Education Act 1997

Year: 1997
Full text available: Here

Part I relates to assisted places scheme.

Part II relates to the responsibility for discipline. Section 2 addresses the responsibility for discipline in LEA-maintained schools. Section 3 relates to the responsibility for discipline in grant maintained and grant maintained special schools. Section 4 sets out the power of members of staff to restrain pupils. Section 5 gives details of detention outside school hours lawful despite absent of parental consent. Sections 6 – 8 relates to exclusion of pupils from school. Section 10 states the restriction of right to refuse admission to partially selective school. Sections 11 – 12 sets out details about children permanently excluded from two or more schools. Section 13 relates to home – school partnership documents.

Part IV relates to baseline assessments and pupils performance. Section 17 addresses the assessment of pupils in accordance with the scheme. Pupils performance and school performance targets are provided for in Sections 19 and 20.

Functions of the Authority are set out. This includes the general function of Authority to advance education and training (s. 22), functions in relation to curriculum and assessment (s. 23), functions in relation to external vocational and academic qualifications (s. 24) and supplementary provisions relating to discharge by Authority of their functions (s. 26). Section 27 – 32 applies to the qualifications, curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales.

Section 37 sets out the requirement for approval of certain publicly-funded and school courses leading to external qualifications.

Part VI applies to the inspection of Local Education Authorities and school inspections. This includes inspection of LEAs (s. 38), reports of inspection under s. 38 and action plan by LEA (s. 39) and inspector’s rights of entry (s. 40). Amendments relating to school inspections are provided for under Section 42.

Part VII applies to careers education and guidance under Sections 43 – 46.

Part VIII contains miscellaneous and general provisions. This includes details of LEAs as regards exceptional educational provision (s. 47), the power to make regulations: teachers not under contract of employment and persons having access to those under 19 (s. 49). The definition of a school is set out under Section 51 and the commencement of compulsory school age is provided for under Section 52.