These Regulations may be cited as the Education (Groups of Grant–maintained Schools) Regulations 1994 and shall come into force on 1st May 1994.

In these Regulations–

• “the 1993 Act” means the Education Act 1993;

• “departing school” means a school in a group in respect of which procedures have been initiated for the school to leave the group and not terminated (as initiated on that occasion);

• “foundation school” means a grant–maintained school–

  1. a

     which was a voluntary school immediately before it became grant– maintained, or

  2. b

     which was established in pursuance of proposals published under section 49 of the 1993 Act;

• “grant–maintained school” includes a grant–maintained special school and references to “grant–maintained status” shall be construed accordingly;

• “group” means a group of two or more grant–maintained schools conducted by a single governing body;

• “hospital special school” means a maintained special school established in a hospital;

• “maintained special school” means a special school maintained by a local education authority;

• “participating school” means a school named in a motion or resolution or the subject of a ballot in respect of which the formation of a group with other participating schools is being considered;

• “relevant age group” has the same meaning as in section 155(4) of the 1993 Act;

• “relevant particulars” means the particulars specified in paragraph 4(1)(d) of Schedule 2 to these Regulations.