The School Organisation (Establishment and Discontinuance of Schools) (England) Regulations 2007

• Citation: S.I. 2007/1288
• Sections: 286

Section 1 Citation, commencement and application

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the School Organisation (Establishment and Discontinuance of Schools) (England) Regulations 2007 and come into force on 25th May 2007.

(2) These Regulations apply in relation to England only.

Section 2 Interpretation

In these Regulations—

“ the Act ” means the Education and Inspections Act 2006;

“ EA 1996 ” means the Education Act 1996 ;

“ EA 2002 ” means the Education Act 2002 ;

“ EA 2005 ” means the Education Act 2005 ;

“ SSFA 1998 ” means the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 ;

“Accessibility Strategy” has the meaning given by section 28D of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 ;

“ APA rating” means the rating awarded to a local authority for children and young people’s services used by the Audit Commission when categorising local authorities for the purposes of reports produced under section 99 of the Local Government Act 2003 or the performance rating awarded to a local authority under section 138 (3) of the Act;

“competition notice” means a notice published under section 7 inviting proposals from persons other than local education authorities for the establishment of any new school falling within section 7(2);

“date of publication” of proposals means, in relation to proposals published under section 7,10,11 or 15 or under paragraph 21(4) of Schedule 2 to the Act—

the date on which the requirements of regulations 8(3), 13(3), 15(2) or 26(3), as applicable, are satisfied, and

where different requirements are satisfied on different days, the last of such days;

“discontinuance proposals” means proposals published under section 15 by a local education authority or by a governing body to discontinue a school;

“Early Years Foundation Stage” means the foundation stage defined by section 81 of EA 2002 or the learning and development and welfare requirements specified by the Secretary of State by order and regulations made under section 39 of the Childcare Act 2006 when they come into force;

“early years provision” has the meaning given by section 20 of the Childcare Act 2006;

“extended services” has the meaning given to it in the publication entitled “Extended Schools: Access to Opportunities and Services for All” published by the Department for Education and Skills, dated June 2005 and with ISBN Number 1-84478-451-7;

“initial decision” means a decision made by the adjudicator under paragraph 8 of Schedule 2 to the Act except any decision made by him following a referral to him by an aggrieved person pursuant to paragraph 14 of Schedule 2 to the Act;

“mainstream school” means a maintained school which is not a special school;

“ NHS foundation trust” has the same meaning as in section 30(1) of the National Health Service Act 2006 ;

“NHS trust” means a body established by the Secretary of State under section 25 of the National Health Service Act 2006;

“Primary Care Trust” means a body established or continuing under section 18 of the National Health Service Act 2006;

“relevant age group”, in relation to a school, means an age group in which pupils are normally admitted (or, as the case may be, will normally be admitted) to the school;

“relevant school”, in relation to a local education authority, means a maintained school maintained by the authority or an Academy, city technology college or city college for the technology of the arts in the area of the authority;

“representation period” means the period prescribed by regulation 16(1) for making objections or comments in relation to the proposals;

“sixth form education” means full-time secondary education suitable to the requirements of pupils over compulsory school age;

“special educational needs” has the meaning given by section 312 of EA 1996 ;

“special school” means a community special or a foundation special school;

“the upper and lower age limits” means the highest and lowest ages of pupils for whom it is intended that education is normally provided at the school;

“14-16 education” means educational provision for 14-16 year olds;

and any reference to sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 61 or 62 is a reference to that section of the Act.

Section 3 Information to be contained in a competition notice

(1) Competition notices inviting proposals for the establishment of a mainstream school falling within section 7(2) must specify the matters prescribed in Part 1 of Schedule 1 (in addition to the matters referred to in section 7(3)(a), (b) and (c)).

(2) Competition notices inviting proposals for the establishment of a special school falling within section 7(2) must specify the matters prescribed in Part 2 of Schedule 1 (in addition to the matters referred to in section 7(3)(a), (b) and (c)).

Section 4 Prescribed interval after which competition notice may specify a date for the submission of proposals

For the purposes of section 7(3)(c), the prescribed interval is an interval of 4 months from the date of publication of the competition notice.

Section 5 Manner of publication of a competition notice

(1) Competition notices must be—

(a) sent to any local education authority likely to be affected by the proposals;

(b) sent to the Secretary of State;

(c) sent to—

(i) the Diocesan Board of Education for any diocese of the Church of England any part of which is comprised in the area of the local education authority,

(ii) the bishop of a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church any part of which is comprised in the area of the local education authority, and

(iii) any other person or organisation that has expressed an interest in writing to the authority in establishing a new school to serve pupils in the area;

(d) sent to the Learning and Skills Council for England if it is intended that the school should provide 14-16 education or sixth form education;

(e) sent to the adjudicator;

(f) sent to any other body or organisation that in the opinion of the local education authority is likely to be interested in the competition notice;

(g) posted in a conspicuous place in the area to be served by the school;

(h) in cases where the proposed establishment of a school is connected with the discontinuance of another school or schools, posted at the entrance to any school or schools which is or are proposed to be discontinued; and

(i) in cases where the new school is to be a special school, sent to—

(i) the relevant Primary Care Trust for the area in which the school is to be situated, and

(ii) any NHS trust or NHS foundation trust responsible for a hospital or other provision in the area in which the school is to be situated.

(2) In respect of mainstream schools, the details from the competition notice specified in Part 1 of Schedule 5 must be published in an appropriate national newspaper covering education issues and at least one newspaper circulating in the area to be served by the school together with details of how complete copies of the notice may be obtained.

(3) In respect of special schools, the details from the competition notice specified in Part 2 of Schedule 5 must be published in an appropriate national newspaper covering education issues and at least one newspaper circulating in the area to be served by the school together with details of how complete copies of the notice may be obtained.

Section 6 Information to be contained in proposals made in response to a competition notice

Proposals submitted to the local education authority pursuant to section 7(4)(b) and proposals made by the authority under section 7(5)(b) must contain the information prescribed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 in relation to mainstream schools, and in Part 2 of Schedule 2 in relation to special schools.

Section 7 Time within which details of the proposals must be published

The local education authority which published the competition notice must publish in the manner prescribed by regulation 8—

(a) proposals submitted to them pursuant to section 7 (5) (a); and

(b) where they wish to make any, their own proposals pursuant to section 7(5)(b)

within 3 weeks of the date by which the proposals must be submitted as specified in the competition notice.

Section 8 Manner in which the local education authority must publish details of the proposals

(1) The local education authority must—

(a) in respect of any proposals submitted to them pursuant to section 7 (4) (b) which relate to a mainstream school, publish:

(i) the details from the proposals specified in Part 3 of Schedule 5 to these Regulations, and

(ii) any proposed divergence from the characteristics specified by the local education authority in the competition notice;

(b) if they have made proposals pursuant to section 7(5)(b) which relate to a mainstream school, publish—

(i) the name of the local education authority and a contact address, and

(ii) the relevant details from their proposals specified in Part 3 of Schedule 5;

(c) publish a statement referring to the competition notice and confirming the proposals for the new school including its proposed location;

(d) publish details of how complete copies of the proposals can be obtained;

(e) publish details of when and where the first public meeting will be held as provided for in regulation 10; and

(f) publish a statement explaining that any person may object to or comment on the proposals, including the address to which objections or comments should be sent and the date by which they must be submitted.

(2) In respect of all proposals that relate to special schools, the local education authority must publish details of the proposals in accordance with all of the provisions of paragraph (1) except that (rather than the details specified in sub-paragraphs (a)(i) and (b)(ii)) the authority is required to publish the details from the proposals specified in Part 4 of Schedule 5 to these Regulations.

(3) The matters specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) must be published in at least one newspaper circulating in the area to be served by the school and in a conspicuous place in the area to be served by the school.

(4) If they have made proposals pursuant to section 7(5)(b), the local education authority must send to the adjudicator in relation to all proposals—

(a) the name of the authority and a contact address, and

(b) the details from the proposals specified in Part 3 of Schedule 5 to these Regulations in the case of proposals to establish a mainstream school, or in Part 4 of Schedule 5 in the case of special schools.

(5) The local education authority must publish complete copies of proposals submitted to them pursuant to section 7(4)(b), or made by them pursuant to section 7(5)(b), on any website maintained by them and details of the matters specified in sub-paragraphs (1) (e) and (f) above.

Section 9 Proposals published by a local education authority under section 7 relating to community or community special schools

(1) A local education authority may publish proposals under section 7(5)(b)(ii) for the establishment of a community or community special school without the consent of the Secretary of State, if on the day when the competition notice is published, the authority have a current APA rating of 4.

