Education (Grants) (Music, Ballet and Choir Schools) (England) Regulations 2001

Regulation 6

SCHEDULE 2 CONDITIONS OF PAYMENT OF GRANT

Total number of aided places

1.—(1) The Secretary of State may specify the total number of pupils who may hold aided places at a particular school.

(2) The Secretary of State may specify in the case of a school different total numbers for boarding pupils and for day pupils.

(3) The Secretary of State may specify in the case of a school different total numbers for pupils who will be provided with education in ballet dancing and or pupils who will be provided with education in music (otherwise than wholly or mainly in connection with singing in a choir).

(4) In this paragraph “the specified number” means a number for the time being specified by him pursuant to sub-paragraph (1), (2) or (3).

(5) If and so long as the total number of pupils holding aided places at a school or, as the case may be, the total number of boarding pupils, day pupils, ballet dancing pupils or music pupils holding such places, is not less than the specified number then no further aided places or, as the case may require, no further boarding, day, ballet dancing or music aided places, shall be granted at the school.

Number of aided places granted each year

2.  If the Secretary of State specifies the number of aided places which may be granted at a particular school, or in a particular specialism at a particular school, to be taken up in a particular school year, then the school shall not grant a greater number of aided places in that year.

Selection of aided pupils

3.  Aided places shall only be granted in the case of pupils who will be provided with education in ballet dancing or education in music (otherwise than wholly or mainly in connection with singing in a choir) at a school.

Fees

4.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) a school may charge only such tuition or other fees and charges in respect of an aided pupil attending that school as are approved from time to time by the Secretary of State.

(2) The Secretary of State may waive the requirement in sub-paragraph (1) in the case of a school either generally or in relation to particular fees or charges but he may—

(a) revoke any such waiver, and

(b) require the school to fulfil such other conditions relating to fees and charges as he may specify from time to time including, in particular, conditions requiring that the school give notice to him of proposals to increase fees or charges.

(3) Only such fees or other charges as are designated by the Secretary of State shall be eligible for remission in accordance with paragraph 14 or 15 of Schedule 1.

Transfer of aided places

5.—(1) In any case where the Secretary of State is satisfied that it is reasonable to do so in view of any particular circumstances relating to a pupil who holds an aided place he may authorise a school (“the importing school”) to provide a place for an aided pupil who wishes to transfer from another school (“the exporting school”) and may specify—

(a) the period for which he may be provided with an aided place at the importing school; and

(b) the maximum annual amount of fees that may be charged for him by the importing school.

(2) Where the Secretary of State has exercised his power under paragraph (1) to allow the transfer of an aided place he may direct that—

(a) the exporting school shall reduce its total number of aided places by the number of pupils so transferred for such period as he may specify;

(b) the importing school shall increase its total number of aided places by the number of pupils so transferred for such period as he may specify; and

(c) the importing school shall notify him if an aided pupil leaves the school before the expiry of the period specified in paragraph 1(a).

Publication of information

6.—(1) Each school shall publish—

(a) particulars of the Scheme;

(b) for each school year, annual particulars of the number of aided places likely to be offered in that year, information concerning the procedures for making of applications for aided places and details of the arrangements for selection, admission and the remission of fees and charges; and

(c) such other information as may be specified for the purposes of this paragraph by the Secretary of State.

(2) Subject to any direction given by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this paragraph, either in the case of a named school or all the schools, anything required to be published under sub-paragraph (1) shall be published in such manner, and at such time or times, as appears to the school appropriate for the purpose of bringing the matter to the attention of parents likely to be interested therein.

Returns etc. required by the Secretary of State

7.  A school shall furnish the Secretary of State with such periodic returns and information as he may require relating to the school or aided pupils attending there including, in particular, information relevant to an intended increase in fees or charges for aided pupils.

School accounts

8.—(1) The accounts of a school shall—

(a) if the Secretary of State so requires, be kept in a form specified by him; and

(b) be audited by an independent person who is eligible under section 25 of the Companies Act 1989 for appointment as a company auditor.

(2) At the request of the Secretary of State, a school shall furnish him with copies of their accounts for such periods as he may specify together with copies of the auditor’s certificate relating thereto.

Proposals relating to premises

9.—(1) Any proposals by a school—

(a) to acquire new premises, or

(b) to make alterations to existing premises,

shall be notified to the Secretary of State.

(2) If in the case of any such proposals the Secretary of State so requires, the proposals shall not be implemented without his approval which may be given either unconditionally or subject to conditions specified by him being fulfilled.

Proposals relating to boarding arrangements

10.—(1) Any proposals by a school—

(a) to make arrangements for pupils to board at the school, or

(b) to discontinue or vary existing arrangements under which pupils board at the school,

shall, if the Secretary of State so requires, be notified to him.

(2) If in the case of any such proposals the Secretary of State so requires, the proposals shall not be implemented without his approval which may be given either unconditionally or subject to conditions specified by him being fulfilled.