Education and Adoption Act 2016

Maintained schools causing concern: eligibility for intervention

Coasting schools

1

• (1) The Education and Inspections Act 2006 is amended as follows.

• (2) In section 59 (meaning of “maintained school” and “eligible for intervention”), in subsection (2), at the appropriate place insert— “ section 60B (coasting schools), ”.

• (3) After section 60A insert—

(60B) (1) A maintained school is by virtue of this section eligible for intervention if— (a) the school is coasting, and (b) the Secretary of State has notified the governing body that it is coasting. (2) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide that this section does not apply in relation to a school of a description specified in the regulations. (3) The Secretary of State must by regulations define what “coasting” means in relation to a school to which this section applies.

• (4) In section 182 (Parliamentary control of orders and regulations), in subsection (3), after paragraph (a) insert—

(aza) the first regulations to be made under section 60B(3) (regulations defining “coasting” in relation to a school),

.

Performance standards and safety warning notices

2

• (1) The Education and Inspections Act 2006 is amended as follows.

• (2) In section 60 (performance standards and safety warning notice)—

• (a) for “local authority”, in each place it occurs, substitute “ relevant authority ”;

• (b) for subsection (1) substitute—

(1) A maintained school is by virtue of this section eligible for intervention if— (a) a relevant authority have given the governing body a warning notice in accordance with subsection (2), (b) the period for compliance specified in the notice (“the compliance period”) has expired, (c) the governing body have failed to comply, or secure compliance, with the notice to the relevant authority's satisfaction by the end of the compliance period, and (d) the relevant authority have given reasonable notice in writing to the governing body that the authority proposes to exercise the authority's powers under any one or more of sections 63 to 69 (whether or not the notice is combined with a notice under section 62(2A)(c) of SSFA 1998).

;

• (c) in subsection (4), for paragraph (c) (but not the “and” at the end) substitute—

(c) the compliance period for the purposes of subsection (1)(c),

;

• (d) in subsection (4)(d), for “66” substitute “ 69 ”;

• (e) after subsection (4) insert—

(4A) If a local authority are notified that the Secretary of State has given a warning notice to the governing body of a maintained school the local authority may not give a warning notice unless or until the Secretary of State informs them that they may. (4B) If the Secretary of State gives a warning notice to the governing body of a maintained school, any earlier warning notice given to the maintained school by the local authority ceases to have effect from that time.

;

• (f) omit subsection (5);

• (g) after subsection (6) insert—

(6A) If a local authority give a warning notice to the governing body of a maintained school they must, at the same time, give a copy of it to the Secretary of State. (6B) If the Secretary of State gives a warning notice to the governing body of a maintained school the Secretary of State must, at the same time, give a copy of it to the local authority.

;

• (h) omit subsections (7) to (9);

• (i) for subsection (10) substitute—

(10) In this section “relevant authority” means— (a) the local authority, or (b) the Secretary of State.

• (3) In section 63 (power of local authority to require governing body to enter into arrangements), in subsection (3), for “section 60(10)” substitute “ section 60(1)(b) ”.

• (4) In section 64 (power of local authority etc to appoint additional governors), in subsection (2), for “section 60(10)” substitute “ section 60(1)(b) ”.

• (5) In section 66 (power of local authority to suspend right to delegated budget), in subsection (2), for “section 60(10)” substitute “ section 60(1)(b) ”.

• (6) Omit section 69A (power of Secretary of State to direct local authority to give performance standards and safety warning notice).

• (7) In section 73 (interpretation), omit the definition of “working day”.

Other warning notices

3

• (1) The Education and Inspections Act 2006 is amended as follows.

• (2) In section 60A (teachers' pay and conditions warning notice)—

• (a) for subsection (1) substitute—

(1) A maintained school is by virtue of this section eligible for intervention if— (a) the local authority have given the governing body a warning notice in accordance with subsection (2), (b) the period for compliance specified in the notice (“the compliance period”) has expired, (c) the governing body have failed to comply, or secure compliance, with the notice to the local authority's satisfaction by the end of the compliance period, and (d) the local authority have given reasonable notice in writing to the governing body that the authority proposes to exercise the authority's powers under any one or more of sections 64 to 66.