(2) A local education authority may publish proposals under section 7(5)(b)(ii) for the establishment of a community school with the consent of the Secretary of State, if on the day when the competition notice is published, the authority meets either of the following conditions—

(a) a current APA rating of at least 3; or

(b) a current APA rating of 2 and, subject to paragraphs 3 and 4, either or both of—

(i) less than 15% of community, foundation and voluntary schools in the area of the authority are, for the purposes of Part 4 of the Act, eligible for intervention by virtue of section 62 (special measures) or section 61 (significant improvement);

(ii) more than 15% of all relevant schools (except special schools) in the area of the authority comprise in total any of foundation schools, voluntary schools, Academies, city technology colleges or city colleges for the technology of the arts.

(3) Where a local education authority propose to publish proposals for the establishment of a community school which is a primary school, the reference in paragraph (2)(b)(i) to “community, foundation and voluntary schools” is to be read as a reference to “community, foundation and voluntary primary schools”.

(4) Where a local education authority propose to publish proposals for the establishment of a community school which is a secondary school, the reference in paragraph (2)(b)(i) to “community, foundation and voluntary schools” is to be read as a reference to “community, foundation and voluntary secondary schools”.

(5) A local education authority may publish proposals under section 7(5)(b)(ii) for the establishment of a community special school with the consent of the Secretary of State, if, on the day when the competition notice is published, the authority have a current APA rating of 3 or 2.

(6) The matters to which the Secretary of State is to have regard in determining whether to give consent under section 8(1)(b) for the establishment of a community or community special school include the extent of diversity among relevant schools, and—

(a) the range of curricular specialisms;

(b) the range of extended services;

(c) general standards of attainment;

(d) the range of special educational needs specialisms; and

(e) the availability of boarding or respite provision,

within relevant schools.

Section 10 Promotion of public awareness

(1) This regulation prescribes the steps to be taken by a local education authority for the purpose of promoting public awareness of any proposals published under section 7.

(2) The local education authority must arrange for at least one public meeting to be held to inform the public of the proposals received and the arrangements for making objections and comments.

(3) The first of any such meetings must be held within 2 weeks from the date of publication of the proposals by the authority.

(4) The authority must invite all the proposers to all such meetings.

(5) In carrying out its duties as specified in paragraphs (1) to (4), the authority must consult with, and have regard to, the advice of any person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose of assisting the authority in carrying out such duties.

(6) The local education authority must send copies of all proposals to—

(a) any other local education authority likely to be affected by the proposals;

(b) all proposers who have submitted proposals in response to the relevant competition notice;

(c) the Diocesan Board of Education for any diocese of the Church of England any part of which is comprised in the area of the local education authority;

(d) the bishop of a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church any part of which is comprised in the area of the local education authority;

(e) any other person or organisation that has previously expressed an interest in writing to the authority in establishing a new school to serve pupils in the area;

(f) the Learning and Skills Council for England if the proposals include the provision of 14-16 education or sixth form education;

(g) in cases where the proposed school is to be a special school, the relevant Primary Care Trust, NHS Trust or NHS foundation trust; and

(h) the Secretary of State

and must send a copy of any particular proposal to any person who requests such a proposal.

Section 11 Information to be contained in proposals under section 10

Proposals under section 10(1) and 10(2) must contain the information specified in Part 1 of Schedule 3 in relation to mainstream schools, and in Part 2 of Schedule 3 in relation to special schools.

Section 12 Information to be contained in proposals under section 11

Proposals under section 11(1) and 11(2) must contain the information specified in Part 1 of Schedule 3 in relation to mainstream schools, and in Part 2 of Schedule 3 in relation to special schools.

Section 13 Manner in which local education authority or proposers must publish details of proposals under sections 10 and 11

(1) In respect of their own proposals published under section 10(1) or section 11(1), the local education authority must publish—

(a) details of their name and a contact address;

(b) the relevant details from their proposals specified in Part 5 of Schedule 5 in relation to mainstream schools, and Part 6 of Schedule 5 in relation to special schools;

(c) details of how complete copies of the proposals can be obtained; and

(d) a statement explaining that any person may object to or comment on the proposals, including the address to which objections or comments should be sent and the date by which they must be submitted.

(2) In respect of proposals published under section 10(2) or 11(2), the proposers must publish—

(a) the details from their proposals specified in Part 5 of Schedule 5 in relation to mainstream schools, and Part 6 of Schedule 5 in relation to special schools;

(b) details of how complete copies of the proposals can be obtained; and

(c) a statement explaining that any person may object to, or comment on, the proposals, including the address to which objections or comments should be sent and the date by which they must be submitted.

