Education Act 2002

32 Responsibility for fixing dates of terms and holidays and times of sessionsE+W

(1)In the case of a community, voluntary controlled or community special school or a maintained nursery school—

(a)the [F1local authority] shall determine the dates when the school terms and holidays are to begin and end, and

(b)[F2subject to subsections (5) to (9),] the governing body shall determine the times of the school sessions.

(2)In the case of a foundation, voluntary aided or foundation special school the governing body shall determine—

(a)the dates and times when the school terms and holidays are to begin and end, and

(b)[F3subject to subsections (5) to (9)] the times of the school sessions.

(3)Regulations may make provision—

(a)as to the procedure to be followed where the governing body of a school within subsection (1) propose to make any change in the time of the school sessions;

(b)as to the implementation of any such proposal;

(c)for enabling the [F1local authority] to determine, for any purposes of the regulations, whether any person is to be treated as a parent of a registered pupil at the school.

(4)In this section “the times of the school sessions” means the times at which each of the school sessions (or, if there is only one, the school session) is to begin and end on any day.

[F4(5)Subsections (1)(b) and (2)(b) do not apply in relation to a school in Wales in the circumstances specified in subsection (6).

(6)The circumstances are—

(a)that the [F1local authority] in whose area the school is situated have given notice in writing to the governing body of the school that the times of the school sessions are to be determined in accordance with subsection (8), and

(b)that the notice has not been withdrawn by the [F1local authority].

(7)A [F1local authority] must not issue a notice of the kind mentioned in subsection (6)(a) unless they consider a change in the times of the sessions of that school to be necessary or expedient in order to—

(a)promote the use of sustainable modes of travel within the meaning of section 11 of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008, or

(b)improve the effectiveness or efficiency of travel arrangements made, or to be made, by the authority under that Measure.

(8)In relation to a school subject to a notice of the kind mentioned in subsection (6)(a)—

(a)where there are two school sessions on the relevant school day—

(i)the [F1local authority] must determine the time each day at which the first school session starts and the second school session ends, and

(ii)the governing body must determine the time each day at which the first school session ends and the second school session starts;

(b)where there is one school session on the relevant school day the [F1local authority] must determine the time each day at which the school session starts and ends.

(9)The Welsh Ministers may make provision by regulations—

(a)as to the procedure to be followed where the [F1local authority] propose to issue a notice of the kind mentioned in subsection (6)(a);

(b)as to the matters to be included in such a notice;

(c)as to the implementation of any determination under subsection (8);

(d)for enabling the [F1local authority] to determine, for any purposes of the regulations, whether any person is to be treated as a parent of a registered pupil at the school.

(10)In giving notice as described in subsection (6) and in discharging any function conferred by subsections (7) or (8) or by regulations under subsection (9), a [F1local authority] must have regard to guidance given by the Welsh Ministers.]