The Schools Forums (England) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020

Statutory Instruments

2020 No. 540

Education, England

The Schools Forums (England) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020

Made

26th May 2020

Laid before Parliament

28th May 2020

Coming into force

18th June 2020

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 47A and 138(7) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998(1), makes the following Regulations.

Citation, commencement and expiry

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Schools Forums (England) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020.

(2) They come into force on 18th June 2020 and shall cease to have effect on 1st April 2021.

Amendment to meetings of Schools Forums (England) Regulations 2012

2.—(1) The Schools Forums (England) Regulations 2012(2) are amended as follows.

(2) After regulation 8(1) insert—

“(1A) A meeting of the schools forum is not limited to a meeting of persons all of whom, or any of whom, are physically in the same place and includes meetings held through remote means.”.

(3) After regulation 8(2) insert—

“(2A) “public meeting” includes a meeting of the schools forum that the public can access through remote means.”

(4) After regulation 8(3) insert—

“(3A) For the purposes of regulation 8(3) reference to being “present” at the meeting includes members being present through remote means. A member will not be considered to be present through remote means unless the conditions in 8(3B) are satisfied.

(3B) A member accessing the meeting by remote means must be able to–

(a) hear and be heard by, and where practicable, see and be seen by any members present;

(b) be heard and, where practicable, seen by any members of the public at the meeting.”.

(5) After regulation 8(13) insert—

“(14) “Remote means” means access to a meeting to enable persons to attend or participate simultaneously by electronic means, including (but not limited to) telephone conferencing, video conferencing, live webcast, and live interactive streaming.”.

Nick Gibb

Minister of State

Department for Education

26th May 2020

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make amendments to the Schools Forums (England) Regulations 2012 (the 2012 Regulations) to allow, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, for schools forums meetings to take place by remote means.

These Regulations cease to have effect on 1st April 2021.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private or voluntary sector is foreseen.

An Explanatory Memorandum is published alongside this instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk. Hard copies are available from the Department of Education, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT.

(1)

1998 c. 31

(2)

S.I. 2012/2261