Standard of school premises
38. For Article 18 of the 1986 Order there shall be substituted the following Article—
“Standard of school premises
18.—(1) The Department shall issue directions specifying the standards to which premises of grant-aided schools shall conform.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), it shall be the duty of—
(a)the board responsible for the management of a controlled school;
(b)the Board of Governors of a grant-maintained integrated school; and
(c)the trustees of a voluntary school,
to secure that the premises of the school conform to the standards specified under this Article for schools of the description to which the school belongs.
(3) Where the Department is satisfied that it would be unreasonable to expect the premises of a particular school to conform to the standards specified under this Article, it may exempt the school premises from conforming with such standards to such extent and for such time as it thinks appropriate.
(4) Directions given under this Article by the Department—
(a)shall be given in writing; and
(b)shall be published by the Department in such manner as it thinks fit.”.