Education (Wales) Measure 2011

11 Proposals by local authorities to federate schools

(1) A local authority may make proposals for the federation—

(a) of two or more maintained schools;

(b) of an existing federation and one or more maintained schools;

(c) of two or more existing federations.

(2) A local authority must publish proposals made under this section.

(3) A local authority must, in accordance with regulations, consult the following persons on the published proposals—

(a) the governing bodies of the schools or federations to be federated;

(b) the staff of the schools;

(c) one or more bodies (if any) appearing to the authority to represent the interests of the staff of the schools;

(d) in so far as is practicable, registered pupils at the schools and their parents.

(4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply in relation to a proposal for a federation consisting only of small schools.

(5) In relation to a proposal for a federation consisting only of small schools the local authority must, in accordance with regulations, consult the governing bodies of the schools concerned.

(6) A “small school” in subsections (4) and (5) means a maintained school that, on the date that the proposal is made under subsection (1), is a small maintained school as defined in an order under section 15.

(7) A local authority must, in accordance with regulations, determine whether to—

(a) confirm proposals, with or without modification or subject to the occurrence of an event, or

(b) withdraw them.

(8) A local authority may make proposals for a federation that includes a maintained school that it does not maintain only if the local authority that maintains the school gives its consent.

(9) A local authority may make proposals for a federation that includes a foundation or voluntary school only if the following persons give their consent—

(a) in the case of a Church in Wales school or a Roman Catholic Church school, the appropriate diocesan authority, and

(b) in the case of any other foundation or voluntary school, the person or persons by whom the foundation governors are appointed.

(10) Regulations may make further provision about proposals under this section and may (among other things) make provision about—

(a) obtaining consent from prescribed persons to the making, publication or confirmation of proposals;

(b) the information to be included in, or provided in relation to, the proposals;

(c) the publication of proposals;

(d) consultation on the proposals;

(e) the making of objections to or comments on the proposals;

(f) withdrawal or modification of the proposals;

(g) confirmation of the proposals by the local authority.