Part VI Inspection of local education authorities and school inspections
Chapter I Inspection of local education authorities
38 Inspection of LEAs.
1
The Chief Inspector—
a
may, and
b
if requested to do so by the Secretary of State, shall,
arrange for any local education authority to be inspected under this section.
2
An inspection of a local education authority under this section shall consist of a review of the way in which the authority are performing any function of theirs (of whatever nature) which relates to the provision of education—
a
for persons of compulsory school age (whether at school or otherwise), or
b
for persons of any age above or below that age who are registered as pupils at schools maintained by the authority.
3
A request by the Secretary of State under this section may relate to one or more local education authorities, and shall specify both—
a
the local education authority or authorities concerned, and
b
the functions of theirs to which the inspection is to relate.
4
Before making any such request the Secretary of State shall consult the Chief Inspector as to the matters to be specified in the request in accordance with subsection (3).
5
Any inspection under this section shall be conducted—
a
by one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools in England or (as the case may require) Wales, or
b
by any additional inspector authorised under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the M1School Inspections Act 1996;
but he may be assisted by such other persons (whether or not members of the Chief Inspector’s staff) as the Chief Inspector thinks fit.
6
For the purposes of this section a local education authority shall provide the Chief Inspector with such information as may be prescribed, and shall do so in such form and—
a
within such period following a request made by the Chief Inspector in any prescribed circumstances, or
b
at such other times,
as regulations may provide.
7
In this section and sections 39 to 41 “the Chief Inspector” means—
a
in relation to a local education authority in England, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools in England; and
b
in relation to a local education authority in Wales, F1Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales or Prif Arolygydd Ei Mawrhydi dros Addysg a Hyfforddiant yng Nghymru;
and in those sections references to “the inspector” in relation to an inspection under this section are references to the person conducting the inspection.