The Further Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1997

Accounts, reports, information, etc.

Accounts of governing body

19.—(1) It shall be the duty of the governing body of an institution of further education to keep proper accounts and proper records in relation to the accounts.

(2) The accounts shall be prepared and audited in respect of each c financial year in such manner as the Department may, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel, direct.

(3) The audited accounts shall—

(a) be submitted to the Department on or before such date as the Department may direct; and

(b) be published in such manner as the Department may direct.

(4) The financial year of the governing body shall be the period of 12 months ending on 31st July.

(5) The Department may by order amend paragraph (4).

(6) The Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland and the Department shall have the right of access to the books, accounts and records of the governing body.

Development plans

20.—(1) Each governing body of an institution of further education shall, not later than such date in every financial year as the Department may determine, submit to the Department a development plan in respect of the institution.

(2) The development plan shall be prepared in respect of the next following financial year and the succeeding two financial years.

(3) The development plan shall contain a statement of—

(a) the number of persons the governing body estimates will be students of the institution;

(b) the courses of further and higher education which the governing body proposes to provide or secure the provision of;

(c) the capital expenditure proposed by the governing body and an estimate of the recurrent expenditure and income of the governing body; and

(d) such other matters as may be determined by the Department,

as regards each financial year to which the plan relates.

(4) In preparing a development plan, a governing body shall take into account any guidance issued to it by the Department.

(5) A development plan prepared in pursuance of this Article shall be in such form as the Department may determine.

(6) Any power of the Department under this Article to make a -determination may be exercised differently in respect of different governing bodies.

(7) Each governing body of an institution of further education shall make arrangements for monitoring the implementation of the development plan in respect of the institution.

Reports, returns and information

21.—(1) The governing body of an institution of further education shall make such reports and returns, and give such information to—

(a) the Department, as the Department may reasonably require for the purposes of its functions under any statutory provision;

(b) a board, as the board may reasonably require for the purposes of its functions under the Education Orders.

(2) Reports, returns and information provided under paragraph (1)(a) shall be in such form as the Department may direct.

(3) A board shall provide the governing body of an institution of further education with such information as the governing body may reasonably require for the purposes of its functions under this Order.

Information as to provision of further education

22.—(1) The Department may by regulations require the governing body of an institution of further education to publish such information as may be prescribed with respect to—

(a) the educational provision made by the institution for students at the institution;

(b) the educational achievements of students on entry to the institution and the educational achievements of students while at the institution (including in each case the results of examinations, tests and other assessments of those students);

(c) the financial and other resources of the institution and the effectiveness of the use made of such resources;

(d) the careers of students of the institution after completing any course or leaving the institution; and

(e) any other prescribed matter relating to the institution.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(d), a person’s career includes any education, training, employment or occupation; and the regulations may in particular require the published information to show—

(a) the numbers of students not undertaking any career, and

(b) the persons providing students with education, training or employment.

(3) The information shall be published in such form and manner and at such times as may be prescribed.

(4) The published information shall not name any student to whom it relates.

(5) The Department may by regulations require the Board of Governors of any secondary school to provide such persons as may be prescribed with such categories of information falling within paragraph (6) as may be prescribed.

(6) Information falls within this paragraph if it is—

(a) published under paragraph (1); and

(b) made available to Boards of Governors for distribution.

(7) Information provided under paragraph (5) shah be provided in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed.