http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/32/section/21/2012-09-01Education Act 2002An Act to make provision about education, training and childcare.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2025-10-08Expert Participation2012-09-01 Part 3Maintained schoolsChapter 1Government of maintained schools General responsibility for conduct of school211Subject to any other statutory provision, the conduct of a maintained school shall be under the direction of the school’s governing body.2The governing body shall conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement at the school.3Regulations may—aset out terms of reference for governing bodies of maintained schools,bdefine the respective roles and responsibilities in relation to the conduct of a maintained school (whether generally or with respect to particular matters) of—ithe local authority,iithe governing body, andiiithe head teacher, andcconfer functions on governing bodies and head teachers of such schools.4The governing body of a maintained school shall, in discharging their functions, comply with—athe instrument of government, andb(subject to any other statutory provision) any trust deed relating to the school.5The governing body of a maintained school shall, in discharging their functions relating to the conduct of the school—apromote the well-being of pupils at the school, andbin the case of a school in England, promote community cohesion.6The governing body of a maintained school shall, in discharging those functions, have regard to any relevant children and young people's plan.7In discharging those functions, the governing body of a maintained school in England shall also have regard to any views expressed by parents of registered pupils.8In this section “well-being”—ain relation to a pupils at a school in England, means their well-being so far as relating to the matters mentioned in section 10(2) of the Children Act 2004, andbin relation to pupils at a school in Wales, means their well-being so far as relating to the matters mentioned in section 25(2) of that Act.9In this section “relevant children and young people's plan” means—ain relation to a school in England, any plan published by the relevant Children's Trust Board under section 17 of the Children Act 2004 (children and young people's plans: England), andbin relation to a school in Wales—iany plan published by the local authority under section 26 of the Children Act 2004 (children and young people's plans: Wales), oriiin a case where the local authority are not required by regulations under that section to prepare and publish a plan, any plan which is published by the authority and sets out their strategy for discharging their functions in relation to children and relevant young persons within the meaning of that section.10In subsection (9)(a), “the relevant Children's Trust Board” means the Children's Trust Board established by arrangements made under section 10 of the Children Act 2004 by the local authority ...S. 21(3) in force at 1.3.2003 except in relation to W. by S.I. 2003/124, art. 2S. 21(1)(2)(4) in force at 1.9.2003 except in relation to W. by S.I. 2003/1667, art. 4S. 21(1) modified (31.3.2004) by The Blackburn with Darwen (Maintained Nursery School Governance) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/657), arts. 1(1), 3(e)S. 21(2) modified (31.3.2004) by The Blackburn with Darwen (Maintained Nursery School Governance) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/657), arts. 1(1), 3(f)S. 21 modified (temp.) (1.9.2004) by The Education Act 2002 (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1743), regs. 1(3), 3S. 21 in force at 1.9.2004 for W. by S.I. 2004/1728, art. 5, Sch. Pt. 2S. 21(5)-(9) applied (with modifications) (1.2.2008) by The Education (Pupil Referral Units) (Application of Enactments) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2979), reg. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 12S. 21(5)-(9) inserted (25.5.2007 for E. for specified purposes, 1.9.2007 for E. in force in so far as not already in force, 1.9.2008 for W.) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), ss. 38(1), 188(3); S.I. 2007/1271, art. 2; S.I. 2007/1801, art. 3(a); S.I. 2008/1429, art. 3(3), Sch. Pt. 3S. 21(9)(a) substituted (1.4.2010) by Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22), ss. 194(9)(a), 269(4); S.I. 2010/303, art. 3, Sch. 2 (with art. 12)S. 21(10) inserted (1.4.2010) by Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22), ss. 194(9)(b), 269(4); S.I. 2010/303, art. 3, Sch. 2 (with art. 12)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), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 11(2)Words in s. 21(10) repealed (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. 11(7), Sch. 3 Pt. 1 (with Sch. 4 para. 2)