The Designation of Rural Primary Schools (England) Order 2020

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order designates certain primary schools, in England, as rural primary schools for the purposes of section 15 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006. It also revokes the Designation of Rural Primary Schools (England) Order 2019.

Section 15 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 requires that when either a local authority or governing body of certain schools formulates proposals for the discontinuance of a rural primary school it has regard to specific factors. These factors include the likely effect of discontinuance on the local community and any alternatives to the discontinuance of the school. Before publishing proposals for discontinuance the local authority or governing body must consult certain persons, including parents and, where the local authority is a county council, any district and parish councils.

This Order designates rural primary schools by reference to a list of schools published on 10th December 2020 on the Gov.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rural-primary-schools-designation. When considering proposals to discontinue schools, local authorities and governing bodies should refer to this list. A copy may also be obtained by writing to the Department for Education at the following address: School Organisation Policy Unit, Department for Education, Level 3, Bishopsgate House, Darlington, DL1 5QE.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.