Education Act 1996

Part VE+W The Curriculum

Chapter IE+W Preliminary

350 Meaning of “maintained school” etc. in Part V.E+W

F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

351 General duties in respect of the curriculum.E+W

F2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

352 Basic curriculum for every maintained school.E+W

F3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter IIE+W Secular education

The National Curriculum: generalE+W

353 The National Curriculum.E+W

F4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

354 The core subjects and other foundation subjects.E+W

F5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

355 The key stages.E+W

F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

356 Establishment of the National Curriculum by order.E+W

F7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

357 Implementation of the National Curriculum in schools.E+W

F8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The School Curriculum and Assessment AuthorityE+W

F9358. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F10359. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

The Curriculum and Assessment Authority for WalesE+W

F11360. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F12361. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

The National Curriculum: special casesE+W

362 Development work and experiments.E+W

F13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

363 Exceptions by regulations.E+W

F14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

364 Pupils with statements of special educational needs.E+W

F15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

365 Temporary exceptions for individual pupils.E+W

F16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

366 Information concerning directions under section 365.E+W

F17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

367 Appeals against directions under section 365 etc.E+W

F18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The National Curriculum: supplementary provisionsE+W

368 Procedure for making certain orders and regulations.E+W

F19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

369 Programmes of research etc. in relation to Wales.E+W

F20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

General functions of LEA, governing body and head teacher in relation to curriculumE+W

F21370. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F22371. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F23372. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F24373. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F25374. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

Chapter IIIE+W Religious education and worship

Agreed syllabusesE+W

375 Agreed syllabuses of religious education.E+W

(1)Subject to the provisions of Schedule 31, any agreed syllabus in force immediately before the commencement of this Act shall continue to have effect.

(2)In this Act “agreed syllabus” means a syllabus of religious education—

(a)prepared before the commencement of this Act in accordance with Schedule 5 to the M1Education Act 1944 or after commencement in accordance with Schedule 31, and

(b)adopted by a [F26local authority] under that Schedule,

whether it is for use in all the schools maintained by them or for use in particular such schools or in relation to any particular class or description of pupils in such schools.

(3)Every agreed syllabus shall reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian whilst taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain.

(4)Any reference in this Act to an agreed syllabus adopted by a [F26local authority] includes a reference to an agreed syllabus deemed to be adopted by such an authority by virtue of paragraph 11 of Schedule 5 to the M2Education Act 1944 or paragraph 14 of Schedule 31; and accordingly, in relation to an agreed syllabus deemed to be so adopted, any reference to the date on which an agreed syllabus was adopted is a reference to the date of deemed adoption specified by the Secretary of State in a direction under that paragraph.

(5)Subsection (3) does not apply to any agreed syllabus adopted before 29th September 1988.

Required provision for religious educationE+W

F27376. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F28377. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F29378. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F30379. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F31380. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F32381. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F33382. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F34383. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F35384. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

Religious worshipE+W

F36385. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F37386. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F38387. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F39388. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

Exceptions and special arrangementsE+W

F40389. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

Constitution of standing advisory councils on religious educationE+W

390 Constitution of advisory councils.E+W

(1)A [F26local authority] shall constitute a standing advisory council on religious education for the purposes mentioned in section 391(1).

F41[(2)The council shall consist of such groups of persons appointed by the authority as representative members (“representative groups”) as are required by subsection (4).]

(3)The council may also include co-opted members (that is, persons co-opted as members of the council by members of the council who have not themselves been so co-opted).

(4)The representative groups required by this subsection are—

(a)a group of persons to represent such Christian denominations and other religions and denominations of such religions as, in the opinion of the authority, will appropriately reflect the principal religious traditions in the area;

(b)except in the case of an area in Wales, a group of persons to represent the Church of England;

(c)a group of persons to represent such associations representing teachers as, in the opinion of the authority, ought to be represented, having regard to the circumstances of the area; and

(d)a group of persons to represent the authority.

(5)Where a representative group is required by subsection (4)(b), the representative group required by subsection (4)(a) shall not include persons appointed to represent the Church of England.

(6)The number of representative members appointed to any representative group under subsection (4)(a) to represent each denomination or religion required to be represented shall, so far as consistent with the efficient discharge of the group’s functions, reflect broadly the proportionate strength of that denomination or religion in the area.

(7)On any question to be decided by the council only the representative groups on the council shall be entitled to vote, and each representative group shall have a single vote.

391 Functions of advisory councils.E+W

(1)The purposes referred to in section 390(1) are—

F42[(a)to advise the [F26local authority] on such matters connected with—

(i)religious worship in community schools or in foundation schools which (within the meaning of Part II of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998) do not have a religious character, and

(ii)the religious education to be given in accordance with an agreed or other syllabus in accordance with Schedule 19 to that Act,

as the authority may refer to the council or as the council may see fit, and]

(b)to carry out the functions conferred on them by section 394.

(2)The matters referred to in subsection (1)(a) include, in particular, methods of teaching, the choice of materials and the provision of training for teachers.

(3)The representative groups on the council required by section 390(4), other than the group consisting of persons appointed to represent the authority, may at any time require a review of any agreed syllabus for the time being adopted by the authority.

(4)Each representative group concerned shall have a single vote on the question of whether to require such a review.

(5)Paragraph 3 of Schedule 31 has effect to require the authority, on receiving written notification of any such requirement, to cause a conference constituted in accordance with that Schedule to be convened for the purpose of reconsidering any agreed syllabus to which the requirement relates.

(6)The council shall in each year publish a report as to the exercise of their functions and any action taken by representative groups on the council under subsection (3) during the last preceding year.

(7)The council’s report shall in particular—

(a)specify any matters in respect of which the council have given advice to the authority,

(b)broadly describe the nature of the advice given, and

(c)where any such matter was not referred to the council by the authority, give the council’s reasons for offering advice on that matter.

F43(8). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F43(9). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F44(10)A council for an area in Wales must send a copy of each report published by them under subsection (6) to the Welsh Ministers.]

392 Advisory councils: supplementary provisions.E+W

(1)In this section “the council” means the standing advisory council on religious education constituted by a [F26local authority] under section 390.

(2)Before appointing a person to represent any religion, denomination or associations as a member of the council, the authority shall take all reasonable steps to assure themselves that he is representative of the religion, denomination or associations in question.

(3)A member of the council who was appointed by the authority may be removed from membership by the authority if, in their opinion, he ceases to be representative of the religion, denomination or associations which he was appointed to represent or (as the case may be) he ceases to be representative of the authority.

F45(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5)A person co-opted as a member of the council shall hold office on such terms as may be determined by the members co-opting him.

(6)A member of the council may at any time resign his office.

(7)Subject to section 390(7), the council and, in relation to any question falling to be decided by members of the council of any particular category, the members of that category, may regulate their own proceedings.

(8)The validity of proceedings of the council or of the members of the council of any particular category shall not be affected—

(a)by a vacancy in the office of any member of the council required by section 390(2), or

(b)on the ground that a member of the council appointed to represent any religion, denomination or associations does not at the time of the proceedings represent the religion, denomination or associations in question.

F46393. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

Determinations by standing advisory councilsE+W

394 Determination of cases in which requirement for Christian collective worship is not to apply.E+W

(1)The council constituted by a [F26local authority] under section 390 shall, on an application made by the head teacher of—

(a)any [F47community school] maintained by the authority, or

F48[(b)any foundation school which has not been designated under section 69(3) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 by the Secretary of State as having a religious character,]

consider whether it is appropriate for the requirement imposed by [F49paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 20 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (requirement for Christian collective worship)] to apply in the case of the school or in the case of any class or description of pupils at the school.

(2)In determining whether it is appropriate for that requirement to apply as mentioned in subsection (1), the council shall have regard to any circumstances relating to the family backgrounds of the pupils at the school, or of the pupils of the particular class or description in question, which are relevant for determining the character of the collective worship appropriate in their case.

(3)The council shall give the head teacher written notification of their decision on the application.

(4)Where the council determine that it is not appropriate for the requirement to apply as mentioned in subsection (1), the determination shall take effect for the purposes of [F50paragraph 4 of Schedule 20 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (disapplication of requirement for Christian collective worship)] on such date as may be specified in the notification of the council’s decision under subsection (3).

(5)Before making an application under subsection (1), the head teacher of a school shall consult the governing body.

(6)On being consulted by the head teacher, the governing body may if they think fit take such steps as they consider appropriate for consulting all persons appearing to them to be parents of registered pupils at the school.

(7)An application under subsection (1) shall be made in such manner and form as the council may require.

(8)Where an application is made under subsection (1)(a) in respect of [F51a community school which becomes a foundation school [F52(by virtue of the relevant enactments)]] before the application is determined, it shall, unless withdrawn by the head teacher, continue as if made under subsection (1)(b).

[F53(9)In subsection (8) “the relevant enactments” means—

(a)in relation to England, sections 18 to 24 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006;

(b)[F54in relation to Wales, section 35 of, and Schedule 8 to, the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.]]

395 Review of determinations under section 394.E+W

(1)Any determination by a council under section 394 by virtue of which the requirement imposed by [F55paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 20 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998] does not for the time being apply in the case of a school or a class or description of pupils at a school shall be reviewed by the council—

(a)at any time on an application made by the head teacher, and

(b)in any event not later than the end of the period of five years beginning with the date on which the determination first took effect or (where it has since been reviewed under this section) with the effective date of the decision on the last review.

(2)On any review under subsection (1)(b) the council shall give the head teacher an opportunity of making representations as to the determination under review.

(3)On a review under this section, the council may—

(a)confirm the determination, with or without variation, or

(b)revoke it (without prejudice to any further determination under section 394).

(4)The council shall give the head teacher written notification of their decision, specifying the effective date of that decision for the purposes of subsection (1)(b).

(5)Any determination which is required to be reviewed under subsection (1)(b) shall cease to have effect, if not confirmed on such a review, at the end of the period there mentioned.

(6)The head teacher of a school shall consult the governing body before making an application under subsection (1)(a) or any representations under subsection (2).

(7)On being consulted by the head teacher, the governing body may if they think fit take such steps as they consider appropriate for consulting all persons appearing to them to be parents of registered pupils at the school.

(8)An application under subsection (1)(a) shall be made in such manner and form as the council may require.

396 Power of Secretary of State to direct advisory council to revoke determination or discharge duty.E+W

(1)Where the Secretary of State is satisfied, either on complaint by any person or otherwise, that any standing advisory council on religious education constituted by a [F26local authority] under section 390—

(a)have acted, or are proposing to act, unreasonably in determining for the purposes of section 394 or 395 whether it is appropriate for the requirement imposed by [F56paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 20 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998] to apply in the case of any school or any class or description of pupils at a school, or

(b)have failed to discharge any duty imposed under section 394 or 395,

he may give the council such directions as to the revocation of the determination, or the withdrawal of the proposed determination or (as the case may be) the discharge of the duty as appear to him to be expedient; and the council shall comply with the directions.

(2)Directions under subsection (1) may provide for the making by the council of a new determination to take effect in place of the determination or proposed determination to be revoked or withdrawn by them.

Access to meetings and documentsE+W

397 Religious education: access to meetings and documents.E+W

(1)This section applies to—

(a)any conference convened under any of paragraphs 1 to 3 of Schedule 31, and

(b)any standing advisory council on religious education constituted under section 390.

(2)Regulations may make provision—

(a)for meetings of conferences or councils to be, subject to prescribed exceptions, open to members of the public,

(b)requiring conferences or councils to give notice, in such manner as may be prescribed, of the time and place of such meetings, and

(c)requiring conferences or councils, at such time or times as may be prescribed—

(i)to make available for inspection, or

(ii)to provide on payment of such fee as they think fit (not exceeding the cost of supply),

copies of the agendas and reports for such meetings to members of the public.

(3)Regulations made under subsection (2) may apply to—

(a)committees appointed by [F57local authorities] under paragraph 4 of Schedule 31,

(b)sub-committees appointed by conferences under that Schedule, and

(c)representative groups on councils appointed under section 390(4),

as they apply to conferences and councils.

MiscellaneousE+W

398 No requirement of attendance at Sunday school etc.E+W

[F58(1)]It shall not be required, as a condition of—

(a)a pupil attending a maintained school, or

(b)a person attending such a school to receive further education or [F59any training for members of the school workforce] ,

that he must attend or abstain from attending a Sunday school or a place of religious worship.

[F60(2)In subsection (1)(b), the reference to training for members of the school workforce is to be read in accordance with sections [F6196(1) and 100] of the Education Act 2005.]

399 Determination of question whether religious education in accordance with trust deed.E+W

Where any trust deed relating to [F62a foundation or voluntary school] makes provision whereby a bishop or any other ecclesiastical or denominational authority has power to decide whether the religious education given in the school which purports to be in accordance with the provisions of the trust deed does or does not accord with those provisions, that question shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the trust deed.

Chapter IVE+W Miscellaneous and supplementary provisions

Courses leading to external qualificationsE+W

F63400. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

F64401. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

Obligation to enter pupils for public examinationsE+W

402 Obligation to enter pupils for public examinations.E+W

(1)Subject to subsections (2) and (3), the governing body of a maintained school shall secure that each registered pupil at the school is entered, at such time as they consider appropriate, for each prescribed public examination for which he is being prepared at the school at the time in question in each syllabus for that examination for which he is being so prepared.

(2)The governing body are not required to secure that a pupil is entered for any examination, or for an examination in any syllabus for that examination, if either—

(a)they consider that there are educational reasons in the case of that particular pupil for not entering him for that examination or (as the case may be) for not entering him for that examination in that syllabus, or

(b)the parent of the pupil requests in writing that the pupil should not be entered for that examination or (as the case may be) for that examination in that syllabus;

[F65but this subsection does not apply to an examination which is part of the assessment arrangements for the fourth key stage and applies in the case of that pupil.]

[F66(2A)But subsection (2) does not apply to—

(a)an examination which is part of the assessment arrangements for the fourth key stage and applies in the case of that pupil (if the pupil is registered at a school maintained by a local authority in England), or

(b)an examination which is part of the assessment arrangements for pupils of compulsory school age who have completed the school year in which the majority of the pupils in their class attained the age of 14 and applies in the case of that pupil (if the pupil is registered at a school maintained by a local authority in Wales).]

(3)The governing body are not required to secure that a pupil is entered for any examination in any syllabus for that examination if they have secured his entry for another prescribed public examination in a corresponding syllabus.

(4)For the purposes of subsection (3) a syllabus for a prescribed public examination shall be regarded as corresponding to a syllabus for another prescribed public examination if the same course of study is provided at the school in preparation for both syllabuses.

(5)As soon as practicable after determining whether or not to secure the entry of any pupil for a prescribed public examination in any syllabus for which he is being prepared at the school, the governing body shall notify the pupil’s parent in writing of their determination in relation to each such syllabus.

(6)In this section—

(a)“maintained school” includes [F67a community or foundation special school] established in a hospital;

[F68(aa)“assessment arrangements” and “fourth key stage”—

(i)in relation to a school maintained by a [F26local authority] in England, have the same meaning as in Part 6 of the Education Act 2002 (the curriculum in England), [F69and]

(ii)[F70in relation to a school maintained by a [F26local authority] in Wales, have the same meaning as in Part 7 of that Act (the curriculum in Wales); and]]

[F71(ab)“assessment arrangements”, in relation to a school maintained by a local authority in Wales, has the same meaning as in Part 4 of the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (assessment and progression);]

(b)references to a prescribed public examination shall be construed in accordance with section 462.

Sex educationE+W

403 Sex education: manner of provision.E+W

(1)The F72. . ., governing body and head teacher shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that where sex education is given to any registered pupils at a maintained school [F73(whether or not as part of statutory relationships and sex education)] , it is given in such a manner as to encourage those pupils to have due regard to moral considerations and the value of family life.

[F74(1A)The Secretary of State must issue guidance designed to secure that when sex education is given to registered pupils at maintained schools—

(a)they learn the nature of marriage and its importance for family life and the bringing up of children, and

(b)they are protected from teaching and materials which are inappropriate having regard to the age and the religious and cultural background of the pupils concerned.

[F75(1ZB)In subsection (1A) the reference to sex education does not include sex education given as part of statutory relationships and sex education.]

(1B)In discharging their functions under subsection (1) governing bodies and head teachers must have regard to the Secretary of State’s guidance.

(1C)Guidance under subsection (1A) must include guidance about any material which may be produced by NHS bodies for use for the purposes of sex education in schools.

(1D)The Secretary of State may at any time revise his guidance under subsection (1A).]

(2)In [F76this section]“maintained school” includes [F77a community or foundation special school] established in a hospital [F78and “NHS body” has the same meaning as in [F79the National Health Service Act 2006 (see section 275(1) of that Act)] .]

[F80(2A)In this section “statutory relationships and sex education” means education required to be provided at a school in England under section 80(1)(d) of the Education Act 2002.]

