Learning and Skills Act 2000
Part I
Learning and Skills Council for England
The Council
1
The Council.
Main duties
2
Education and training for persons aged 16 to 19.
3
Education and training for persons over 19.
4
Encouragement of education and training.
Main powers
5
Provision of financial resources.
6
Financial resources: conditions.
7
Funding of school sixth-forms.
8
Links between education and training and employment.
9
Assessments and means tests.
10
Qualifying accounts and arrangements.
11
Further education: governors.
Other functions
12
Research and information.
13
Persons with learning difficulties.
14
Equality of opportunity.
15
Plans.
16
Strategy.
17
Use of information by Council.
18
Supplementary functions.
Local councils
19
Local councils.
20
Functions of local councils.
21
Guidance to local councils.
22
Plans of local councils.
23
Duty of local education authorities.
24
Guidance and plans: timing.
Miscellaneous
25
Directions.
26
Committees.
27
Grants to Council.
28
Annual report.
29
Council’s financial year.
Part II
National Council for Education and Training for Wales
The Council
30
The Council.
Main duties
31
Education and training for persons aged 16 to 19.
32
Education and training for persons over 19.
33
Encouragement of education and training.
Main powers
34
Provision of financial resources.
35
Financial resources: conditions.
36
Funding of school sixth-forms.
37
Assessments and means tests.
38
Qualifying accounts and arrangements.
39
Further education: governors.
Other functions
40
Research and information.
41
Persons with learning difficulties.
42
Equality of opportunity.
43
Plans.
44
Strategy.
45
Use of information by Council.
46
Supplementary functions.
Miscellaneous
47
Directions.
48
Committees.
49
Grants to Council.
50
Annual report.
51
Council’s financial year.
Part III
Inspections in England
Chapter I
The Adult Learning Inspectorate
The Inspectorate
52
The Inspectorate.
53
The Inspectorate’s remit.
Functions of the Inspectorate and the Chief Inspector
54
Functions of the Inspectorate and Chief Inspector.
55
Inspections under section 54.
56
General powers.
57
Right of entry and offences.
58
Action plans.
59
Annual report.
Chapter II
Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools in England
The Chief Inspector’s extended remit
60
The extended remit.
Additional functions
61
Additional functions of the Chief Inspector.
62
Inspection of further education institutions.
63
Right of entry and offences.
64
Action plans.
65
Area inspections.
66
Reports of area inspections.
67
Action plans following section 65 inspections.
68
Further powers of the Chief Inspector.
Chapter III
The Common Inspection Framework and Joint Inspections
The Common Inspection Framework
69
The framework.
70
Preparation of the framework.
Joint inspections
71
Joint inspections.
Chapter IV
General
72
Defamation.
Part IV
Inspections in Wales
New titles
73
Inspectors of Education and Training in Wales.
74
Some defined terms.
Extended remit
75
The extended remit of the Chief Inspector for Wales.
Additional functions
76
Additional functions of the Chief Inspector for Wales.
77
Inspections.
78
General powers.
79
Right of entry and offences.
80
Action plans.
81
Inspections of careers services etc.
82
Inspections of education and training provided under 1973 Act arrangements.
83
Area inspections.
84
Action plans following section 83 inspections.
85
Studies across Wales or of provision made outside Wales.
86
Annual reports.
87
Annual plan of the Chief Inspector for Wales.
88
Defamation.
Part V
Miscellaneous and general
Further Education Funding Councils
89
Dissolution of FEFC for England.
90
Preliminary transfers: FEFC for England.
91
Dissolution of FEFC for Wales.
Other transfers
92
Transfers: England.
93
Transfers: Wales.
Transfers: further provision
94
Stamp duty.
95
Contracts of employment.
External qualifications
96
Persons under 19.
97
Persons over 19.
98
Approved qualifications: England.
99
Approved qualifications: Wales.
100
Authorised bodies.