;

• (b) in subsection (4), for paragraph (c) (but not the “and” at the end) substitute—

(c) the compliance period for the purposes of subsection (1)(c),

;

• (c) omit subsection (5);

• (d) in subsection (6), before paragraph (a) insert—

(za) the Secretary of State,

;

• (e) omit subsections (7) to (10).

• (3) In section 64 (power of local authority etc to appoint additional governors), in subsection (2), for “section 60A(10)” substitute “ section 60A(1)(b) ”.

• (4) In section 66 (power of local authority to suspend right to delegated budget), in subsection (2), for “section 60A(10)” substitute “ section 60A(1)(b) ”.

• (5) In section 69B (power of Secretary of State to direct local authority), in subsection (3)—

• (a) omit paragraph (c);

• (b) in paragraph (d), for “60A(10)” substitute “ 60A(1)(b) ”.

Maintained schools causing concern: intervention powers

Power to require governing body to enter into arrangements

4

Before section 67 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 insert—

(66A) (1) If at any time a maintained school is eligible for intervention other than by virtue of section 60A, then (subject to subsection (3)) the Secretary of State may, with a view to improving the performance of the school, give the governing body of the school a notice requiring the governing body— (a) to enter into a contract or other arrangement with a specified person (who may be the governing body of another school) for the provision to the governing body of specified services of an advisory nature, (b) to make specified arrangements authorised by section 26 of EA 2002 (collaboration between schools) with the governing body of such other school as may be specified, (c) to make specified arrangements authorised by regulations under section 166 of this Act (collaboration arrangements: maintained schools and further education bodies) with a further education body within the meaning of that section, or (d) to take specified steps for the purpose of creating or joining a federation, as defined by section 24(2) of EA 2002. (2) Before exercising the power conferred by subsection (1), the Secretary of State must consult— (a) the governing body of the school, (b) in the case of a foundation or voluntary school which is a Church of England school or a Roman Catholic Church school, the appropriate diocesan authority, and (c) in the case of any other foundation or voluntary school, the person or persons by whom the foundation governors are appointed. (3) Where the school is eligible for intervention by virtue of section 60 (school subject to performance standards and safety warning), the power conferred by subsection (1) is only exercisable within the period of two months following the end of the compliance period (as defined by section 60(1)(b)). (4) A notice under subsection (1)(a) may require the contract or other arrangement to contain specified terms and conditions.

Appointment of interim executive members

5

In Schedule 6 to the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (governing bodies consisting of interim executive members), after paragraph 5 insert—

(5A) Where the appropriate authority is a local authority the Secretary of State may give the local authority directions about— (a) who to appoint as interim executive members; (b) how many people to appoint as interim executive members; (c) the terms of appointment of interim executive members; (d) the termination of any appointment in accordance with provision made under paragraph 5.

Interaction between intervention powers

6

• (1) The Education and Inspections Act 2006 is amended as follows.

• (2) In section 64 (power of local authority etc to appoint additional governors)—

• (a) in subsection (1), for “subsections (1A) and (2)” substitute “ subsection (2) ”;

• (b) omit subsection (1A).

• (3) After section 70 insert—

(70A) (1) A local authority must notify the Secretary of State before exercising a power under section 63, 64 or 66 in relation to a maintained school. (2) The Secretary of State must notify the local authority before exercising a power under any of sections 66A to 69 in relation to a maintained school. (70B) (1) This section applies where a local authority are notified that the Secretary of State intends to exercise a power under any of sections 66A to 69 in relation to a maintained school. (2) The local authority may not use any of their powers under section 63, 64 or 66 in relation to the school unless or until the Secretary of State notifies them that they may. (70C) (1) This section applies where a local authority have given the governing body of a maintained school a notice under section 65 (governing body to consist of interim executive members). (2) The Secretary of State may take over responsibility for arrangements in connection with the interim executive members by giving notice to the local authority and, where the Secretary of State does so— (a) the notice given by the local authority in accordance with section 65 is to be treated as having been given by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 69, and (b) anything done by or in relation to the local authority under Schedule 6 is to be treated as having been done by or in relation to the Secretary of State.

Maintained schools causing concern: conversion into Academies

Duty to make Academy orders

7

• (1) Section 4 of the Academies Act 2010 (Academy orders) is amended as follows.

• (2) Before subsection (1) insert—

(A1) The Secretary of State must make an Academy order in respect of a maintained school in England that is eligible for intervention by virtue of section 61 or 62 EIA 2006 (schools requiring significant improvement or schools requiring special measures).

