Education (Schools) Act 1992 Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for England Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Schools in England. 1 1 Her Majesty may by Order in Council appoint a person to the office of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools in England (“ the Chief Inspector for England ”). 2 Her Majesty may by Order in Council appoint persons as Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools in England. 3 Any person appointed as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools in England shall serve, in accordance with the terms and conditions on which he is appointed, as a member of the staff of the Chief Inspector for England. 4 The Chief Inspector for England shall hold and vacate office in accordance with the terms of his appointment, but— a shall not be appointed for a term of more than five years; b may at any time resign by giving written notice to the Secretary of State; c may be removed from office by Her Majesty on the ground of incapacity or misconduct. 5 The previous appointment of a person as Chief Inspector for England shall not affect his eligibility for re-appointment. 6 Schedule 1 makes further provision with respect to the Chief Inspector for England and his staff. Functions of the Chief Inspector for England. 2 1 The Chief Inspector for England shall have the general duty of keeping the Secretary of State informed about— a the quality of the education provided by schools in England; b the educational standards achieved in those schools; c whether the financial resources made available to those schools are managed efficiently; and d the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at those schools. 2 When asked to do so by the Secretary of State, the Chief Inspector for England shall— a give advice to the Secretary of State on such matters as may be specified in the Secretary of State’s request; b inspect and report on such school, or class of school, in England as may be so specified. 3 The Chief Inspector for England shall, in addition, have the following specific duties— a establishing and maintaining the register mentioned in section 10(1); b giving guidance to inspectors registered in that register, and such other persons as he considers appropriate, in connection with inspections of schools in England under section 9 and the making of reports of such inspections; c keeping under review the system of inspecting schools under section 9 (so far as it relates to schools in England) and, in particular, the standard of such inspections and of the reports made by registered inspectors; d keeping under review the extent to which any requirement imposed by or under this Act, or any other enactment, on any registered inspector, local education authority, proprietor of a school or governing body in relation to inspections of schools in England is complied with; e promoting efficiency in the conduct and reporting of inspections of schools in England by encouraging competition in the provision of services by registered inspectors. 4 The Chief Inspector for England may at any time give advice to the Secretary of State on any matter connected with schools, or a particular school, in England. 5 The Chief Inspector for England shall have such other functions in connection with schools in England, including functions with respect to the training of teachers for such schools, as may be assigned to him by the Secretary of State. 6 In exercising his functions the Chief Inspector for England shall have regard to such aspects of government policy as the Secretary of State may direct. Power of Chief Inspector for England to arrange for inspections. 3 1 The Chief Inspector for England may cause any school in England to be inspected by one or more of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools in England (in this section referred to as “ Inspectors ”). 2 Where an inspection of a school in England is being conducted by a registered inspector under section 9, the Chief Inspector for England may arrange for that inspection to be monitored by one or more Inspectors. 3 Any Inspector inspecting a school, or monitoring an inspection, under this section shall have at all reasonable times— a a right of entry to the premises of the school; and b a right to inspect, and take copies of, any records kept by the school, and any other documents containing information relating to the school, which he considers relevant to the discharge of his functions. 4 It shall be an offence wilfully to obstruct any Inspector in the exercise of any of his functions under this section. 5 A person guilty of an offence under subsection (4) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level four on the standard scale. Annual and other reports of the Chief Inspector for England. 4 The Chief Inspector for England— a shall make an annual report to the Secretary of State, who shall lay a copy of it before each House of Parliament; b may make such other reports to the Secretary of State, with respect to matters which fall within the scope of his functions, as he considers appropriate; and c may arrange for any report made by him under this section to be published in such manner as he considers appropriate. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Wales Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Schools in Wales. 5 1 Her Majesty may by Order in Council appoint a person to the office of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales (“ the Chief Inspector for Wales ”). 2 Her Majesty may by Order in Council appoint persons as Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools in Wales. 3 Any person appointed as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools in Wales shall serve, in accordance with the terms and conditions on which he is appointed, as a member of the staff of the Chief Inspector for Wales. 