(3) The matters specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) must be published in at least one newspaper circulating in the area to be served by the school and in a conspicuous place in the area to be served by the school.

(4) The proposers must submit a copy of their proposals within 1 week of the date of publication to the local education authority.

(5) Proposers or the local education authority (as the case may be) must send copies of their proposals to—

(a) any other local education authority likely to be affected by the proposals;

(b) the Diocesan Board of Education for any diocese of the Church of England any part of which is comprised in the area of the local education authority;

(c) the bishop of a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church any part of which is comprised in the area of the local education authority;

(d) the Learning and Skills Council for England if the proposals include the provision of 14-16 education or sixth form education;

(e) in cases where the proposed school is to be a special school, the relevant Primary Care Trust and NHS Trust or NHS foundation trust; and

(f) the Secretary of State

and must send a copy of their proposals to any person who requests a copy within 1 week of the date of publication.

Section 14 Information to be contained in discontinuance proposals

Discontinuance proposals must contain the information specified in Schedule 4.

Section 15 Manner in which the local education authority or governing body must submit and publish details of the discontinuance proposals

(1) The governing body or the local education authority (as the case may be) must publish—

(a) details from the proposals specified in Part 7 of Schedule 5;

(b) details of how complete copies of the proposals can be obtained; and

(c) a statement explaining that any person may object to, or comment on, the proposals, including the address to which objections or comments should be sent and the date by which they must be submitted.

(2) The matters specified in paragraph (1) must be published in at least one newspaper circulating in the area served by the school, posted at or near the main entrance to the school, or if there is more than one entrance, all of them and posted in a conspicuous place in the area served by the school.

(3) The governing body or local education authority (as the case may be) must send copies of all proposals to—

(a) any local education authority likely to be affected by the proposals;

(b) the Diocesan Board of Education for any diocese of the Church of England any part of which is comprised in the area of the local education authority;

(c) the bishop of a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church any part of which is comprised in the area of the local education authority;

(d) where the proposals include the provision of 14-16 education or sixth form education, the Learning and Skills Council for England;

(e) where the school is a voluntary school, foundation school or foundation special school, the trustees or the foundation body;

(f) where the relevant school is a special school,

(i) the relevant Primary Care Trust, NHS Trust or NHS foundation trust and any local education authorities which place children at that school,

(ii) the registered parents of every registered pupil at the school, and

(iii) each local education authority who maintain a statement of special educational needs under Part 4 of EA 1996 in respect of a registered pupil at the school; and

(g) the Secretary of State

and must send a copy of their proposals to any person who requests a copy.

(4) The governing body must submit a copy of their published proposals on the date of publication to the local education authority.

(5) The local education authority must submit a copy of their published proposals on the date of publication to the governing body of the school.

Section 16 Objections and Comments

(1) Any person may send objections or comments in relation to proposals published in accordance with sections 7, 10, 11 or 15 to the local education authority within 6 weeks from the date of publication of the proposals.

(2) In cases where proposals have been referred to the adjudicator in accordance with paragraph 10 or 11 of Schedule 2 to the Act, the local education authority must forward any objections or comments which they have received under paragraph (1) to the adjudicator within 2 weeks of the end of the representation period.

(3) In cases where proposals have been referred to the adjudicator in accordance with paragraph 10 of Schedule 2 to the Act, the local education authority may forward any objections of their own in relation to any of the proposals to the adjudicator within 2 weeks from the end of the representation period.

Section 17 Approval of proposals with modifications after consultation

The persons or bodies with whom the local education authority or the adjudicator (as the case may be) must consult before approving proposals with modifications are—

(a) the proposers or the local education authority who made the proposals;

(b) where the proposals are to establish a new foundation, foundation special or voluntary school, the local education authority who it is proposed should maintain the school;

(c) where the proposals were published by the governing body of a school, the local education authority who maintain the school; and

(d) where the proposals were published by the local education authority to discontinue a school, the governing body of the school.

Section 18 Local education authority determination under paragraph 8 (3) or 8 (4) of Schedule 2 to the Act

The period within which the local education authority must determine whether to give approval under paragraph 8(3) or 8(4) of Schedule 2 to the Act is 2 months from the end of the representation period.