• (3) In subsection (1)(b), after “(within the meaning of Part 4 of EIA 2006)” insert “ other than by virtue of section 61 or 62 of EIA 2006 ”.

Consultation about conversion

8

For section 5 of the Academies Act 2010 (consultation on conversion) substitute—

(5) (1) Before a maintained school in England is converted into an Academy, the school's governing body must consult such persons as they think appropriate about whether the conversion should take place. (2) But this section does not apply if an Academy order under section 4(A1) or (1)(b) has effect in respect of the school. (3) Consultation for the purposes of this section may be carried out before or after an Academy order, or an application for an Academy order, has been made in respect of the school. (4) In the case of a federated school, the reference in subsection (1) to the governing body includes a reference to any members of the governing body.

Consultation about identity of Academy sponsor in certain cases

9

After section 5 of the Academies Act 2010 insert—

(5A) (1) This section applies where an Academy order under section 4(A1) has effect in respect of a foundation or voluntary school that has a foundation. (2) Before entering into Academy arrangements in relation to the school the Secretary of State must consult the following about the identity of the person with whom the arrangements are to be entered into— (a) the trustees of the school, (b) the person or persons by whom the foundation governors are appointed, and (c) in the case of a school which has a religious character, the appropriate religious body. (3) In this section, “the appropriate religious body”, in relation to a school, means— (a) in the case of a Church of England school or a Roman Catholic school, the appropriate diocesan authority; (b) in any other case, such body or person representing the specified religion or religious denomination as is prescribed under section 88F(3)(e) of SSFA 1998. (4) In the case of a school in relation to which there is more than one religion or religious denomination specified, references to “the appropriate religious body” are to be read as references to both or all of the bodies concerned. (5) In subsections (3) and (4), “specified” means specified in the order under section 69(3) of SSFA 1998 relating to the school. (6) Expressions used in this section and SSFA 1998 have the same meaning as in that Act.

Duty to facilitate conversion

10

After section 5A of the Academies Act 2010 (inserted by section 9 above) insert—

(5B) (1) Where an Academy order under section 4(A1) or (1)(b) has effect in respect of a school, the governing body of the school and the local authority must take all reasonable steps to facilitate the conversion of the school into an Academy. (2) Where the Secretary of State notifies the governing body or local authority that the Secretary of State is minded to enter into Academy arrangements with a specified person, their duty under subsection (1) includes a duty to take all reasonable steps to facilitate the making of Academy arrangements with that person.

Power to give directions to do with conversion

11

After section 5B of the Academies Act 2010 (inserted by section 10 above) insert—

(5C) (1) Where an Academy order under section 4(A1) or (1)(b) has effect in respect of a school, the Secretary of State may direct the governing body of the school or the local authority to take specified steps for the purpose of facilitating the conversion of the school into an Academy. (2) A direction may, in particular, require the governing body or local authority to prepare a draft of a scheme under section 8 or Part 1 of Schedule 1. (3) A direction may specify the period within which any steps must be taken.

Power to revoke Academy orders

12

After section 5C of the Academies Act 2010 (inserted by section 11 above) insert—

(5D) (1) The Secretary of State may by order revoke an Academy order under section 4(A1) or (1)(b). (2) If an Academy order is revoked the Secretary of State must give a copy of the order to everyone to whom a copy of the Academy order was given under section 4(4). (3) Despite section 568(1) of EA 1996 (orders to be made by statutory instrument) (as applied by section 17(4) of this Act) the power of the Secretary of State to make an order under this section is not required to be exercised by statutory instrument.

Duty to communicate information about plans to improve school

13

After section 5D of the Academies Act 2010 (inserted by section 12 above) insert—

(5E) (1) Before a maintained school in England which is causing concern is converted into an Academy, the proposed proprietor of the Academy must communicate to the registered parents of registered pupils at the school information about the proposed proprietor's plans to improve the school. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1)— (a) the “proposed proprietor of the Academy” is the person with whom the Secretary of State proposes to enter or has entered into Academy arrangements in respect of the school; (b) a school is “causing concern” if it is eligible for intervention within the meaning of Part 4 of EIA 2006.

Academies causing concern: intervention powers

Academies causing concern

14

After section 2 of the Academies Act 2010 insert—