Education Act 1996

173Discontinuance of a voluntary school by its governing body

(1)The governing body of a voluntary school shall not discontinue the school unless they have served on the Secretary of State and the local education authority at least two years' notice of their intention to do so.

(2)If expenditure has been incurred on the school premises (otherwise than in connection with repairs)—

(a)by the Secretary of State,

(b)by any local education authority, or

(c)by an authority which was a local education authority within the meaning of any enactment repealed by the [1944 c. 31.] Education Act 1944 or an earlier Act,

no notice may be served without leave of the Secretary of State.

(3)If the Secretary of State gives such leave, he may impose any requirements that he thinks just—

(a)in respect of the repayment of all or part of any expenditure so incurred by him;

(b)in respect of the conveyance to the local education authority of any premises used for the purposes of the school which he is satisfied the authority will need for any purpose connected with education;

(c)(where any premises are to be so conveyed) in respect of the payment by the authority of so much of the value of those premises as is just having regard to the extent to which the premises were provided otherwise than at the expense of the authority or of an authority within subsection (2)(c);

(d)(where any premises used for the purposes of the school are not to be so conveyed) in respect of the payment by the governing body to the authority of so much of the value of those premises as is just having regard to the extent to which they were provided at the expense of the authority or of an authority within subsection (2)(c).

(4)If discontinuing the school would affect the facilities for full-time education suitable to the requirements of persons over compulsory school age who have not attained the age of 19, the governing body shall, before serving notice under this section, consult the appropriate further education funding council.

(5)No notice may be served under this section in respect of any school in respect of which the procedure for acquisition of grant-maintained status is pending (within the meaning of Chapter III of Part III).

(6)A notice served under this section may not be withdrawn without the consent of the local education authority.

(7)Where a school is discontinued in accordance with this section, the duty of the local education authority to maintain it as a voluntary school shall cease.

(8)This section and section 174 have effect subject to section 175(2).