http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/56/section/499Education Act 1996An Act to consolidate the Education Act 1944 and certain other enactments relating to education, with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Law Commission.1996-07-24texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-04-07Expert Participation2026-04-01 Part IX Ancillary functionsChapter I Ancillary functions of Secretary of State Membership of education committees Power to direct appointment of members of education committees.4991Subsection (2) applies to any local authorities which in accordance with section 102(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 have appointed any committees wholly or partly for the purpose of discharging any of their education functions .2The Secretary of State may by directions to any local authorities to which this subsection applies require—aevery such committee, orbany such committee of a description specified in the direction,to include persons appointed, in accordance with the directions, for securing the representation on the committee of persons who appoint foundation governors for voluntary schools in the area for which the committee acts.3Subsection (4) applies to any two or more local authorities which in accordance with section 102(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 have appointed any committees wholly or partly for the purpose of discharging any of their education functions .4The Secretary of State may by directions to any local authorities to which this subsection applies require—aevery such committee, orbany such committee of a description specified in the direction,to include persons appointed, in accordance with the directions, for securing the representation on the committee of persons who appoint foundation governors for voluntary schools in the area for which the committee acts or in such area as may be specified in the direction.5The power of the Secretary of State to give directions under subsection (2) or (4) shall be exercisable in relation to any sub-committees which—aare appointed by the authorities concerned or any such committee as is mentioned in that subsection, andbare so appointed wholly or partly for the purpose of discharging the authorities’ education functions,as it is exercisable in relation to the committees themselves.6Regulations may require—aany such committee as is mentioned in subsection (1) or (3), andbany sub-committee appointed by any authorities within subsection (1) or (3), or by any committee within paragraph (a) of this subsection, for the purpose mentioned in subsection (5)(b),to include one or more persons elected, in accordance with the regulations, as representatives of parent governors at maintained schools in relation to which the committee or sub-committee acts.7Regulations may make provision for—athe number of persons who are to be elected for the purposes of subsection (6) in the case of any local authority;bthe procedure to be followed in connection with the election of such persons and the persons who are entitled to vote at such an election;cthe circumstances in which persons are qualified or disqualified for being so elected or for holding office once elected;dthe term of office of persons so elected and their voting rights;ethe application to any such committee or sub-committee, with or without any modification, of any provision made by or under any other enactment and relating to committees or (as the case may be) sub-committees of a local authority;fsuch other matters connected with such elections or persons so elected as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.8Regulations may also make provision—aenabling the Secretary of State to determine, where he considers it expedient to do so in view of the small number of maintained schools in relation to which a committee or sub-committee acts, that the requirement imposed on the committee or sub-committee by virtue of subsection (6) is to have effect as if it referred to representatives of parents of registered pupils (rather than representatives of parent governors) at those schools;bfor any regulations under subsection (7) to have effect, where the Secretary of State makes any such determination, with such modifications as may be prescribed.9In subsections (6) and (8)—a“maintained school” means a community, foundation or voluntary school, a community or foundation special school or a maintained nursery school, andb“parent governor” means a governor elected or appointed as a parent governor under regulations made under section 19 of the Education Act 2002 (governing bodies).1972 c. 70. 1972 c. 70. S. 499(6)-(9) added (1.10.1998) by 1998 c. 31, s.9 (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1998/2212, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt.IS. 499(9) substituted (1.9.2003 for E., 31.10.2005 for W.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), s. 216(4), Sch. 21 para. 50 (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2003/2071, art. 2 (with art. 2(2)); S.I. 2005/2910, art. 4, Sch.Words in s. 499(3) substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 7(10)(b)Words in Act substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), Sch. 2 para. 7(2) (with Sch. 2 para. 7(4)(5))Words in s. 499(1) substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 7(10)(a)S. 499(9) savings for effects of 2002 c. 32, Sch. 21 para. 50 (W.) (31.10.2005) by The Education Act 2002 (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2913), regs. 1(1), 9Words in s. 499(5)(b) substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 7(10)(c)