Section 19 Local education authority determination under paragraph 19 of Schedule 2 to the Act

In cases where the local education authority determine discontinuance proposals under paragraph 19(1) of Schedule 2 to the Act, any determination must be made within 2 months from the end of the representation period.

Section 20 Conditional approvals

The following events are prescribed as specified events which (if the approval is expressed to take effect only if they occur) must occur by the date specified in the approval—

(a) the grant of planning permission under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 ;

(b) the acquisition of the site on which a new school is to be constructed;

(c) the acquisition of playing fields to be provided for the school;

(d) the securing of any necessary access to a site referred to in sub-paragraph (b) or playing fields referred to in sub-paragraph (c);

(e) the private finance credit approval given by the Department for Education and Skills following the entering into of a private finance contract by a local education authority or the approval by the Department for Education and Skills of capital grant in an equivalent arrangement for voluntary aided schools;

(f) the entering into an agreement for any necessary building project supported by the Department for Education and Skills in connection with the programme known as “Building Schools for the Future”;

(g) the making of any scheme relating to any charity connected with the school;

(h) the formation of any federation (within the meaning of section 24(2) of EA 2002) of which it is intended that the proposed school should form part, or the fulfilling of any other condition relating to the proposed school forming part of a federation;

(i) the Secretary of State giving approval under regulation 5(4) of the Education (Foundation Body) (England) Regulations 2000 to an application that a foundation body shall be established and that the school shall form part of a group for which a foundation body shall act;

(j) the Secretary of State making a declaration under regulation 22(3) of the Education (Foundation Body) (England) Regulations 2000 that the school should form part of a group for which a foundation body acts;

(k) in the case of mainstream schools, the agreement to any change to admission arrangements of any other school or schools specified in the approval;

(l) the establishment of any foundation meeting the requirements of section 23A of SSFA 1998 ;

(m) in the case of proposals published under section 7 or 15, the making of any agreement under section 482 of EA 1996 for the establishment of an Academy;

(n) in the case of proposals to establish a maintained school in place of an existing independent school, the securing of approval by the Secretary of State to relax the requirements of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 as provided for by section 543 (1) of EA 1996;

(o) in the case of proposals to establish any other maintained school, the securing of approval by the Secretary of State to relax the requirements of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 in respect of school playing fields as provided for by section 543 (1) of EA 1996;

(p) in the case of proposals whose funding is dependent upon capital receipts from the disposal of any school land or buildings, the securing of consent from the Secretary of State for the disposal as provided for by paragraph 2 of Schedule 35A to EA 1996 or section 77 of SSFA 1998, or determination in accordance with Schedule 22 to the SSFA 1998 as applicable; and

(q) where the proposals in question depend upon any of the events specified in paragraphs (a) to (p) occurring by a specified date in relation to proposals relating to any other school or proposed school, the occurrence of such an event.

Section 21 Time limits for local education authority referrals to adjudicator prior to determination

(1) The local education authority must refer any proposals under paragraph 10 of Schedule 2 to the Act to the adjudicator within 2 weeks from the end of the representation period.

(2) In cases where the authority are required to refer proposals to the adjudicator under paragraph 13 of Schedule 2 to the Act (duty to refer where determination delayed), they must do so within 1 week from the end of the 2 month period referred to in regulation 18.

Section 22 References to the adjudicator at request of an aggrieved person after determination under paragraph 8 (4) of Schedule 2 to the Act

(1) Where a person requests under paragraph 14 (1) of Schedule 2 to the Act that proposals be referred to the adjudicator, they must do so within 4 weeks from the date of the notification of the determination pursuant to regulation 25.

(2) References by the authority under paragraph 14 of Schedule 2 to the Act must be made within 1 week from the date on which they receive notice of a request for a referral.

(3) Where a reference is made under paragraph 14 of Schedule 2 to the Act, the authority must send to the adjudicator within the time specified by paragraph (2), any objections or comments in relation to the proposals together with minutes of the meeting at which the proposals were considered and any papers considered by the authority at that meeting.

Section 23 Duty to refer related proposals

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), where the authority makes a reference under paragraph 15 of Schedule 2 to the Act (duty to refer related proposals), they must do so within the same period referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of regulation 21 as appropriate.

(2) Where the periods for referring proposals under paragraph 15 of Schedule 2 to the Act (duty to refer related proposals) are different, the period for referring the proposals is the latest period for referring any of the proposals as referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of regulation 21 as applicable.

