6.—(1) This regulation applies in relation to the publication by an authority of the information specified in Schedule 1.
(2) Such information shall be published before the end of the publication school year and, except in so far as it relates exclusively to primary education or special educational provision or provision to which section 19 of the 1996 Act(1) applies (education provided in a pupil referral unit or otherwise than at school), no later than six weeks before the date up to which parents may express a preference for a school in respect of the admission school year.
(3) Subject to paragraphs (4) to (9), the information shall be published–
(a)by copies being distributed without charge to parents on request, and made available for reference by parents and other persons–
(i)at the offices of the authority; and
(ii)at every school maintained by the authority, other than a special school or a pupil referral unit;
(b)by copies being distributed without charge to parents of pupils at schools maintained by the authority, other than special schools or pupil referral units, who, in the publication school year, are in the final year at such schools and who might transfer to other such schools so maintained; and
(c)by copies being made available for reference by parents and other persons at the public libraries in the authority’s area.
(4) So far as the information in respect of the matters specified in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of Schedule 1 is concerned, the information in respect of schools in a particular part of the authority’s area need not–
(a)be made available at offices, schools and libraries outside that part; or
(b)be distributed to the parents of pupils who are at schools outside that part,
if information about how it may be obtained is available at those offices, schools and libraries or, as the case may be, is distributed to those parents.
(5) It shall be a sufficient compliance with paragraph (3)(a)(ii) if so much of the information and particulars as relates to schools classified as–
(a)primary schools;
(b)middle schools; or
(c)secondary schools,
(irrespective of the terminology used) is available only in schools of the classification in question.
(6) It shall be a sufficient compliance with paragraph (3)(b) if there is published so much of the information and particulars as is relevant having regard to the schools to which pupils in the final year at that school might transfer.
(7) So far as the particulars specified in Part II of Schedule 1 are concerned (special educational provision), paragraphs (3), (5) and (6) shall not apply but the particulars shall be published–
(a)by copies being distributed without charge to parents on request, and made available for reference by parents and other persons at the offices of the relevant authority; and
(b)by copies being made available for reference by parents and other persons–
(i)at every school maintained by the authority; and
(ii)at the public libraries in the area of that authority.
(8) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this regulation, such particulars of the arrangements made by the authority under section 94(1) of the 1998 Act (appeals against admission decisions) and mentioned in section 92(1)(c) of that Act shall also be published by being set out in any document containing a notification to parents of a decision referred to in section 94(1) of that Act refusing their child admission to a school for which the parents have expressed a preference in accordance with arrangements made under section 92(1) of that Act.
(9) Information about the matters mentioned in paragraphs 8(2) and 20 of Schedule 1 (transport arrangements and policies) shall also be published by copies being distributed without charge to institutions within the further education sector or at which a further education funding council has secured provision which (in either case) the authority consider students resident within its area may wish to attend.
Section 19 of the 1996 Act is amended, and a new subsection (4A) inserted therein by section 47 of, and Schedule 8 to, the Education Act 1997.