9Supervision of funding authorities by the Secretary of State
(1)In exercising their functions each funding authority shall comply with any directions contained in an order made by the Secretary of State.
(2)In respect of the exercise by the funding authority of functions in respect of any grant-maintained school, such directions may relate to grant-maintained schools generally or to any class or description of such schools.
(3)Before making an order under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult the funding authority unless, for reasons of urgency, it is not in his opinion reasonably practicable for him to do so.
(4)Sections 68 and 99(1) of the [1944 c. 31.] Education Act 1944 (powers of Secretary of State where local education authority are acting unreasonably or are in default) shall apply in relation to a funding authority and the functions conferred on them by or under the Education Acts as they apply in relation to local education authorities and the functions conferred on them by or under that Act.
(5)Subsection (4) above does not prejudice the generality of subsection (1) above.