Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009

Chapter 3 Inspections

225 Interim statements

(1) The Education Act 2005 (c. 18) is amended as follows.

(2) After section 10 insert—

“"10A Interim statements between inspections

(1) The Chief Inspector may make a statement (an “interim statement”) about a school in England to which section 5 applies.

(2) An interim statement is a statement—

(a) that the Chief Inspector is of the opinion that it is not necessary for the school to be inspected under section 5 for at least a year after the date on which the statement is made,

(b) setting out the Chief Inspector’s reasons for forming that opinion, and

(c) containing such other information (if any) as the Chief Inspector considers appropriate.

(3) The Chief Inspector may arrange for an interim statement to be published in such manner as the Chief Inspector considers appropriate.

(4) Section 151 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (publication of inspection reports: privilege and electronic publication) applies in relation to an interim statement as it applies in relation to a report.”

(3) In the italic heading before section 14 after “reports” insert “and interim statements”.

(4) After section 14 insert—

“14A Destination of interim statements: maintained schools

(1) The Chief Inspector must ensure that a copy of any interim statement about a maintained school is sent without delay to the appropriate authority for the school.

(2) The Chief Inspector must ensure that copies of the statement are sent—

(a) to the head teacher of the school,

(b) to whichever of the local education authority and the governing body are not the appropriate authority, and

(c) in the case of a school having foundation governors, to the person who appoints them and (if different) to the appropriate appointing authority.

(3) If the school provides full-time education suitable to the requirements of pupils over compulsory school age, the Chief Inspector must ensure that a copy of the statement is also sent to the Young People’s Learning Agency for England.

(4) The appropriate authority must—

(a) make a copy of any statement sent to the authority under subsection (1) available for inspection by members of the public at such times and at such places as may be reasonable,

(b) provide one copy of the statement free of charge to any person who asks for one, and

(c) take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that every registered parent of a registered pupil at the school receives a copy of the statement within such period following receipt of the statement by the authority as may be prescribed.”

(5) In the italic heading before section 16 after “reports” insert “and interim statements”.

(6) After section 16 insert—

“16A Destination of interim statements: non-maintained schools

(1) The Chief Inspector must ensure that a copy of any interim statement about a school other than a maintained school is sent without delay to the proprietor of the school.

(2) In the case of a special school which is not a community or foundation special school, the proprietor must without delay send a copy of any interim statement sent to the proprietor under subsection (1) to any local education authority that are paying fees in respect of the attendance of a registered pupil at the school.

(3) The proprietor of the school must—

(a) make any statement sent to the proprietor under subsection (1) available for inspection by members of the public at such times and at such place as may be reasonable,

(b) provide one copy of the statement free of charge to any person who asks for one, and

(c) take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that every registered parent of a registered pupil at the school receives a copy of the statement within such period following receipt of the statement by the proprietor as may be prescribed.”

(7) In section 18 (interpretation of Chapter) after the definition of “the Chief Inspector” insert—

• ““interim statement” means an interim statement under section 10A;”.

226 Powers of persons providing administrative support in connection with inspections

(1) Part 2 of Schedule 12 to the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40) (inspectors etc acting on behalf of Chief Inspector) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 9(1) (delegation of functions), after paragraph (c) insert “or

(d) any inspection administrator,”,

(and omit “or” at the end of paragraph (b)).

(3) In paragraph 9(2)(a) for “and 11(4)” substitute “, 11(4) and 11A(3)”.

(4) In paragraph 10(1) (inspectors etc to have necessary qualifications, experience and skills), after paragraph (c) insert “or

(d) an inspection administrator,”,

(and omit “or” at the end of paragraph (b)).

(5) After paragraph 11 insert—

“Inspection administrators

11A (1) The Chief Inspector may enter into arrangements with inspection service providers under which they provide the services of persons to provide administrative support in connection with the carrying out of inspections.

(2) A person providing administrative support in pursuance of arrangements under sub-paragraph (1) is to be known as an inspection administrator.

(3) The Chief Inspector may not authorise an inspection administrator to conduct an inspection.”