4 The Chief Inspector for Wales shall hold and vacate office in accordance with the terms of his appointment, but— a shall not be appointed for a term of more than five years; b may at any time resign by giving written notice to the Secretary of State; c may be removed from office by Her Majesty on the ground of incapacity or misconduct. 5 The previous appointment of a person as Chief Inspector for Wales shall not affect his eligibility for re-appointment. 6 Schedule 1 makes further provision with respect to the Chief Inspector for Wales and his staff. Functions of the Chief Inspector for Wales. 6 1 The Chief Inspector for Wales shall have the general duty of keeping the Secretary of State informed about— a the quality of the education provided by schools in Wales; b the educational standards achieved in those schools; c whether the financial resources made available to those schools are managed efficiently; and d the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at those schools. 2 When asked to do so by the Secretary of State, the Chief Inspector for Wales shall— a give advice to the Secretary of State on such matters as may be specified in the Secretary of State’s request; b inspect and report on such school, or class of school, in Wales as may be so specified. 3 The Chief Inspector for Wales shall, in addition, have the following specific duties— a establishing and maintaining the register mentioned in section 10(2); b giving guidance to inspectors registered in that register, and such other persons as he considers appropriate, in connection with inspections of schools in Wales under section 9 and the making of reports of such inspections; c keeping under review the system of inspecting schools under section 9 (so far as it relates to schools in Wales) and, in particular, the standard of such inspections and of the reports made by registered inspectors; d keeping under review the extent to which any requirement imposed by or under this Act, or any other enactment, on any registered inspector, local education authority, proprietor of a school or governing body in relation to inspections of schools in Wales is complied with; e promoting efficiency in the conduct and reporting of inspections of schools in Wales by encouraging competition in the provision of services by registered inspectors. 4 The Chief Inspector for Wales may at any time give advice to the Secretary of State on any matter connected with schools, or a particular school, in Wales. 5 The Chief Inspector for Wales shall have such other functions in connection with schools in Wales, including functions with respect to the training of teachers for such schools, as may be assigned to him by the Secretary of State. 6 In exercising his functions the Chief Inspector for Wales shall have regard to such aspects of government policy as the Secretary of State may direct. Power of Chief Inspector for Wales to arrange for inspections. 7 1 The Chief Inspector for Wales may cause any school in Wales to be inspected by one or more of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools in Wales (in this section referred to as “ Inspectors ”). 2 Where an inspection of a school in Wales is being conducted by a registered inspector under section 9, the Chief Inspector for Wales may arrange for that inspection to be monitored by one or more Inspectors. 3 Any Inspector inspecting a school, or monitoring an inspection, under this section shall have at all reasonable times— a a right of entry to the premises of the school; and b a right to inspect, and take copies of, any records kept by the school, and any other documents containing information relating to the school, which he considers relevant to the discharge of his functions. 4 It shall be an offence wilfully to obstruct any Inspector in the exercise of any of his functions under this section. 5 A person guilty of an offence under subsection (4) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level four on the standard scale. Annual and other reports of the Chief Inspector for Wales. 8 The Chief Inspector for Wales— a shall make an annual report to the Secretary of State, who shall lay a copy of it before each House of Parliament; b may make such other reports to the Secretary of State, with respect to matters which fall within the scope of his functions, as he considers appropriate; and c may arrange for any report made by him under this section to be published in such manner as he considers appropriate. Inspections by registered inspectors Inspection of certain schools. 9 1 It shall be the duty of the Chief Inspector for England to secure that every school in England to which this section applies is inspected, at such intervals as may be prescribed, by an inspector registered under section 10(1). 2 It shall be the duty of the Chief Inspector for Wales to secure that every school in Wales to which this section applies is inspected, at such intervals as may be prescribed, by an inspector registered under section 10(2). 3 The schools to which this section applies are— a county schools; b voluntary schools; c special schools; d grant-maintained schools; e independent schools approved by the Secretary of State under section 189(1) of the Education Act 1993 (approval of independent schools for children with statements) f city technology colleges; g city colleges for the technology of the arts; h maintained nursery schools. 4 It shall be the general duty of any registered inspector conducting an inspection under this section to report on— a the quality of the education provided by the school; b the educational standards achieved in the school; c whether the financial resources made available to the school are managed efficiently; and d the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school. 5 In prescribing the intervals mentioned in subsections (1) and (2) the Secretary of State may make provision as to the period within which the first inspection of a school under this section is to begin. 6 An inspection which is required under this section shall not extend to denominational education or to the content of collective worship which falls to be inspected under section 13 . 