Section 24 Consultation with Secretary of State in respect of Academies

(1) Where proposals submitted to a local education authority in accordance with section 7 consist of or include proposals to establish an Academy, the authority must within 1 week of receiving those proposals consult the Secretary of State before taking any decision under paragraph 8 of Schedule 2 to the Act.

(2) Where proposals submitted to a local education authority in accordance with section 7 consist of or include proposals to establish an Academy, and—

(a) the proposals have been referred to the adjudicator under paragraph 10, 11, 12, 13 or 15 of Schedule 2 to the Act, or

(b) a direction under paragraph 12 (1) of Schedule 2 to the Act is in force in relation to the authority and the case does not fall within paragraph 12 (2) of Schedule 2 to the Act,

the adjudicator must within 1 week of receiving those proposals consult the Secretary of State before taking any decision under paragraph 8 of Schedule 2 to the Act.

(3) The Secretary of State must (on being consulted pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2)) indicate in writing to the authority or the adjudicator as the case may be whether, if the proposals were approved, he would be willing to commence negotiations with a view to entering into an agreement under section 482 of EA 1996 for the establishment of an Academy.

Section 25 Provision for notification of decisions

(1) The local education authority must notify the following persons of each decision under paragraph 8 of Schedule 2 to the Act, or determination under paragraph 21(3) of that Schedule, together with their reasons—

(a) the proposers;

(b) subject to paragraph (5), each objector;

(c) the Secretary of State;

(d) where proposals include provision for 14-16 education or sixth form education, the Learning and Skills Council for England;

(e) the Diocesan Board of Education for any diocese of the Church of England any part of which is comprised in the area of the local education authority;

(f) the bishop of a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church any part of which is comprised in the area of the local education authority;

(g) where the proposals concern a special school—

(i) the relevant Primary Care Trust for the area in which the school is situated, and

(ii) the NHS trust or NHS foundation trust responsible for hospital or other provision in the area in which the school is situated; and

(h) the adjudicator.

(2) In the case of any determination made by an authority pursuant to paragraph 19 of Schedule 2 to the Act, the authority must notify the governing body of the school which is the subject of the proposals and the Secretary of State.

(3) The authority must notify the persons referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) of paragraph (1) if they refer any proposals or matter to the adjudicator under paragraph 10, 11 or 13 of Schedule 2 to the Act (or pursuant to a direction under paragraph 12 of that Schedule).

(4) The adjudicator must notify the persons referred to in sub-paragraphs (1)(a) to (g) and the local education authority of each decision, together with his reasons.

(5) Where objections to a proposal take the form of a petition (that is to say a document containing the text of one objection signed by more than one objector) the local education authority or the adjudicator as the case may be may comply with paragraph (1) (b) by—

(a) notifying the person (if any) who appears to them or him to have arranged for the petition to be sent to the local education authority; or

(b) if there is no such person, notifying the objector whose name appears first on the petition.

(6) Where proposals have been sent to the authority or adjudicator as the case may be, they or he must notify the proposers or the local education authority, as the case may be, if any further proposals sent to them or him appear to them or him, pursuant to paragraph 9 (2) of Schedule 2 to the Act, to be related.

Section 26 Publication of revocation proposals

(1) Schedule 6 has effect for the purpose of applying, with modifications where specified, provisions of Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Act in relation to proposals published under paragraph 21(4) of Schedule 2 to the Act (“revocation proposals”).

(2) Revocation proposals must contain—

(a) a description of the original proposals as published in accordance with sections 7, 10, 11 or 15;

(b) the date of publication of the original proposals;

(c) details of who published the proposals; and

(d) a statement as to why it is proposed that, in accordance with paragraph 21(3), paragraph 21(1) of Schedule 2 to the Act (duty to implement proposals) should not apply in relation to the original proposals.

(3) Revocation proposals must be published in at least one newspaper circulating in the area to be served by the school, posted in a conspicuous place in the area to be served by the school, and where the original proposals are discontinuance proposals, posted at or near the main entrance to the school, or if there is more than one entrance, all of them.

(4) The proposers must submit their revocation proposals within 1 week of the date of publication to the local education authority.

(5) Where the initial decision in relation to the original proposals was made by the adjudicator, the local education authority must refer the revocation proposals, together with any objections or comments in relation to them, to him, within 2 weeks of the end of the period for making objections and comments prescribed in paragraph 5 of Schedule 2 to the Act as modified by Schedule 6 to these Regulations.

