Education (No. 2) Act 1986

16 General responsibility for conduct of certain schools

(1) The articles of government for every county, voluntary and maintained special school shall provide for the conduct of the school to be under the direction of the governing body, but subject to any provision of the articles conferring specific functions on any person other than the governing body, and to the provision made (otherwise than in the articles) by or under this Act or any other enactment.

(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as to the circumstances in which, in any case where—

(a) any provision of, or made under, this Act requires the governing body of a school to be consulted before a particular step is taken by the local education authority or the head teacher ; and

(b) the authority or head teacher require to take that step as a matter of urgency but are unable to contact the chairman or vice-chairman of the governing body ;

the authority or (as the case may be) the head teacher may proceed without consulting the governing body.

(3) Where a county, voluntary or maintained special school is organised in two or more separate departments, each with a head teacher, any provision made by or under this Act which confers functions on, or in relation to, the head teacher of the school shall, except where the articles of government provide otherwise, have effect as if each department were a separate school.