These Regulations are made under sections 29(5), 408, 537(1) to (8) and 569(4) and (5) of, and paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 to, the Education Act 1996, and sections 92 and 138(7) and (8) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. They prescribe school information that must be published by local authorities and schools in relation to the academic year 2011-2012 and subsequent years.

These Regulations revoke and re-enact the Education (School Information) (Wales) Regulations 1999, with some changes.

Part 2 requires each local authority to publish a composite prospectus annually containing information relating to all maintained schools in the prospectus area (regulation 4). The information comprises: miscellaneous matters (detailed in Part 1 of Schedule 2), matters in relation to special educational provision made by the local authority (detailed in Part 2 of Schedule 2), and information relating to exceptional provision of education in schools or elsewhere made by the local authority (detailed in Part 2 of Schedule 2).

The composite prospectus must be published no later than 1 October each year or not later than 6 weeks before parents may express a preference for a school (i) by copies being made available to parents free of charge on request (ii) by copies being made available for reference by parents at the public libraries in the local authority’s area, and (iii) on the local authority’s website (regulation 5).

Part 3 requires certain information to be made available to local authorities by governing bodies.

Part 4 requires the governing bodies of maintained schools to publish a school prospectus.

Part 5 contains supplementary provisions relating to published documents including the requirement that, where necessary, information must be provided in translation in English or Welsh without charge.