7 Part I of Schedule 2 makes further provision with respect to inspections under this Act . Registration of inspectors. 10 1 No person shall conduct an inspection of any school in England under section 9(1) unless he is registered as an inspector in a register kept by the Chief Inspector for England for the purposes of this Act. 2 No person shall conduct an inspection of any school in Wales under section 9(2) unless he is registered as an inspector in a register kept by the Chief Inspector for Wales for the purposes of this Act. 3 The Chief Inspector shall not register a person under this section unless, having regard to any conditions that he proposes to impose under subsection (5)(c), it appears to him that that person— a is a fit and proper person for discharging the functions of a registered inspector; and b will be capable of conducting inspections under this Act competently and effectively. 4 An application for registration under this section— a shall be made in such manner, and be accompanied by such particulars, as the Chief Inspector may direct; and b shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee. 5 On an application duly made under this section the Chief Inspector may— a register the applicant; b refuse to register him; or c register him subject to such conditions as the Chief Inspector considers it appropriate to impose. 6 Conditions imposed under subsection (5)(c) may be conditions applying generally in relation to all cases, or particular classes of case, or such conditions together with specific conditions applying in the particular case. 7 Where a person is registered subject to conditions imposed under subsection (5)(c), he shall be taken to be authorised to act as a registered inspector only so far as those conditions permit. 8 The period for which any registration is to have effect shall be determined by the Chief Inspector and shall be entered in the register kept by him. 9 Nothing in subsection (8) is to be taken as preventing a registered inspector from applying for a fresh registration to take effect immediately on the expiry of his current registration. Removal from register and imposition or variation of conditions. 11 1 If the Chief Inspector is satisfied that any of the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) is satisfied with respect to an inspector registered in his register, he may remove the name of that inspector from that register. 2 The conditions are that— a he is no longer a fit and proper person for discharging the functions of a registered inspector under this Act; b he is no longer capable of conducting inspections under this Act competently and effectively; c there has been a significant failure on his part to comply with any condition imposed under section 10(5)(c) and subject to which his registration has effect; d he has knowingly or recklessly produced a report of an inspection which is, in whole or in part, seriously misleading. 3 If the Chief Inspector is satisfied— a that he is authorised by subsection (2) to remove the name of an inspector from his register, or b that it would otherwise be in the public interest to act under this subsection, he may vary any condition subject to which the registration of that inspector has effect or vary that registration by imposing a condition subject to which it will have effect. 4 Either Chief Inspector may, in exercising his functions under this section with respect to a registered inspector, have regard to any action taken by the other Chief Inspector with respect to that registered inspector. Appeals in relation to registration. 12 1 Any person who is aggrieved by— a the refusal of the Chief Inspector to renew his registration under section 10, b the imposition or variation of any condition subject to which he is registered under that section, c the removal of his name from the relevant register under section 11, may appeal against the Chief Inspector’s decision to a tribunal constituted in accordance with Schedule 3. 2 No such decision of the Chief Inspector shall have effect until— a the disposal of any appeal against it which is duly made under this section; or b the period within which an appeal may be made has expired without an appeal having been made. 3 Subsection (2) shall not apply where the Chief Inspector— a is satisfied that the circumstances of the case are exceptional and justify the decision in question taking effect immediately, or earlier than would otherwise be the case; and b notifies the person concerned to that effect. 4 On determining any appeal under this section, the tribunal may— a confirm, reverse or vary the decision appealed against; or b remit the case to the Chief Inspector with directions as to the action to be taken by him. 5 Schedule 3 shall have effect with respect to the tribunals. Religious education. 13 1 It shall be the duty of the governing body of— a any voluntary school, or b any grant-maintained school, in which denominational education is given to any pupils to secure that that education is inspected under this section. 2 It shall be the duty of the governing body of— a any voluntary school, or b any grant-maintained school falling within subsection (3) below, to secure that the content of the school’s collective worship is inspected under this section. 