Section 27 Modifying proposals or specifying a later date for a conditional approval

(1) In relation to paragraph 21 (2) of Schedule 2 to the Act (power to modify proposals or specify a later date in respect of a conditional approval), the local education authority must refer to the adjudicator cases where the initial decision in relation to the original proposals was made by him within 2 weeks of the request from the proposers, or the decision of the authority, as the case may be.

(2) Before modifying proposals under paragraph 21 (2) (a) of Schedule 2 to the Act the local education authority (or the adjudicator in cases where the local authority has referred the proposals to the adjudicator pursuant to paragraph (1)) must consult—

(a) the proposers or the local education authority who made the proposals;

(b) where the proposals are to establish a new foundation, foundation special or voluntary school, the local education authority who it is proposed should maintain the school;

(c) where the proposals were published by the governing body of a school, the local education authority who maintain the school; and

(d) where the proposals were published by the local education authority to discontinue a school, the governing body of the school.

Section 28 Reference to adjudicator at the request of aggrieved person after determination under paragraph 21 (4) of Schedule 2 to the Act

Where a reference is made under paragraph 14 of Schedule 2 to the Act as modified by Schedule 6 to these Regulations, the local education authority must send to the adjudicator within the time specified by paragraph 14 (1) of Schedule 2 as modified by Schedule 6 to these Regulations, any objections or comments in relation to the proposals together with minutes of the meeting at which the proposals published under paragraph 21 (4) of Schedule 2 to the Act were considered, and any papers considered by the authority at that meeting.

Section 29 Schools established outside the area of relevant local education authority

(1) Part 1 of Schedule 7 has effect for specifying the modifications to which section 7 and Schedule 2 to the Act are to be subject where proposals published under section 7 relate to a school which is proposed to be situated in an area other than that of the local education authority who published the notice.

(2) Part 2 of Schedule 7 has effect for specifying the modifications to which section 10 and 11 and Schedule 2 to the Act are to be subject where proposals published under section 10 or 11 relate to a school which it is proposed be established in an area other than that of the local education authority who it is proposed should maintain the school.

Section 30 Consultation

If before 25th May 2007 any action was taken which (had it been taken on or after that day) would to any extent have satisfied the requirements of section 9, section 10 (4), section 11(6) or section 16, those requirements are to that extent to be treated as satisfied.

Section 31 Revocation

The regulations specified in Schedule 8 are revoked.

Section 1

A statement explaining the reason why the new school is considered necessary and whether it is to replace particular schools.

Section 2

A statement explaining:

(a) the location of the possible site (including details of whether the possible site is a single or split site) including, where appropriate, the postal address or addresses;

(b) the reason for the choice of site;

(c) the area or particular community or communities the school is expected to serve;

(d) the accessibility of the possible site (or, if it is a split site, the accessibility of the accommodation);

(e) the proposed arrangements for transport of pupils to the new school and a statement about other sustainable transport alternatives where pupils are not using transport provided, and how the local education authority will seek to discourage car use in the school area;

(f) the tenure (freehold or leasehold) on which the site will be held, and if the site is to be held on a lease, details of the proposed lease;

(g) the effect of paragraph 28 and paragraph 31 of Schedule 2 to the Act (that the local education authority must transfer their interest in the site, buildings or premises to the school’s trustees, foundation body, or governing body);

(h) where the new school is to be established in substitution for one or more discontinued grammar schools, a statement to that effect and that the school may be designated as a grammar school for the purposes of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of SSFA 1998; and

(i) an indication of the local education authority’s preference for the specialism which the school should have.

Section 3

The date on which the school should open and, where it is proposed that the proposals are to be implemented in stages, information about each stage and the dates on which each stage should be implemented.

