Education Act 2002

2 Power to suspend statutory requirements etc. E+W

(1) On the application of one or more qualifying bodies (“the applicant”), the Secretary of State (in relation to England) or the National Assembly for Wales (in relation to Wales) may for the purpose of this Chapter by order make provision—

(a) conferring on the applicant exemption from any requirement imposed by education legislation;

(b) relaxing any such requirement in its application to the applicant;

(c) enabling the applicant to exercise any function conferred by education legislation on any other qualifying body (either concurrently with or in place of that other body);

(d) making such modifications of any provision of education legislation, in its application to the applicant or any other qualifying body, as are in the opinion of the Secretary of State or the Assembly consequential on any provision made by virtue of any of paragraphs (a) to (c).

[F1 (1A) Where the applicant is or includes a qualifying foundation, references in paragraphs (a) to (d) of subsection (1) to the applicant (so far as they would otherwise be read as references to the qualifying foundation) are to be read as references to the governing bodies of all or any of the foundation or foundation special schools in respect of which the applicant is the foundation.]

(2) An order under this section shall have effect during a period specified in the order which, subject to section 3(2), must not exceed three years.

(3) Before making an order under this section, the Secretary of State or the National Assembly shall, if he or it considers it appropriate to do so, consult the Chief Inspector.

(4) No order under this section which relates to sections 119 to 129 may be made by the National Assembly for Wales without the consent of the Secretary of State.

(5) The Secretary of State or the National Assembly for Wales shall refuse an application for an order under this section if it appears to the Secretary of State or the Assembly that the proposed order would be likely to have a detrimental effect on the education of [F2 —

(a) in relation to England, children with special educational needs, or

(b) in relation to Wales, persons under 25 with special educational needs.]

(6) The Secretary of State or the National Assembly for Wales may from time to time give guidance as to the matters which the Secretary of State or the Assembly will take into account in determining whether to grant applications for orders under this section.

F3 (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3 (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4 (9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 2(1A) inserted (8.11.2006) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), s. 188(1), Sch. 16 para. 2(2)

F2 S. 2(5)(a)(b) substituted for words (1.9.2021) by The Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/861), regs. 1, 5(3)

F3 S. 2(7)(8) repealed (8.11.2006) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), s. 188(1), Sch. 16 para. 2(3), Sch. 18 Pt. 1

F4 S. 2(9) repealed (8.1.2007) by Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c. 51), s. 33, Sch. (with s. 30(2)-(5))

Commencement Information

I1 S. 2 partly in force; s. 2 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 216; s. 2 in force for E. at 1.10.2002 by S.I. 2002/2439, art. 3 (with transitional provisions and savings in art. 4, Sch.)

I2 S. 2 in force at 27.2.2015 for W. by S.I. 2015/381, art. 2