101
Enforcement: England.
102
Enforcement: Wales.
103
Amendments relating to external qualifications.
Qualifying accounts and arrangements
104
Qualifying accounts.
105
Qualifying arrangements.
106
Qualifying arrangements: Northern Ireland.
107
Qualifying arrangements: further provision.
108
Grants.
109
Grants: Northern Ireland.
Sixth-form education
110
Secondary education.
111
Further education corporations.
112
Further education institutions: designation.
113
Inadequate sixth-forms.
Support for 13 to 19 year olds: England
114
Provision of services.
115
Consultation and coordination.
116
Local education authorities.
117
Educational institutions: information and access.
118
Inspection.
119
Information: supply by Secretary of State.
120
Information: supply by public bodies.
121
Supplementary.
122
Careers services.
Support for 11 to 25 year olds: Wales
123
Provision of services.
124
Local authority: duty and powers.
125
Consultation and coordination.
126
Educational institutions: information and access.
127
Inspection.
128
Conduct and effect of inspections.
129
Supplementary.
City colleges and academies
130
City academies.
131
City academies: land.
132
City academies: financial provisions.
133
City colleges and academies: special educational needs.
Pensions
134
Pensions.
135
Pensions: interpretation.
136
Pensions: delegation.
Other miscellaneous provisions
137
Recreation and social and physical training.
138
Wales: provision of information by public bodies.
139
Induction periods for teachers.
140
Assessments relating to learning difficulties.
141
Training programmes: cessation of funding.
142
Further and higher education corporations: secondary education.
143
Further education sector: designated institutions.
144
Designated institutions: disposal of land, &c.
145
Further education colleges: governors’ liability.
146
Financial support for students.
147
Financial support for students: Northern Ireland.
148
Sex education.
149
Amendments.
General
150
Wales.
151
Transitional provisions.
152
Orders and regulations.
153
Repeals.
154
Commencement.
155
Extent.
156
Citation.
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1
Learning and Skills Council for England
Chief executive
1
(1) One of the Council’s members is to be its...
Tenure of members
2
(1) A person is to hold and vacate office as...
3
(1) This paragraph applies if the Secretary of State is...
Salaries, pensions, etc
4
(1) The Council must pay in respect of its members...
Staff
5
(1) The Council may appoint such employees as it thinks...
6
(1) Employment with the Council is to be included among...
Delegation of functions
7
(1) The Council may authorise the chairman or the chief...
Members’ interests
8
(1) A member of the Council who is in any...
Proceedings
9
(1) A representative of the Secretary of State is entitled...
10
The validity of any proceedings of the Council is not...
11
The Council may regulate its own procedure, subject to the...
Seal and proof of instruments
12
The application of the Council’s seal must be authenticated by...
13
(1) This paragraph applies if a document purports to be...
Accounts
14
(1) The Council must— (a) keep proper accounts and proper...
Council’s status
15
(1) The Council is not to be regarded as the...
SCHEDULE 2
Local councils
Director
1
(1) The Council must appoint one of its employees as...
Tenure of members
2
(1) A person is to hold and vacate office as...
3
(1) This paragraph applies if the Council is satisfied that...
Allowances
4
The Council must pay in respect of the members of...
Staff
5
The Council may appoint such of its employees as it...
Delegation of functions
6
(1) A local council may authorise the chairman or the...
Proceedings
7
The validity of any proceedings of a local council is...
8
A local council may regulate its own procedure.
SCHEDULE 3
Committees (England)
General
1
(1) The Council— (a) must establish a young people’s learning...
Young people’s learning committee
2
(1) This paragraph applies to the young people’s learning committee....
Adult learning committee
3
(1) This paragraph applies to the adult learning committee.
Other committees
4
(1) This paragraph applies to any committee of the Council...
Tenure of members
5
(1) A person is to hold and vacate office as...
6
(1) This paragraph applies if the Council is satisfied that...