3 A grant-maintained school falls within this subsection if— a it was a voluntary school immediately before it became grant-maintained, b it was established in pursuance of proposals published under section 49 of the Education Act 1993 and either any trust deed relating to the school or the statement required by paragraph 8 of Schedule 3 to that Act makes provision as to the religious education for pupils at the school, or c it is a school in respect of which proposals for the required provision for religious education to be provision for religious education in accordance with the tenets of a particular religion or religious denomination are approved under section 98 of that Act. 3A In this section— a “ denominational education ”, in relation to a school, means any religious education which— i is required by section 2(1)(a) of the Education Reform Act 1988 to be included in the school’s basic curriculum, but ii is not required by any enactment to be given in accordance with an agreed syllabus, b “ the required provision for religious education ” means the provision for religious education for pupils at the school which is required as mentioned in paragraph (a)(i) above, and c references to collective worship are references to collective worship required by section 6 of that Act. 4 An inspection under this section shall be conducted by a person chosen by— a the foundation governors, in the case of a controlled school; and b the governing body, in any other case. 5 The person chosen need not be a registered inspector. 6 Inspections under this section shall be carried out at such intervals as may be prescribed; and in prescribing the intervals the Secretary of State may make provision as to the period within which the first inspection under this section with respect to a school is to begin. 7 It shall be the general duty of a person conducting an inspection under this section— a if the inspection is conducted by virtue of subsection (1) above, to report on the quality of the denominational education provided by the school for pupils to whom denominational education is given by the school, or b if the inspection is conducted by virtue of subsection (2) above, to report on the content of the school’s collective worship, and any such person may report on the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school. 8 A person conducting an inspection under this section may do so with the assistance of such other persons chosen by him as are in his opinion fit and proper persons for carrying out the inspection. 9 Part II of Schedule 2 makes further provision with respect to inspections under this section. Provision of inspection services by local education authorities. 14 1 Any local education authority may provide a school inspection service for schools within their area. 2 In this section “ school inspection service ”, in relation to any local education authority, means a service providing for the inspection of schools under section 9 or 13 by officers of the authority. 3 Any school inspection service provided by a local education authority may, in addition to providing for the inspection of schools which are maintained by them, provide for the inspection of schools which are not maintained by them. 4 Any school inspection service provided by a local education authority shall be operated by the authority in such a way as can reasonably be expected to secure that the full cost of providing the service is recovered by way of charges made by the authority to those using the service. 5 The Secretary of State may by regulations— a make provision as to the making of tenders by local education authorities (as required by paragraph 2 of Schedule 2); b make provision with respect to the accounts to be kept by local education authorities in connection with any school inspection services provided by them; and c make such incidental and supplemental provision with respect to school inspection services provided by local education authorities as the Secretary of State considers appropriate. Power of local education authority to inspect maintained school for specific purpose. 15 1 Where— a a local education authority require information about any matter in connection with a school which is maintained by them, for the purpose of enabling them to exercise any function of theirs, and b it is not reasonably practicable for them to obtain it in any other manner, they may cause an inspection of the school to be made by one or more of their officers for the purpose of obtaining that information. 2 Any officer of a local education authority inspecting a school under this section shall have at all reasonable times a right of entry to the premises of the school. Information about schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Information as to schools and pupils: Scotland. 17 In Part II of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (rights and duties of parents and functions of education authorities in relation to individual pupils) after section 28H (appeals relating to exclusion of pupils from schools) there shall be inserted the following sections— Information as to schools and pupils Information as to schools. 28I 1 The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision requiring— a in respect of every school for the management of which an education authority is responsible, the education authority; and b in respect of every other school— i where the school has a board of management, the board of management; ii in any other case, the managers, to provide to him and to such persons (including education authorities) as may be prescribed such information as regards the school and pupils attending the school as may be prescribed. 2 For the purposes of this section information about the continuing education of pupils leaving a school, or the employment or training taken up by such pupils on leaving, is to be treated as information about the school. 3 Where the Secretary of State exercises his power to make regulations under this section he shall do so with a view to making available information which is likely to— a assist parents in choosing schools for their children; b increase public awareness of the quality of the education provided by the schools concerned and the educational standards achieved in those schools; or c assist in assessing the degree of efficiency with which the financial resources of those schools are managed. 4 Information which is required by virtue of regulations made under this section shall be provided— a in such form and manner; and b on such occasions, as may be prescribed. 5 No information provided in accordance with regulations made under this section shall name any pupil to whom it relates. 