The Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2000

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into force the majority of provisions of the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000 (“the Act”) (2000 asp 6).

Article 3(1) brings into force on 13th October 2000, the provisions of the Act listed in Column 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule to this Order. This covers principally the right of every child to a school education (section 1), the duty of local authorities to provide education (section 2), the improvement framework for education (sections 3–8), the inspection of education authorities (sections 11–12), guidance to local authorities (section 13–14), abolition of corporal punishment (section 16), the ending of self-governing schools (sections 17–21), provisions relating to the registration of independent schools and pupils attending (section 24 –25), provisions relating to school boards (sections 26–31), admission of children under school age to primary schools (section 38), education outwith school (section 40), appeals against exclusion (section 41), placing requests (sections 43–44), provisions relating to the General Teaching Council (“GTC”) but mostly only for the purpose of allowing new elections to be held (sections 45–54), guidance to local authorities on sex education (section 56) and consent of a child to medical procedure (section 57).

Article 3(2) brings into force on 1st November 2001 the provisions of the Act listed in Column 1 of Part II of the Schedule to this Order. This covers principally certain provisions relating to the General Teaching Council not already brought into force by Article 3(1).

Article 4 makes transitional and savings provisions. Article 4(1) provides that the protection of section 98(2A) of the 1980 Act (limited period in which to conduct independent school without registration) shall continue to apply to any person who has conducted an independent school within the period of one month immediately before 13th October 2000. Article 4(2) clarifies that the new procedures for the preparing of a short leet for the appointment of headteachers etc. only applies to vacancies arising after 13th October 2000. Article 4(3) provides for the current appeal mechanism in section 12(1) of the 1965 Act in relation to decisions taking in GTC disciplinary proceedings to continue in operation until the substituted version of that provision is wholly in force on 1st November 2001.

This Order also brings into force minor and consequential amendments and repeals. The repeals relating to self-governing schools have not been brought into force as St Mary’s Episcopal Primary school in Dunblane remains a self-governing school. These repeals will be brought into force when an order is made under section 17 of the Act returning St Mary’s to the management of the education authority.