Allowances
7
The Council must pay to the members of any of...
Proceedings
8
(1) A representative of the Secretary of State is entitled...
9
The validity of any proceedings of any committee of the...
10
The Council may regulate the procedure of any of its...
SCHEDULE 4
National Council for Education and Training for Wales
Chief executive
1
(1) One of the Council’s members is to be its...
Tenure of members
2
(1) A person is to hold and vacate office as...
3
(1) This paragraph applies if the National Assembly is satisfied...
Salaries, pensions, etc
4
(1) The Council must pay in respect of its members...
Staff
5
(1) The Council may appoint such employees as it thinks...
6
(1) Employment with the Council is to be included among...
Delegation of functions
7
(1) The Council may authorise the chairman or the chief...
Members’ interests
8
(1) A member of the Council who is in any...
Proceedings
9
(1) A representative of the National Assembly is entitled to...
10
The validity of any proceedings of the Council is not...
11
The Council may regulate its own procedure, subject to the...
Seal and proof of instruments
12
The application of the Council’s seal must be authenticated by...
13
(1) This paragraph applies if a document purports to be...
Accounts
14
(1) The Council must— (a) keep proper accounts and proper...
Council’s status
15
(1) The Council is not to be regarded as the...
SCHEDULE 5
Committees (Wales)
General
1
(1) The Council— (a) may establish a regional committee for...
Regional committees
2
(1) A regional committee is to consist of not less...
3
A regional committee— (a) must perform with regard to its...
Other committees
4
(1) This paragraph applies to any committee of the Council...
Tenure of members
5
(1) A person is to hold and vacate office as...
Allowances
6
The Council must pay to the members of any of...
Delegation of functions
7
A committee of the Council may authorise the chairman of...
Proceedings
8
(1) A representative of the National Assembly is entitled to...
9
The validity of any proceedings of a committee of the...
10
A committee of the Council may regulate its own procedure,...
SCHEDULE 6
The Adult Learning Inspectorate
Tenure of members
1
(1) A person is to hold and vacate office as...
2
(1) This paragraph applies if the Secretary of State is...
Salaries, pensions, etc
3
(1) The Inspectorate must pay in respect of its members...
Staff
4
(1) The Inspectorate may appoint such employees, including inspectors, as...
5
(1) The Inspectorate must pay to its employees such remuneration...
6
(1) Employment with the Inspectorate is to be included among...
Committees
7
(1) The Inspectorate may establish such committees as it considers...
Supplementary powers
8
(1) The Inspectorate may do anything which appears to it...
Delegation of functions
9
The Inspectorate may authorise the chairman, the chief officer or...
Members’ interests
10
(1) A member of the Inspectorate who is in any...
Proceedings
11
(1) A representative of the Secretary of State is entitled...
Seal and proof of instruments
12
The application of the Inspectorate’s seal must be authenticated by...
13
(1) This paragraph applies if a document purports to be...
Accounts
14
(1) The Inspectorate must— (a) keep proper accounts and proper...
Financial year of the Inspectorate
15
A financial year of the Inspectorate is—
Inspectorate’s status
16
(1) The Inspectorate is not to be regarded as the...
House of Commons disqualification
17
In Part III of Schedule 1 to the House of...
SCHEDULE 7
Inadequate Sixth Forms
Part I
Power to publish proposals
Secondary schools
1
(1) Paragraphs 2 to 7 apply to a maintained school...
2
If a person who inspects a school—
3
(1) This paragraph applies if in the course of an...
4
(1) Parts II and III of this Schedule shall apply...
5
(1) Parts II and III of this Schedule shall cease...
6
(1) This paragraph applies to a report of an inspection...
7
Section 13(2) to (7) of the School Inspections Act 1996...
Institutions for 16-19 year olds
8
Paragraphs 9 to 14 apply to a maintained school (within...
9
If a person who inspects a school—
10
(1) This paragraph applies if in the course of an...
11
(1) Parts II and III of this Schedule shall apply...
12
(1) Parts II and III of this Schedule shall cease...
13
(1) This paragraph applies to a report of an inspection...
14
Section 13(2) to (7) of the School Inspections Act 1996...
Part II
Publication of proposals
Closure of sixth form: England
15
Paragraphs 16 and 17 apply to a school which is...
16
(1) The Learning and Skills Council for England may publish...
17
(1) The Council shall send— (a) a copy of the...
18
In paragraphs 16 and 17 “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations...
Closure of sixth form: Wales
19
Paragraphs 20 and 21 apply to a school which is...
20
(1) The National Council for Education and Training for Wales...
21
(1) The Council shall send— (a) a copy of the...
22
In paragraphs 20 and 21 “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations...
Closure of institution for 16-19 year olds: England
23
Paragraphs 24 and 25 apply to a school which—
24
(1) The Learning and Skills Council for England may publish...
25
(1) The Council shall send— (a) a copy of the...
26
In paragraphs 24 and 25 “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations...
Closure of institution for 16-19 year olds: Wales
27
Paragraphs 28 and 29 apply to a school which—
28
(1) The National Council for Education and Training for Wales...
29
(1) The Council shall send— (a) a copy of the...
30
In paragraphs 28 and 29 “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations...
Schools maintained by LEA outside its area
31
(1) This paragraph applies to a school which—
Part III
Implementation of proposals
England
32
(1) Paragraphs 33 to 38 apply to schools in England...
33
Regulations may require any of the following to provide prescribed...
34
Any person may send objections to the proposals to the...
35
(1) The school organisation committee shall consider the proposals and—...
36
(1) Where proposals are approved under paragraph 35 they shall...
37
(1) If a school organisation committee has not, by the...
38
(1) The duty to implement proposals to alter a school—...
Wales
39
(1) Paragraphs 40 to 44 apply to schools in Wales...
40
Regulations may require any of the following to provide prescribed...
41
Any person may send objections to the proposals to the...
42
(1) The National Assembly shall consider the proposals and—
43
(1) Where proposals are approved under paragraph 42 they shall...
44
(1) The duty to implement proposals to alter a school—...
Schools maintained by LEA outside its area
45
(1) This paragraph applies to a school which—
SCHEDULE 8
City academies: land
Transfer schemes
1
(1) The Secretary of State may make a scheme in...
Restriction on disposal
2
(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies if— (a) a freehold or leasehold...
3
(1) This paragraph applies if an authority makes a disposal...
4
(1) For the purposes of paragraphs 2 and 3—
Restriction on appropriation
5
(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies if— (a) a freehold or leasehold...
6
(1) This paragraph applies if an authority makes an appropriation...
Duty to inform
7
(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies if— (a) a freehold or leasehold...
Former city academies
8
(1) This paragraph applies if— (a) a freehold or leasehold...
Other Acts
9
(1) Section 123(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 (disposal...
Regulations
10
The Secretary of State may make regulations containing such incidental,...
11
(1) The regulations may include— (a) provision requiring a person...
12
The regulations may include— (a) provision that consent under paragraph...
General
13
A dwelling-house used by an authority for occupation by a...
14
For the purposes of this Schedule— (a) a city academy...
SCHEDULE 9
Amendments
Introduction
1
The amendments specified in this Schedule shall have effect.
Public Records Act 1958 (c.51)
2
In Schedule 1 to the Public Records Act 1958 (definition...
Superannuation Act 1972 (c.11)
3
In Schedule 1 to the Superannuation Act 1972 (kinds of...
House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c.24)
4
In Part III of Schedule 1 to the House of...
Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (c.65)
5
In section 23A of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (discrimination...
6
After section 25 of that Act insert— General duty: post-16...
7
(1) Section 26 of that Act (exception for single-sex establishments)...
8
In section 28 of that Act (exception for physical training)...
Race Relations Act 1976 (c.74)
9
In section 18A of the Race Relations Act 1976 (discrimination...
10
After section 19 of that Act insert— General duty: post-16...
Education (Fees and Awards) Act 1983 (c.40)
11
In section 1 of the Education (Fees and Awards) Act...
Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 (c.33)
12
In section 5(9) of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and...
Local Government Act 1988 (c.9)
13
In paragraph 8(3)(a)(i) of Schedule 1 to the Local Government...
Employment Act 1988 (c.19)
14
In section 26 of the Employment Act 1988 (status of...
Education Reform Act 1988 (c.40)
15
In section 124 of the Education Reform Act 1988 (powers...
16
In section 128(1)(b) of that Act (dissolution of higher education...
17
For section 161(1)(b) of that Act (interpretation: further or higher...
18
In section 218(2B) of that Act (school and further and...
Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c.43)
19
In section 98 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (definitions)...
Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (c.13)
20
In the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, omit sections...
21
In section 18 of that Act (further education corporation: powers)—...
22
(1) Section 19 of that Act (supplementary powers of a...
23
(1) Section 22 of that Act (subsequent instruments and articles)...
24
(1) Section 29 of that Act (government and conduct of...
25
In section 31 of that Act (designated institutions conducted by...
26
In section 41(10) of that Act (control of contracts) after...
27
(1) Section 44 of that Act (collective worship) is amended...
28
(1) Section 45 of that Act (religious education) shall be...
29
In section 52 of that Act (duty to provide for...
30
In section 52A of that Act (pupils receiving secondary education)...
31
In section 54 of that Act (duty to give information)...
32
In section 55 of that Act (inspections etc of local...
33
Section 56 of that Act (directions) shall cease to have...
34
In that Act for section 57 substitute— Intervention. (1) This section applies if one or more of the...
35
In section 60 of that Act (saving as to persons...
36
Section 60A of that Act (partnership arrangements: Wales) shall cease...
37
In that Act, after section 61 insert— References to councils....
38
In section 82 of that Act (joint exercise of functions)...
39
In section 83 of that Act (efficiency studies) in subsection...
40
In section 89(2) of that Act (orders and regulations)—
41
In section 90 of that Act (interpretation) after subsection (2)...
42
In section 91 of that Act (interpretation of Education Acts)...
43
In section 92 of that Act (index) in the table...
44
(1) Schedule 4 to that Act (instruments and articles of...
45
Schedule 5A to that Act (partnership arrangements: Wales) shall cease...
Welsh Language Act 1993 (c.38)
46
In section 6(1) of the Welsh Language Act 1993 (meaning...
Value Added Tax Act 1994 (c.23)
47
(1) In Schedule 9 to the Value Added Tax Act...
Education Act 1994 (c.30)
48
In section 9(2) of the Education Act 1994 (joint exercise...
Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (c.50)
49
In section 19 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (discrimination...
Employment Rights Act 1996 (c.18)
50
In section 63A of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (right...
Education Act 1996 (c.56)
51
In section 1 of the Education Act 1996 (the stages...
52
(1) Section 13 of that Act (general responsibility for education)...
53
Section 15 of that Act (functions in respect of provision...
54
(1) Section 15A of that Act (functions of local education...
55
After section 15A of that Act insert— Functions in respect...
56
In section 312(2) of that Act (meaning of “learning difficulty”)...
57
(1) Section 408 of that Act (provision of information) is...
58
(1) Section 490 of that Act (grants in respect of...
59
(1) Section 509 of that Act (provision of transport etc)...
60
In section 537 of that Act (power of the Secretary...
61
In section 541 of that Act (distribution of information about...
62
In section 550B of that Act (detention outside school hours)...
63
In section 580 of that Act (index) in the table...
64
In Schedule 1 to that Act (pupil referral units) in...