6 The Secretary of State may— a publish information provided in accordance with regulations made under this section in such form and manner as he considers appropriate; b require an education authority to publish such information at such times and in such form and manner as he may specify for the purposes of this section; or c make arrangements for such information to be published in such form and manner, and by such persons, as he may specify for the purposes of this section. 7 The powers given to the Secretary of State by this section and section 28J of this Act may be exercised so as to make different provision in relation to different areas. 8 This section and sections 28J and 28K of this Act are not to be taken as restricting, or otherwise affecting, any other powers that the Secretary of State may have to make regulations with respect to, or otherwise require, the provision of information by any person. 9 Regulations made under this section and sections 28J and 28K of this Act may make different provision for different cases or classes of case. 10 This section does not apply to nursery schools. Requirement to provide information as to school education. 28J 1 The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring education authorities, boards of management and managers of grant-aided schools to provide to prescribed persons such information or documents or categories of information or documents relating to school education as may be prescribed. 2 Information or documents provided in pursuance of regulations made under subsection (1) above shall be provided— a in such form and manner; and b on such occasions, as may be prescribed. Information as to pupils. 28K 1 The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision requiring that such information and reports as may be prescribed as regards pupils attending schools to which this section applies shall be supplied to the parents of such pupils at such times and in such form and manner as may be determined by or in accordance with the regulations. 2 This section applies to any school which is not a grant-aided school, an independent school or a nursery school. 3 Regulations made under this section may contain provision as to— a the means of involvement of parents in consideration of such reports; and b the extent to which any information relating to general standards of performance in examinations or other forms of assessment of any group of pupils shall be supplied to parents of other pupils. Miscellaneous Interpretation. 18 1 In this Act— “ agreed syllabus ” has the meaning given in section 114(1) of the Education Act 1944; “ appropriate authority ”, in relation to any school, has the meaning given in paragraph 1 of Schedule 2; “ Chief Inspector ” shall be read— in relation to any school in England, as a reference to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools in England; and in relation to any school in Wales, as a reference to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales; “ Chief Inspector for England ” has the meaning given in section 1(1); “ Chief Inspector for Wales ” has the meaning given in section 5(1); “ city technology college ” and “ city college for the technology of the arts ” have the meanings given in section 105 of the Education Reform Act 1988; “ delegated budget ” has the same meaning as in section 36 of the Education Reform Act 1988; “ denominational education ” has the meaning given in section 13(2); “ inspection team ” has the meaning given in paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 2; “ maintained school ” means any county school, voluntary school, maintained special school, maintained nursery school or grant-maintained school; “ nursery school ” has the meaning given in section 9(4) of the Education Act 1944; “ prescribed ” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State; and “ registered inspector ” means a person registered under section 10(1) or (2). 2 For the purposes of this Act any reference to a condition imposed under section 10(5)(c) includes a reference to a condition imposed under section 11(3). 3 Any person authorised by this Act to inspect records— a shall be entitled at any reasonable time to have access to, and inspect and check the operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been in use in connection with the records in question; and b may require— i the person by whom or on whose behalf the computer is or has been so used; or ii any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material, to afford him such assistance as he may reasonably require. 4 This Act and the Education Act 1944 shall be construed as one. Regulations and orders. 19 1 In addition to any power to make an Order in Council, any power to make regulations or any other kind of order conferred by this Act shall be exercisable by statutory instrument. 2 Any statutory instrument containing an order or regulations made under this Act, except one made under section 21(3), shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament. 3 Any regulations or order made under this Act may make different provision with respect to different cases, or classes of case, (including provision for the designation by the Secretary of State, in accordance with the regulations, of particular schools or classes of school for the purposes of the application of particular provisions of the regulations in relation to such schools) and may make different provision in relation to different areas. Financial provisions. 20 1 There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament— a any expenses incurred by the Secretary of State under this Act; and b any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable under any other Act out of money so provided. 2 There shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund any sums received by the Chief Inspector under section 10(4)(b) or paragraph 4(3) or 5(3) of Schedule 2. Short title, commencement, extent etc. 21 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Section 17 extends to Scotland only. 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .