Part 1E+WSchool inspections and other inspections by school inspectors

Chapter 2E+WProcedure for inspections under Chapter 1

Inspections and reports: all schoolsE+W

13Duties of Chief Inspector where school causes or has caused concernE+W

(1)If, on completion of a section 5 inspection of a school, the Chief Inspector is of the opinion—

(a)that special measures are required to be taken in relation to the school, or

(b)that the school requires significant improvement,

he must comply with subsections (2) and (3).

(2)The Chief Inspector must—

(a)send a draft of the report of the inspection—

(i)in the case of a maintained school, to the governing body, and

(ii)in the case of any other school, to the proprietor of the school, and

(b)consider any comments on the draft that are made to him within the prescribed period by the governing body or proprietor, as the case may be.

(3)If, after complying with subsection (2), the Chief Inspector is of the opinion that the case falls within paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1)—

(a)he must without delay give a notice in writing, stating that the case falls within paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1)—

(i)to the Secretary of State,

(ii)in the case of a maintained school, to the [F1local authority], and

(iii)in the case of any other school, to the proprietor of the school, and

(b)he must state his opinion in the report of the inspection.

(4)If a report of a section 5 inspection is made in circumstances where—

(a)in the latest report of an inspection of the school, the Chief Inspector stated that in his opinion special measures were required to be taken in relation to the school, but

(b)the Chief Inspector is of the opinion that special measures are not required to be taken in relation to the school,

he must state his opinion in the report (whether or not he is required by subsection (3)(b) also to state the opinion that the school requires significant improvement).

(5)If a report of a section 5 inspection is made in circumstances where—

(a)in the latest report of an inspection of the school, the Chief Inspector stated that in his opinion the school required significant improvement, but

(b)the Chief Inspector is of the opinion that the school does not require significant improvement and that special measures are not required to be taken in relation to the school,

he must state his opinion in the report.

Destination of reports[F2and interim statements] and measures required: maintained schoolsE+W

14Destination of reports: maintained schoolsE+W

(1)The Chief Inspector must ensure that a copy of the report of any section 5 inspection of a maintained school is sent without delay to the appropriate authority for the school.

(2)The Chief Inspector must ensure that copies of the report are sent—

(a)to the head teacher of the school,

(b)to whichever of the [F1local authority] and the governing body are not the appropriate authority,

(c)in the case of a school having foundation governors, to the person who appoints them and (if different) to the appropriate appointing authority, and

(d)in such circumstances as may be prescribed, to such other persons (if any) as may be prescribed.

F3(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4)The appropriate authority must—

(a)make a copy of any report sent to the authority under subsection (1) available for inspection by members of the public at such times and at such place as may be reasonable,

(b)provide a copy of the report, free of charge or in prescribed cases on payment of such fee as they think fit (not exceeding the cost of supply), to any person who asks for one, and

(c)take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that every registered parent of a registered pupil at the school receives a copy of the report within such period following receipt of the report by the authority as may be prescribed.

[F4 14A Destination of interim statements: maintained schoolsE+W

(1)The Chief Inspector must ensure that a copy of any interim statement about a maintained school is sent without delay to the appropriate authority for the school.

(2)The Chief Inspector must ensure that copies of the statement are sent—

(a)to the head teacher of the school,

(b)to whichever of the [F1local authority] and the governing body are not the appropriate authority, and

(c)in the case of a school having foundation governors, to the person who appoints them and (if different) to the appropriate appointing authority.

F5(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4)The appropriate authority must—

(a)make a copy of any statement sent to the authority under subsection (1) available for inspection by members of the public at such times and at such places as may be reasonable,

(b)provide one copy of the statement free of charge to any person who asks for one, and

(c)take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that every registered parent of a registered pupil at the school receives a copy of the statement within such period following receipt of the statement by the authority as may be prescribed.]

15Measures to be taken by [F1local authority]E+W

(1)[F6Subsection (2)]applies where, in a report of a section 5 inspection of a maintained school, the Chief Inspector stated either—

(a)that in his opinion special measures were required to be taken in relation to the school, or

(b)that in his opinion the school required significant improvement.

[F7( 2 )The [F1local authority] must—

(a)consider what action to take in the light of the report,

(b)consider what arrangements to make for the purpose of informing registered parents of the proposed action, ascertaining their views on the proposed action and taking account of those views,

(c)consider whether those arrangements are to include the appointment of a specified person for that purpose,

(d)prepare a written statement—

(i)of the action they propose to take, and the period within which they propose to take that action, or, if they do not propose to take such action, of their reasons for not doing so, and

(ii)of the arrangements they propose to make for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (b), and

(e)send a copy of the statement prepared under paragraph (d) to—

(i)the Chief Inspector,

(ii)in the case of a voluntary aided school, the person who appoints the foundation governors and (if different) the appropriate appointing authority, and

(iii)such other persons as the Secretary of State may specify.

(2A)Subsection (2B) applies where—

(a)the [F1local authority] have prepared a statement under subsection (2) in relation to a school,

(b)it appears to the Secretary of State, on the basis of a report of an interim inspection of the school by the Chief Inspector, that the case has become urgent, and

(c)no subsequent inspection of the school has been made under section 5.

(2B)The Secretary of State may by notice require the [F1local authority] to—

(a)consider the action to be taken in the light of the report of the interim inspection and the arrangements to be made for the purpose mentioned in subsection (2)(b),

(b)prepare a written statement—

(i)of the action they propose to take, and the period within which they propose to take that action, or, if they do not propose to take such action, of their reasons for not doing so, and

(ii)of the arrangements they propose to make for the purpose mentioned in subsection (2)(b), and

(c)send a copy of the statement to the Secretary of State and to the persons mentioned in subsection (2)(e)(i) to (iii).

(2C)For the purposes of subsections (2A) and (2B) an “interim inspection” is an inspection under section 8 [F8which is not treated as a section 5 inspection by virtue of section 9].]

(3)It is the duty of the [F1local authority] to prepare [F9a statement under subsection (2) or (2B)] within the period allowed by this subsection, that is—

(a)such period as may be prescribed, or

(b)if—

(i)the report states that the Chief Inspector is of the opinion that special measures are required to be taken in relation to the school, and

(ii)the Secretary of State is of the opinion that the urgency of the case requires a shorter period,

such shorter period as the Secretary of State may direct;

but this subsection does not relieve the [F1local authority] of any duty to prepare a statement which has not been performed within that period.

[F10(4)In performing their functions under subsections (2)(a), (b), (c) and (d) and (2B)(a) and (b), the [F1local authority] must have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.]

Destination of reports[F11and interim statements] and measures required: non-maintained schoolsE+W

16Destination of reports: non-maintained schoolsE+W

(1)The Chief Inspector must ensure that a copy of the report of any section 5 inspection of a school other than a maintained school is sent without delay to the proprietor of the school.

(2)In the case of a special school which is not a community or foundation special school, the proprietor must without delay send a copy of any report sent to him under subsection (1) to any [F1local authority] that are paying fees in respect of the attendance of a registered pupil at the school.

(3)The proprietor of the school must—

(a)make any report sent to him under subsection (1) available for inspection by members of the public at such times and at such place as may be reasonable,

(b)provide a copy of the report, free of charge or in prescribed cases on payment of such fee as he thinks fit (not exceeding the cost of supply) to any person who asks for one, and

(c)take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that every registered parent of a registered pupil at the school receives a copy of the report within such period following receipt of the report by the proprietor as may be prescribed.

[F1216ADestination of interim statements: non-maintained schoolsE+W

(1)The Chief Inspector must ensure that a copy of any interim statement about a school other than a maintained school is sent without delay to the proprietor of the school.

(2)In the case of a special school which is not a community or foundation special school, the proprietor must without delay send a copy of any interim statement sent to the proprietor under subsection (1) to any [F1local authority] that are paying fees in respect of the attendance of a registered pupil at the school.

