that the trustees pay, either to the Secretary of State or to such local authority as the Secretary of State may specify, the whole or any part of the value, as at the date of the direction, of the whole or any part of the land;
(c)a direction that the land or any part of the land be transferred to a person concerned with the running of an Academy, subject to the payment by that person or the Secretary of State of such sum by way of consideration (if any) as the Secretary of State determines to be appropriate;
(d)a direction that the land or any part of the land be transferred to the governing body, foundation body or trustees of a school, subject to the payment by that body or trustees (as the case may be) or the Secretary of State of such sum by way of consideration (if any) as the Secretary of State determines to be appropriate.]