The School Information (England) Regulations 2008

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations are made under sections 29(5), 537 and 569 of the Education Act 1996, and section 92 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, and come into force on 10^th February 2009. They prescribe school information that must be published by local authorities (LAs) and schools in relation to the academic year 2010 – 2011 and subsequent years.

They are primarily consolidating Regulations which revoke and re-enact, the Education (School Information) (England) Regulations 2002 and two sets of amending Regulations, with some changes.

Part 2 requires each LA to publish a composite prospectus annually containing information relating to all maintained schools, academies, city technology colleges and city colleges for the technology of the arts in the prospectus area (regulation 5). The requirement to include information in relation to academies, city technology colleges and city colleges for the technology of the arts is new. The information comprises: general information (detailed in Part 1 of Schedule 2) relating to the LA, the process of applying for a school place, the authority’s co-ordinated admissions scheme and the authority’s policies in respect of school travel; and admissions information in respect of each school mentioned in the prospectus (detailed in Part 2 of Schedule 2).

The composite prospectus must be published no later than 12th September each year (i) on the local authority’s website, and (ii) by making copies available to parents on request (regulation 6).

Part 3 requires each LA to publish other information each year: information relating to the LA’s policies on matters such as the provision of school meals, the provision of school clothing, entering pupils for public examinations and school travel (detailed in Part 1 of Schedule 3); the LA’s policies in relation to special educational provision (detailed in Part 2 of Schedule 3); and the LA’s policies in respect of the exceptional provision of education in pupil referral units or elsewhere (Part 3 of Schedule 3).

Part 4 requires the governing bodies of maintained schools to publish a school prospectus.

Part 5 contains supplementary provisions relating to published documents including the requirement that, where appropriate, information must be provided in translation, or by Braille or audio tape, without charge.