(3)The proprietor of the school must—

(a)make any statement sent to the proprietor under subsection (1) available for inspection by members of the public at such times and at such place as may be reasonable,

(b)provide one copy of the statement free of charge to any person who asks for one, and

(c)take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that every registered parent of a registered pupil at the school receives a copy of the statement within such period following receipt of the statement by the proprietor as may be prescribed.]

17Statement to be prepared by proprietor of schoolE+W

(1)[F13Subsection (1A) applies]Where there is sent to the proprietor of a school other than a maintained school a report of a section 5 inspection in which the Chief Inspector states—

(a)that he is of the opinion that special measures are required to be taken in relation to the school, or

(b)that he is of the opinion that the school requires significant improvement,

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

[F15(1A)The proprietor must—

(a)consider what action to take in the light of the report,

(b)consider what arrangements to make for the purpose of informing registered parents of the proposed action, ascertaining their views on the proposed action and taking account of those views,

(c)consider whether those arrangements are to include the appointment of a specified person for that purpose, and

(d)prepare a written statement—

(i)of the action the proprietor proposes to take, and the period within which he proposes to take that action, or, if he does not propose to take such action, of his reasons for not doing so, and

(ii)of the arrangements he proposes to make for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (b).

(1B)Subsection (1C) applies where—

(a)the proprietor of a school has prepared a statement under subsection (1A) in relation to the school,

(b)it appears to the Secretary of State, on the basis of a report of an interim inspection of the school by the Chief Inspector, that the case has become urgent, and

(c)no subsequent inspection of the school has been made under section 5.

(1C)The Secretary of State may by notice require the proprietor to—

(a)consider the action to be taken in the light of the report of the interim inspection and the arrangements to be made for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1A)(b), and

(b)prepare a written statement—

(i)of the action the proprietor proposes to take, and the period within which he proposes to take that action, or, if he does not propose to take such action, of his reasons for not doing so, and

(ii)of the arrangements the proprietor proposes to make for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1A)(b)”.

(1D)For the purposes of subsections (1B) and (1C) an “interim inspection” is an inspection under section 8 [F16which is not treated as a section 5 inspection by virtue of section 9].]

(2)It is the duty of the proprietor of the school to prepare the statement within the period allowed by this subsection, that is—

(a)such period as may be prescribed, or

(b)if—

(i)the report states that the Chief Inspector is of the opinion that special measures are required to be taken in relation to the school, and

(ii)the Secretary of State is of the opinion that the urgency of the case requires a shorter period,

such shorter period as the Secretary of State may direct;

but this subsection does not relieve the proprietor of the school of any duty to prepare a statement which has not been performed within that period.

(3)Where [F17a statement under subsection (1A) or (1C)] has been prepared by the proprietor of the school, he must, before the end of the prescribed period, send copies of it—

(a)to the Chief Inspector,

[F18(aa)in the case of a statement under subsection (1C), to the Secretary of State,]

and

(b)in such circumstances as may be prescribed, to such other persons (if any) as may be prescribed.

(4)In the case of a special school which is not a community or foundation special school, the proprietor of the school must, before the end of the prescribed period, send a copy of any such statement prepared by him to any [F1local authority] that are paying fees in respect of the attendance of a registered pupil at the school.

[F19(5)In performing his functions under subsections (1A)(a), (b), (c) and (d) and (1C)(a) and (b), the proprietor must have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.]

Interpretation of ChapterE+W

18Interpretation of Chapter 2E+W

In this Chapter—

• “the appropriate appointing authority”, in relation to a voluntary aided school, means—

  (a)

  the appropriate diocesan authority, if it is a Church of England school F20. . . or a Roman Catholic Church school, or

  (b)

  in any other case, the person who appoints the foundation governors;

• “the appropriate authority”, in relation to a maintained school, means the school's governing body or, if the school does not have a delegated budget, the [F1local authority];

• “the Chief Inspector” means [F21Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills];

• [F22 “ interim statement ” means an interim statement under section 10A; ]

• “maintained school” means a community, foundation or voluntary school, a community or foundation special school or a maintained nursery school;

• “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations;

• “regulations” means regulations made by the Secretary of State under this Chapter;

• “section 5 inspection” means an inspection under section 5.