Education Act 1996

Obligations of governing bodies

59 Obligations of governing bodies of voluntary schools

(1) The governing body of a controlled school are (in accordance with section 34(3)) not responsible for any of the expenses of maintaining the school.

(2) In the case of an aided or special agreement school, the expenses of discharging any liability incurred by or on behalf of—

(a) the governing body of the school,

(b) any former governors of the school, or

(c) any trustees of the school,

in connection with the provision of premises or equipment for the purposes of the school are payable by the governing body of the school.

(3) In addition, any expenses incurred—

(a) in making to the school buildings of an aided or special agreement school such alterations as may be required by the local education authority for the purpose of securing that the school premises conform to the standards prescribed under section 542, or

(b) in effecting repairs to the school buildings, other than repairs falling within subsection (4),

are payable by the governing body of the school.

(4) The governing body of an aided or special agreement school are not responsible—

(a) for repairs to the interior of the school buildings, or

(b) for repairs to those buildings necessary in consequence of the use of the school premises, in pursuance of a direction or requirement of the local education authority, for purposes other than those of the school.

(5) Where an order is made under section 47 authorising the transfer of an aided or special agreement school to a new site, the expenses of providing any school buildings to be provided on the new site are payable by the governing body of the school.