(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations require local education authorities in England to set annual targets in respect of the educational performance—
(a)of pupils at schools maintained by them, and
(b)of any persons of compulsory school age (whether or not pupils at such schools) who are or have been looked after by them.
(2)Regulations under this section may in particular—
(a)specify the matters in respect of which targets are required to be set;
(b)require proposed targets to be notified to the Secretary of State by a prescribed time;
(c)authorise the Secretary of State—
(i)to modify any proposed target notified to him, or
(ii)to require a local education authority to modify the proposed targets and to notify him of the proposed targets as modified;
(d)require the targets to be set by a prescribed time;
(e)require local education authorities to publish, in such manner as may be specified in the regulations, any targets which they set.
(3)In subsection (1), “looked after” is to be read in accordance with section 22 of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41).