404 Sex education: statements of policy.E+W

(1)The governing body of a maintained school shall—

(a)make, and keep up to date, a separate written statement of their policy with regard to the provision of sex education, and

(b)make copies of the statement available for inspection (at all reasonable times) by parents of registered pupils at the school and provide a copy of the statement free of charge to any such parent who asks for one.

[F81(1A)A statement under subsection (1) must include a statement of the effect of section 405.]

[F82(1B)In subsection (1) the reference to sex education does not include sex education given as part of statutory relationships and sex education (and accordingly subsection (1) does not apply at all in relation to a school at which sex education is only given as part of statutory relationships and sex education).]

(2)[F83In subsection (1) “maintained school” includes, in relation to pupils who are provided with secondary education, [F84a community or foundation special school] established in a hospital.]

[F83In this section—

• “maintained school” includes, in relation to pupils who are provided with secondary education, a community or foundation special school established in a hospital;

• “statutory relationships and sex education” means education required to be provided at a school in England under section 80(1)(d) of the Education Act 2002.]

F85(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

405 Exemption from sex education.E+W

[F86(1)] If the parent of any pupil in attendance at a maintained school requests that he may be wholly or partly excused from receiving sex education at the school, the pupil shall, except so far as such education is comprised in the National Curriculum, be so excused accordingly until the request is withdrawn.

[F87(2)In subsection (1) the reference to sex education does not include sex education provided at a maintained school in England as part of statutory relationships and sex education.

(3)If the parent of any pupil in attendance at a maintained school in England requests that the pupil may be wholly or partly excused from sex education provided as part of statutory relationships and sex education, the pupil must be so excused until the request is withdrawn, unless or to the extent that the head teacher considers that the pupil should not be so excused.

(4)In this section “statutory relationships and sex education” means education required to be provided at a school in England under section 80(1)(d) of the Education Act 2002.]

PoliticsE+W

406 Political indoctrination.E+W

(1)The [F26local authority], governing body and head teacher shall forbid—

(a)the pursuit of partisan political activities by any of those registered pupils at a maintained school who are junior pupils, and

(b)the promotion of partisan political views—

[F88(i)]in the teaching of any subject in the school [F89(in the case of a school in England), or]

[F90(ii)in the teaching of any aspect of a curriculum provided in the school under the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (in the case of a school in Wales)]

(2)In the case of activities which take place otherwise than on the school premises, subsection (1)(a) applies only where arrangements for junior pupils to take part in the activities are made by—

(a)any member of the school’s staff (in his capacity as such), or

(b)anyone acting on behalf of the school or of a member of the school’s staff (in his capacity as such).

(3)In this section “maintained school” includes [F91a community or foundation special school] established in a hospital.

407 Duty to secure balanced treatment of political issues.E+W

(1)The [F26local authority], governing body and head teacher shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that where political issues are brought to the attention of pupils while they are—

(a)in attendance at a maintained school, or

(b)taking part in extra-curricular activities which are provided or organised for registered pupils at the school by or on behalf of the school,

they are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views.

(2)In this section “maintained school” includes [F92a community or foundation special school] established in a hospital.

InformationE+W

408 Provision of information.E+W

(1)Regulations may require, in relation to every maintained school, the [F26local authority], the governing body or the head teacher to make available either generally or to prescribed persons, in such form and manner and at such times as may be prescribed—

(a)such information (including information as to the matters mentioned in subsection (2)) relevant for the purposes of any of the relevant provisions of this Part [F93or Part V of the Education Act 1997] [F94or section 96 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000] [F95or the relevant provisions of the Education Act 2002] [F96or the provisions of [F97Part 7] of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009] [F98or the provisions of the Qualifications Wales Act 2015] [F99or the provisions of the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021], and

F100(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

as may be prescribed.

(2)The matters referred to in subsection (1)(a) are—

(a)the curriculum for maintained schools,

(b)the educational provision made by the school for pupils at the school and any syllabuses to be followed by those pupils,

(c)the educational achievements of pupils at the school (including the results of any assessments of those pupils, whether under this Part or otherwise, for the purpose of ascertaining those achievements), and

(d)the educational achievements of [F101such classes or descriptions of pupils] as may be prescribed (including results of the kind mentioned in paragraph (c)). [F102, and

(e)arrangements relating to [F103relevant] qualifications (within the meaning given by section 96(5) of the Learning and Skills Act 2000) [F104which are approved under section 98 F105... of that Act] and to courses leading to such qualifications.]

