Inspections
9 Inspection of education authority
1
On any occasion on which they are requested to do so by the Scottish Ministers, or at such intervals as appear to the Scottish Ministers to be appropriate, Her Majesty’s Inspectors, or any person appointed by the Scottish Ministers for the purposes of this section (or Her Majesty’s Inspectors and any such person), shall inspect an education authority so as to review the way in which the authority are exercising their functions in relation to the provision of school education.
2
A request under subsection (1) above may relate to those functions generally or to such matters in relation to those functions as may be specified in the request.
3
The education authority shall give all assistance which they are reasonably able to give to whomever is carrying out the inspection.
10 Code of practice as regards inspection of education authority
The Scottish Ministers may, for the purposes of—
a
giving practical guidance on matters relating to inspections under section 9 of this Act (including, without prejudice to that generality, such matters as the making and publishing of reports on the matters reviewed); and
b
promoting what appear to them to be desirable practices with respect to those matters,
from time to time prepare, approve and issue such codes of practice as in their opinion are suitable for those purposes.
11 Inspection of educational establishment
In section 66 of the 1980 Act (which makes provision for the inspection of educational establishments)—
a
in subsection (1), for the words from “other persons” to the end there shall be substituted “
any person appointed by the Scottish Ministers for the purposes of this section (or Her Majesty’s Inspectors and any such person)
”
; and
b
after that subsection there shall be inserted—
1AA
If requested to do so by the Scottish Ministers—
a
Her Majesty’s Inspectors or any person appointed by the Scottish Ministers for the purposes of this section shall give advice to the Scottish Ministers on such matter as may be specified in the request;
b
Her Majesty’s Inspectors or any such person (or Her Majesty’s Inspectors and any such person) may, as respects a matter so specified, inspect and report on a school (including any establishment in which school education is provided in pursuance of arrangements entered into under section 35 of this Act), or class of schools, so specified.
12 Code of practice as regards inspection of educational establishment
After section 66 of the 1980 Act there shall be inserted—
66A Code of practice as regards inspections under section 66
1
Subject to subsection (2) below, the Scottish Ministers may, for the purposes of—
a
giving practical guidance on matters relating to inspections under section 66 of this Act (including, without prejudice to that generality, such matters as the making and publishing of reports on those inspections); and
b
promoting what appear to them to be desirable practices with respect to these matters,
from time to time prepare, approve and issue such codes of practice as in their opinion are suitable for those purposes.
2
Subsection (1) above does not apply in relation to inspections of educational establishments which are institutions for the provision of any form of further education.