School Inspections Act 1996 (c.57)
65
In section 5 of the School Inspections Act 1996 (functions...
66
In section 6 of that Act (power of Chief Inspector...
67
(1) Section 10 of that Act (inspection of certain schools...
68
In section 16 of that Act (destination of reports) after...
Education Act 1997 (c.44)
69
In section 25 of the Education Act 1997 (other functions...
70
In section 31 of that Act (other functions of the...
71
In section 43 of that Act (provision of careers education...
72
In section 44(3)(a) of that Act (co-operation with careers advisers)...
Audit Commission Act 1998 (c.18)
73
(1) Section 36 of the Audit Commission Act 1998 (studies...
Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 (c.30)
74
(1) Section 26 of the Teaching and Higher Education Act...
75
In section 28(1) of that Act (interpretation) in the definition...
76
Section 34 of that Act (inspection of vocational training in...
77
In section 35 of that Act (inspection of careers services...
School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (c.31)
78
In section 15 of the School Standards and Framework Act...
79
In section 19(2) of that Act (power of Secretary of...
80
In section 26 of that Act (school organisation plans), in...
81
After section 26 of that Act insert— Plans of local...
82
(1) Section 27 of that Act (committees and adjudicators for...
83
In section 30(3) of that Act (notice by governing body...
84
In section 33(1) of that Act (establishment, alteration and discontinuance...
85
In section 110 of that Act (home-school agreements) in subsection...
86
Part VI of that Act (partnership arrangements in Wales) shall...
87
(1) Section 137 of that Act (Education Transfer Council: alteration...
88
In section 142(1) of that Act (general interpretation) omit the...
89
(1) Schedule 6 to that Act (statutory proposals: procedure and...
90
(1) Schedule 7 to that Act (rationalisation of school places)...
91
In paragraph 5(1) of Schedule 22 to that Act (discontinuance...
Government of Wales Act 1998 (c.38)
92
(1) Section 104 of the Government of Wales Act 1998...
93
In section 118(2) of that Act (meaning of “Welsh public...
94
In Part I of Schedule 4 to that Act (public...
SCHEDULE 10
Transitional provisions
Part I
English Councils
Introduction
1
For the purposes of this Part of this Schedule—
Transitional provisions
2
The old Council must do its best to secure that...
3
(1) Anything being done by or in relation to the...
4
Every agreement (whether written or not), and every instrument or...
5
(1) This paragraph applies if the new Council is established...
6
At any time before the day on which the new...
7
(1) The new Council must discharge a duty which satisfies...
8
If an order under section 8(4) of the Further and...
Part II
Welsh Councils
Introduction
9
For the purposes of this Part of this Schedule—
Transitional provisions
10
The old Council must do its best to secure that...
11
(1) Anything being done by or in relation to the...
12
Every agreement (whether written or not), and every instrument or...
13
(1) This paragraph applies if the new Council is established...
14
At any time before the day on which the new...
15
(1) The new Council must discharge a duty which satisfies...
16
If an order under section 8(4) of the Further and...
Part III
Adult Learning Inspectorate
17
(1) During the interim period, section 52(2) has effect as...
Part IV
Student loans
18
(1) Sub-paragraph (2) has effect in relation to the Education...
SCHEDULE 11
Repeals

Learning and Skills Act 2000
2000 c. 21
An Act to establish the Learning and Skills Council for England and the National Council for Education and Training for Wales, to make other provision about education and training, and for connected purposes.
[28th July 2000]
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
Act applied (1.6.2001) by S.I. 2001/1507, reg. 2, Sch. 2 para. 2
Act applied (1.9.2001) by S.I. 2001/2799, reg. 2, Sch. 2 para. 2
Act applied (15.10.2001) by S.I. 2001/3213, reg. 2, Sch. 2 para. 2
Act applied (1.1.2002) by S.I. 2001/3810, reg. 2, Sch. 2 para. 2