Section 4

Information on—

(a) the number of pupil places the school should provide;

(b) the upper and lower age limits of the school;

(c) where it is intended that it should provide sixth form education, the number of pupils for whom it is intended that such education should be provided;

(d) where it is intended that it should make early years provision, the number of pupils for whom it is intended that such education should be provided;

(e) where it is intended that the school should provide for boarding pupils, the number of pupils for whom it is intended such facilities should be provided;

(f) the number of pupils to be admitted to the school in each relevant age group in the first school year in which the proposals will be implemented or, where it is intended that the proposals should be implemented in stages, the number of pupils to be admitted to the proposed school in each stage that the proposals will be implemented;

(g) whether it is proposed that the school should admit pupils of both sexes or boys or girls only and, in the case of a single sex school where it is intended to provide sixth form education, whether both sexes or boys or girls only are to be admitted to the sixth form;

(h) any extended services which the local education authority would like to see provided on the site of the school (whether by the local education authority, governing body or another party);

(i) whether the school should make provision which is recognised by the local education authority as reserved for children with special educational needs, and, if so, the range of special educational needs and the number of pupils for which provision is proposed; and

(j) the estimated capital costs of providing the school (such an estimate to be made in accordance with the guidance provided at pages 17 to 19 of Department for Education and Skills Guidance, “Education Building Projects - Information on Costs and Performance Data - Schools Building and Design Unit”, (reference DfES/0288/2003 (ISBN 1 84185 950 8) issued in April 2003).

Section 5

A statement explaining that proposals should be in line with requirements set out in paragraph 4 above, but that proposals that do not comply with all of the requirements but meet the need for places in the area will be considered.

Section 6

A statement giving—

(a) the address of the local education authority; and

(b) the name of the person to whom proposals should be addressed.

Section 7

A brief statement explaining the procedure to be followed after the date when proposals must be received by the local education authority.

Section 8

A statement that any proposals submitted in response to a competition notice must contain the information specified in Part 1 of Schedule 2 and that the information specified in Part 3 of Schedule 5 to these regulations will be published in accordance with regulation 8.

Section 9

A statement that the local education authority will meet the capital costs of implementing the proposals as specified in paragraph 4 (j) above or, if there is an agreement made under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 , a statement setting out the buildings to be available, and the obligations to be entered into, on completion.

Section 10

A statement of any resources that the local education authority will make available to secure the provision of the services specified in paragraph 4 (h) above.

Section 11

Where the school will replace existing educational provision for children with special educational needs, a statement setting out how the local education authority believes the proposed new school is likely to lead to improvements in the standard, quality and range of the educational provision for these children.

Section 12

A statement to the effect that the statutory requirement to consult under section 9 (1) has been complied with, a summary of the views expressed and a statement of how full details of the consultation can be obtained.

Section 13

A statement explaining the reason why the new special school is considered necessary and whether it is to replace particular schools.

Section 14

A statement explaining:

(a) the location of the possible site (including details of whether the possible site is a single or split site) including, where appropriate, the postal address or addresses;

(b) the reason for the choice of site;

(c) the area or particular community or communities the school is expected to serve;

(d) the accessibility of the possible site (or, if it is a split site, the accessibility of the accommodation);

(e) the proposed arrangements for transport of pupils to the new school and a statement about other sustainable transport alternatives where pupils are not using transport provided, and how the local education authority will seek to discourage car use in the new school area;

(f) the tenure (freehold or leasehold) on which the site will be held, and if the site is to be held on a lease, details of the proposed lease; and

(g) the effect of paragraph 28 and paragraph 31 of Schedule 2 to the Act (that the local education authority must transfer their interest in the site, buildings or premises to the school’s trustees, foundation body, or governing body).

Section 15

The date on which the school should open and, where it is proposed that the proposals are to be implemented in stages, information about each stage and the dates on which each stage should be implemented.

Section 16

Information on—

(a) the numbers, age range, sex and special educational needs of the pupils (distinguishing boarding and day pupils) for whom provision is proposed;

(b) details of whether it is intended that any extended services which the local education authority would like to see provided should be provided on the possible site of the school (whether by the local education authority, governing body or another party);

(c) the type or types of special educational needs for which the school will make provision; and

(d) the estimated capital costs of providing the school (such an estimate to be made in accordance with the guidance provided at pages 17 to 19 of Department for Education and Skills Guidance, “Education Building Projects - Information on Costs and Performance Data - Schools Building and Design Unit”, (reference DfES/0288/2003) (ISBN 1 84185 950 8) issued in April 2003).

Section 17

A statement explaining that proposals should be in line with requirements set out in paragraph 16 above, but that proposals that do not comply with all of the requirements but meet the need for places in the area will be considered.

Section 18

A statement giving—

(a) the address of the local education authority; and

(b) the name of the person to whom proposals should be addressed.

Section 19

A brief statement explaining the procedure to be followed after the date when proposals must be received by the local education authority.