[F106(f)arrangements relating to qualifications within the meaning given in section 56 of the Qualifications Wales Act 2015 which are approved under Part 4 of that Act and to courses of education or training leading to such qualifications.]

F107(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4)For the purposes of subsection (1) the relevant provisions of this Part are—

F108(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F109(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F109(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d)sections [F110390] to 392;

(e)sections 394 to [F111396] [F111396A];

(f)sections 398 F112... and 405; F113...

(g)[F114section 409] [F115; [F116and]]

[F117(h)[F116in so far as subsection (1) applies in relation to Wales, sections 403 and 404.]]

[F118(4A)For the purposes of subsection (1) the relevant provisions of the Education Act 2002 are—

(a)Part 6 (the curriculum in England), [F119and]

(b)[F119sections 97 to 117 (the curriculum in Wales).]]

(5)Before making any regulations under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult any persons with whom consultation appears to him to be desirable.

(6)Regulations under this section shall not require information as to the results of an individual pupil’s assessment (whether under [F120Part 6 [F121or 7] of the Education Act 2002] [F122or Part 4 of the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021] or otherwise) to be made available to any persons other than—

(a)the parents of the pupil concerned,

(b)the pupil concerned,

(c)in the case of a pupil who has transferred to a different school, the head teacher of that school,

(d)the governing body of the school, or

(e)the [F26local authority];

F123...

[F124(6A)Regulations under this section shall not require information as is mentioned in subsection (6) to be made available—

(a)to a governing body except where relevant for the purposes of the performance of any of their functions;

(b)to a head teacher except where relevant for the purposes of the performance of any of the head teacher’s functions;

(c)to a local authority except where relevant for the purposes of the performance of any of their education functions.]

(7)Regulations under this section may authorise [F57local authorities], governing bodies and head teachers to make a charge (not exceeding the cost of supply) for any documents supplied by them in pursuance of the regulations.

(8)In relation to any maintained school, the [F26local authority] and the governing body shall exercise their functions with a view to securing that the head teacher complies with any regulations made under this section.

[F125(8A)In exercising their functions under subsection (1), the Welsh Ministers must have regard to the desirability of information being available to parents and others about whether, and if so how, any parts of the curriculum and any educational provision at maintained schools (other than maintained nursery schools) promote the purpose of the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015 (see section 1 of that Act).]

[F126(9)In this section “maintained school” includes a maintained nursery school.]

Complaints and enforcementE+W

409[F127Complaints and enforcement: maintained schools [F128in Wales].]E+W

[F129(1)A local education authority [F130in Wales] shall, F131... after consultation with governing bodies [F132of foundation and voluntary aided schools [F130in Wales],] make arrangements for the consideration and disposal of any complaint to which subsection (2) applies.

(2)This subsection applies to any complaint which is to the effect that the authority, or the governing body of [F133any community, foundation or voluntary school maintained by the authority [F134, any maintained nursery school so maintained] or any community [F135or foundation special] school] so maintained which is not established in a hospital—

(a)have acted or are proposing to act unreasonably in relation to the exercise of a power conferred on them by or under a relevant enactment, or

(b)have acted or are proposing to act unreasonably in relation to the performance of, or have failed to discharge, a duty imposed on them by or under a relevant enactment.

(3)In subsection (2) “relevant enactment” means—

(a)any provision which by virtue of section 408(4) is a relevant provision of this Part for the purposes of section 408(1),

[F136(aa)[F137any provision which by virtue of section 408(4A) is a relevant provision of the Education Act 2002 for the purposes of section 408(1),]] and

(b)any other enactment (whether contained in this Part [F138or the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021] or otherwise) so far as relating to the curriculum for, or religious worship in, maintained schools F139....

(4)The [F140Welsh Ministers] shall not entertain under [F141section 496 (power to prevent unreasonable exercise of functions) or 497 (powers where a local education authority or governing body fail to discharge their duties)] [F141Chapter 1 or 2 of Part 2 of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 (intervention in conduct of maintained schools and local authorities)] any complaint to which subsection (2) applies, unless a complaint concerning the same matter has been made and disposed of in accordance with arrangements made under subsection (1).]

Nursery educationE+W

410 Application of Part V in relation to nursery education.E+W

[F142Nothing in this Part applies in relation to a nursery school or in relation to a nursery class in a primary school.]