Part 3

Maintained schools
Chapter 1

Government of maintained schools

Responsibility for fixing times of school sessions in Wales
32C
1
Except in the circumstances described in subsection (2), a governing body of a maintained school must determine the times of the school sessions for the school.
2
The circumstances are—
a
that the local authority in whose area the school is situated have given notice to the governing body that the times of the school sessions are to be determined in accordance with subsection (4), and
b
that the notice has not been withdrawn by the local authority.
3
A local authority must not give a notice under this section unless they consider that a change in the times of the school sessions is necessary or expedient in order to—
a
promote the use of sustainable modes of travel within the meaning of section 11 of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 (nawm 2), or
b
improve the effectiveness or efficiency of travel arrangements made, or to be made, by the authority under that Measure.
4
In the circumstances described in subsection (2)—
a
where there are 2 sessions on the relevant school day—
i
the local authority must determine the time each day at which the first school session starts and the second school session ends, and
ii
the governing body must determine the time each day at which the first school session ends and the second school session starts,
b
where there is one school session on the relevant school day the local authority must determine the time each day at which the school session starts and ends.
5
The Welsh Ministers may by regulations make provision—
a
as to the procedure to be followed where the governing body of a community, voluntary controlled or community special school or maintained nursery school proposes to make any change in the time of the school sessions;
b
as to the implementation of any such proposal;
c
for enabling the local authority to determine, for any purposes of the regulations, whether any person is to be treated as a parent of a registered pupil at the school;
d
as to the procedure to be followed where the local authority propose to give a notice under this section;
e
as to the form and content of such a notice;
f
as to the implementation of a determination made under subsection (4).
6
A local authority must have regard to any guidance given by the Welsh Ministers when giving a notice under subsection (2) or discharging any function conferred by this section or regulations made under it.
7
In this section—
- “
maintained school
” means a school in Wales which is a community, foundation or voluntary school, a community special school or a maintained nursery school;
- “
the times of the school sessions
” means the times at which each of the school sessions or, if there is only one, the school session, is to begin and end on any day.
Ss. 32A-32C inserted (12.5.2014 for specified purposes, 14.7.2014 in so far as not already in force) by Education (Wales) Act 2014 (anaw 5), ss. 42, 50(2); S.I. 2014/1605, art. 2(a)