Education Act 2002

54 Duty to notify where inspection shows school causing concern

After section 16 of the School Inspections Act 1996 (c. 57) there is inserted—

“16A Duty to notify where inspection shows school causing concern

(1) Subsection (2) applies in relation to a school falling within section 11(2) where—

(a) following an inspection of the school under Part 1 by a member of the Inspectorate, that member has informed the Chief Inspector of his opinion—

(i) that the school has serious weaknesses, or

(ii) that special measures are required to be taken in relation to the school,

(b) following an inspection of the school under Part 1 by a registered inspector, the Chief Inspector has been notified in writing by the inspector of the inspector’s opinion that the school has serious weaknesses, or

(c) the Chief Inspector agrees with the opinion of a registered inspector, expressed in a draft report submitted to the Chief Inspector under section 13(2), that special measures are required to be taken in relation to the school.

(2) Where this subsection applies, the Chief Inspector shall without delay give the Secretary of State a notice in writing stating that the case falls within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1).

(3) On receiving a notice under subsection (2), the Secretary of State shall without delay give the local education authority a notice in writing stating that he has been informed by the Chief Inspector that the case falls within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1).

(4) For the purposes of this section a school has serious weaknesses if, although giving its pupils in general an acceptable standard of education, it has significant weaknesses in one or more areas of its activities.”