Part 1

School inspections and other inspections by school inspectors
Chapter 2

Procedure for inspections under Chapter 1

Destination of reports and interim statements and measures required: maintained schools

Measures to be taken by local authority
15
1
Subsection (2)applies where, in a report of a section 5 inspection of a maintained school, the Chief Inspector stated either—
a
that in his opinion special measures were required to be taken in relation to the school, or
b
that in his opinion the school required significant improvement.
2
The
local authority
must—
a
consider what action to take in the light of the report,
b
consider what arrangements to make for the purpose of informing registered parents of the proposed action, ascertaining their views on the proposed action and taking account of those views,
c
consider whether those arrangements are to include the appointment of a specified person for that purpose,
d
prepare a written statement—
i
of the action they propose to take, and the period within which they propose to take that action, or, if they do not propose to take such action, of their reasons for not doing so, and
ii
of the arrangements they propose to make for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (b), and
e
send a copy of the statement prepared under paragraph (d) to—
i
the Chief Inspector,
ii
in the case of a voluntary aided school, the person who appoints the foundation governors and (if different) the appropriate appointing authority, and
iii
such other persons as the Secretary of State may specify.
2A
Subsection (2B) applies where—
a
the
local authority
have prepared a statement under subsection (2) in relation to a school,
b
it appears to the Secretary of State, on the basis of a report of an interim inspection of the school by the Chief Inspector, that the case has become urgent, and
c
no subsequent inspection of the school has been made under section 5.
2B
The Secretary of State may by notice require the
local authority
to—
a
consider the action to be taken in the light of the report of the interim inspection and the arrangements to be made for the purpose mentioned in subsection (2)(b),
b
prepare a written statement—
i
of the action they propose to take, and the period within which they propose to take that action, or, if they do not propose to take such action, of their reasons for not doing so, and
ii
of the arrangements they propose to make for the purpose mentioned in subsection (2)(b), and
c
send a copy of the statement to the Secretary of State and to the persons mentioned in subsection (2)(e)(i) to (iii).
2C
For the purposes of subsections (2A) and (2B) an “interim inspection” is an inspection under section 8
which is not treated as a section 5 inspection by virtue of section 9
.
3
It is the duty of the local authority to prepare a statement under subsection (2) or (2B) within the period allowed by this subsection, that is—
a
such period as may be prescribed, or
b
if—
i
the report states that the Chief Inspector is of the opinion that special measures are required to be taken in relation to the school, and
ii
the Secretary of State is of the opinion that the urgency of the case requires a shorter period,
such shorter period as the Secretary of State may direct;
but this subsection does not relieve the local authority of any duty to prepare a statement which has not been performed within that period.
4
In performing their functions under subsections (2)(a), (b), (c) and (d) and (2B)(a) and (b), the
local authority
must have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.
Words in s. 15(1) substituted (1.4.2007) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), ss. 71, 188, Sch. 7 para. 1(2); S.I. 2007/935, art. 5(j)(cc)
S. 15(2)(3) applied (with modifications) (1.9.2005 for E. and 1.9.2006 for W.) by 2000 c. 21, Sch. 7 para. 13(3)(a)(iii) (as substituted by Education Act 2005 (c. 18), ss. 46, 125, Sch. 5 para. 3(14)(c)); S.I. 2005/2034, art. 4; S.I. 2006/1338, art. 3, Sch. 1
S. 15(2)(3) applied (with modifications) (1.9.2005 for E. and 1.9.2006 for W.) by 2000 c. 21, Sch. 7 para. 6(3)(a)(iii) (as substituted by Education Act 2005 (c. 18), ss. 46, 125, Sch. 5 para. 3(8)(c)); S.I. 2005/2034, art. 4; S.I. 2006/1338, art. 3, Sch. 1
S. 15(2)-(2C) substituted (1.4.2007) for s. 15(2) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), ss. 71, 188, Sch. 7 para. 1(3); S.I. 2007/935, art. 5(j)(cc)
S. 15(2)(3) applied (with modifications) (1.9.2005 for E. and 1.9.2006 for W.) by 2000 c. 21, Sch. 7 para. 13(3)(a)(iii) (as substituted by Education Act 2005 (c. 18), ss. 46, 125, Sch. 5 para. 3(14)(c)); S.I. 2005/2034, art. 4; S.I. 2006/1338, art. 3, Sch. 1
S. 15(2)(3) applied (with modifications) (1.9.2005 for E. and 1.9.2006 for W.) by 2000 c. 21, Sch. 7 para. 6(3)(a)(iii) (as substituted by Education Act 2005 (c. 18), ss. 46, 125, Sch. 5 para. 3(8)(c)); S.I. 2005/2034, art. 4; S.I. 2006/1338, art. 3, Sch. 1
Words in s. 15(3) substituted (1.4.2007) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), ss. 71, 188, Sch. 7 para. 1(4); S.I. 2007/935, art. 5(j)(cc)
S. 15(4) inserted (1.4.2007) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), ss. 71, 188, Sch. 7 para. 1(5); S.I. 2007/935, art. 5(j)(cc)
Pt. 1 applied in part (with modifications) (E.) (1.2.2008) by The Education (Pupil Referral Units) (Application of Enactments) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2979), reg. 1(1), reg. 3, Sch. 1 para. 21
Pt. 1 applied (with modifications) (W.) (23.4.2007) by The Education (Pupil Referral Units) (Application of Enactments) (Wales) Regulations 2007(S.I. 2007/1069), reg. 3, {Sch. 1 para. 11}
Pt. 1 applied (with modifications) (E.) (1.9.2005) by The Education (Pupil Referral Units) (Application of Enactments) (England) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2039), reg. 3, Sch. 1 para. 11
Pt. 1 applied in part (with modifications) (1.2.2008) by Education (Pupil Referral Units) (Application of Enactments)(England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2979), reg. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 21
Words in Pt. 1 Ch. 2 Crossheading inserted (12.1.2010) by Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22), ss. 225(3), 269(4); S.I. 2009/3317, art. 2, Sch.
Pt. 1 applied (1.4.2010) by Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22), ss. 137(3), 269(4); S.I. 2010/1151, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with arts. 5-20)
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. 13(2)
Words in s. 15(2C) substituted (15.11.2011) by Education Act 2011 (c. 21), ss. 40(7), 82(1)(b)
S. 15: power to modify conferred (temp.) (25.3.2020) by Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7), s. 87(1), Sch. 17 para. 5 (with ss. 88-90)
S. 15(3): power to disapply conferred (temp.) (25.3.2020) by Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7), s. 87(1), Sch. 17 para. 5 (with ss. 88-90)