The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

School attendance orders

School attendance orders

27.  For paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 13 to the 1986 Order (school attendance orders) there shall be substituted—

“1.— (1) If it appears to a board that a parent of a child of compulsory school age in its area is failing to perform the duty imposed on him by Article 45, it shall serve a notice in writing on the parent requiring him to satisfy the board, within such period (not being less than fourteen days beginning with the day on which the notice is served) as is specified in the notice, that the child is, by regular attendance at school or otherwise, receiving suitable education.

(2) If—

(a) a parent on whom a notice has been served under sub-paragraph (1) fails to satisfy the board, within the period specified in the notice, that the child is receiving suitable education, and

(b) in the opinion of the board it is expedient that the child should attend school,

the board shall serve in the prescribed manner on the parent an order (referred to in this Order as a “school attendance order”), in the prescribed form, requiring him to cause the child to become a registered pupil at a school named in the order.

(3) Unless it is revoked by the board or a direction is made in respect of it by a court under paragraph 6, a school attendance order shall (subject to any amendment made by the board) continue in force—

(a) where the school named in the order provides education for pupils up to the upper limit of compulsory school age or beyond, for so long as the child is of compulsory school age;

(b) where the school does not provide education up to or beyond that age, until the pupil has reached the age at which he would normally leave that school.

(4) Where a grant-aided school is named in a school attendance order the Board of Governors of the school shall admit the child to the school.

(5) Sub-paragraph (4) does not affect any power to suspend or expel from a school a pupil who is already a registered pupil there.

(6) In this Part “suitable education”, in relation to a child, means efficient full-time education suitable to his age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs he may have.

1A.— (1) Sub-paragraphs (2) to (5) apply where a board is required by virtue of paragraph 1(2) to serve a school attendance order in respect of a child, other than a child for whom it maintains a statement under Article 16 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

(2) Before serving the order, the board shall serve on the parent a notice in writing—

(a) informing him of its intention to serve the order,

(b) specifying the school which the board intends to name in the order and, if it thinks fit, one or more other schools which it regards as suitable alternatives, and

(c) stating the effect of sub-paragraphs (4) and (5).

(3) A voluntary or grant-maintained integrated school shall not be specified in a notice under sub-paragraph (2) unless the board has consulted the managers of the school.

(4) If the notice specifies one or more alternative schools and the parent selects one of them and notifies the board accordingly before the expiration of the period of fourteen days beginning with the day on which the notice is served, the school selected by him shall be named in the order.

(5) If before the expiration of the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (4) the parent—

(a) applies for the child to be admitted to a school other than the school or schools specified in the notice; and

(b) notifies the board accordingly,

then, if as a result of the application the child is offered a place at that school, that school shall, subject to sub-paragraph (7), be named in the order.

(6) If at any time while a school attendance order is in force with respect to a child, other than a child for whom the board maintains a statement under Article 16 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

(a) the parent applies for the child to be admitted to a school other than the school named in the order; and

(b) as a result of the application the child is offered a place at a school, the board shall, subject to sub-paragraph (7), at the request of the parent amend the order by substituting that school for the one previously named.

(7) Sub-paragraphs (5) and (6) do not apply where the school at which the child is offered a place is an independent school unless, in the opinion of the board, the school is suitable to his age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs he may have.

1B.— (1) Sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) apply where a board is required by virtue of paragraph 1(2) to serve a school attendance order in respect of a child for whom it maintains a statement under Article 16 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

(2) Where the statement specifies the name of a School that school shall be named in the order.

(3) Where the statement does not specify the name of a school—

(a) the board shall, in accordance with paragraph 10 of Schedule 2 to the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996, amend the statement so that it specifies the name of a school, and

(b) that school shall then be named in the order.

(4) Where—

(a) a school attendance order is in force in respect of a child for whom the board maintains a statement under Article 16 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996, and

(b) the name of the school specified in the statement differs (for whatever reason) from that specified in the order,

the board shall amend the order so that it names the school specified in the statement.

2.— (1) This paragraph applies where a school attendance order is in force in respect of a child.

(2) If at any time the parent applies to the board requesting that the order be revoked on the ground that arrangements have been made for the child to receive suitable education otherwise than at school, the board shall comply with the request, unless it is of the opinion that no satisfactory arrangements have been made for the education of the child otherwise than at school.

(3) If a parent is aggrieved by a refusal of the board to comply with a request under sub-paragraph (2), he may refer the question to the Department.

(4) Where a question is referred to the Department under sub-paragraph (3), it shall give such direction determining the question as it thinks fit.

(5) Where the child in question is one for whom the board maintains a statement under Article 16 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

(a) sub-paragraphs (2) to (4) do not apply if the name of a school is specified in the statement, and

(b) in any other case a direction under sub-paragraph (4) may require the board to make such amendments in the statement as the Department considers necessary or expedient in consequence of its determination.”.