Education and Inspections Act 2006

Inspections and annual reviews

136 Inspection of local authorities in England

(1) The Chief Inspector may inspect—

(a) the overall performance by any local authority in England of the functions to which this Chapter applies, or

(b) the performance by any such authority of any particular function or functions comprised in the functions to which this Chapter applies.

(2) An inspection under subsection (1) of the performance by an authority of any function must include an inspection of any related activity.

(3) When requested to do so by the Secretary of State, the Chief Inspector must conduct an inspection under this section in relation to the local authority specified in the request.

(4) Such a request may specify particular matters which the Chief Inspector must inspect.

137 Reports of inspections under section 136

(1) On completing an inspection under section 136, the Chief Inspector must make a written report on the matters which were the subject of the inspection.

(2) The Chief Inspector must send copies of the report to—

(a) the local authority in England which was inspected, and

(b) the Secretary of State.

(3) Where an authority receive a copy of a report under this section, they must prepare a written statement of—

(a) the action which they propose to take in the light of the report, and

(b) the period within which they propose to take that action.

(4) The authority must publish—

(a) the report, and

(b) the statement prepared under subsection (3),

within such period, and in such manner, as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(5) Such regulations may provide for the authority to charge a reasonable fee for providing a person with a copy of a document published under subsection (4).

(6) The Chief Inspector may arrange for any report under this section to be published in such manner as he considers appropriate.

138 Annual reviews of local authorities in England

(1) In each financial year the Chief Inspector must review the overall performance by each local authority in England of the functions to which this Chapter applies.

(2) A review under subsection (1) of the performance of functions must include a review of related activities.

(3) After conducting a review under this section in relation to an authority the Chief Inspector must award the authority a performance rating in respect of the matters reviewed.

(4) In this section “financial year” means a period of 12 months ending with 31st March in any year.