Education Act 1996, section 496

Power to prevent unreasonable exercise of functions

Part IX Ancillary functions

(1)If the Secretary of State is satisfied (either on a complaint by any person or otherwise) that a body to which this section applies have acted or are proposing to act unreasonably with respect to the exercise of any power conferred or the performance of any duty imposed by or under this Act, he may give such directions as to the exercise of the power or the performance of the duty as appear to him to be expedient (and may do so despite any enactment which makes the exercise of the power or the performance of the duty contingent upon the opinion of the body).

(2)The bodies to which this section applies are—

(a)any [F6dfnlocal authorityF6][F1031 in EnglandF1031] , [F1032andF1032]

F1033 (b)the governing body of any community, foundation or voluntary school [[F1034,F1035 in EnglandF1035] , of any community or foundation special school [F1035 in EnglandF1035] , or of any maintained nursery schoolF1034] [F1035 in EnglandF1035] .

F1036(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1036(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F1037 (5)This section is subject to sections 508I and 509AE (complaints about transport arrangements etc).F1037]

Definitions used in section 496 3

local authority

“local authority” means—

(a)

a local authority in England;

(b)

a local authority in Wales;

Defined in s.579(1) · see it in the full Act
school

(1) In this Act (subject to subsections (1A) to (1C) ) “school” means an educational institution which is outside the further education sector and the wider higher education sector and is an institution for providing—

(a)primary education,

(b)secondary education, or

(c)both primary and secondary education,

Defined in s.4(1) · see it in the full Act
maintained nursery school

“maintained nursery school” has the meaning given by section 22(9) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 ;

Defined in s.579(1) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 496 4

R (McNally) v Secretary of State for Education and Employment

[2001] EWCA Civ 332 · 12 March 2001Interprets

Section 496(1) permits directions where the Secretary of State is satisfied that a covered body has acted unreasonably in exercising a statutory power or performing a statutory duty. Intervention required a proper evidential basis for finding unreasonable conduct. (see sections headed “First Judicial Review” and “Was the appellant deprived of his entitlement?”)

McCormack, R (on the application of) v St Edmund Campion Catholic School & Ors

[2012] EWHC 3928 (Admin) · 11 December 2012Interprets

Identifies the threshold question whether a body acted unreasonably in exercising a power or performing a duty. Once the threshold is crossed, the Secretary of State retains a discretion whether intervention is expedient. (see paras [4]; [86]; [90])

J, R (on the application of) v Vale Of Glamorgan C.C.

[2001] EWCA Civ 593 · 27 April 2001

The section is mentioned as giving the Secretary of State a power to order an authority to make transport arrangements where refusal is unlawful or perverse. (see The powers of the LEA in relation to the payment for transport)

What each judgment says about section 496 is in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

29 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F6Words in Act substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), Sch. 2 para. 7(2) (with Sch. 2 para. 7(4)(5))
  2. F1031Words in s. 496(2)(a) inserted (20.2.2014) by School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 (anaw 1), s. 100(4), Sch. 5 para. 2(4)(a); S.I. 2014/178, art. 2(f) (with art. 3)
  3. F1032Word in s. 496(2)(a) inserted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 140(1), Sch. 30 para. 129(a) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
  4. F1033S. 496(2)(b) substituted (1.9.1999) for s. 496(2)(b)(c) by 1998 c. 31, ss. 140(1), 145(3), Sch. 30 para. 129(b) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
  5. F1034Words in s. 496(2)(b) substituted (8.1.2007) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), ss. 168(1), 188(2)
  6. F1035Words in s. 496(2)(b) inserted (20.2.2014) by School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 (anaw 1), s. 100(4), Sch. 5 para. 2(4)(b); S.I. 2014/178, art. 2(f) (with art. 3)
  7. F1036S. 496(3)(4) omitted (1.8.2012) by virtue of Education Act 2011 (c. 21), ss. 45(2)(b), 82(3); S.I. 2012/1087, art. 2 (with art. 6)
  8. F1037S. 496(5) inserted (12.1.2010 for specified purposes, 1.4.2010 in so far as not already in force) by Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22), s. 269(4), Sch. 2 para. 7; S.I. 2009/3317, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3); S.I. 2010/303, art. 3, Sch. 2

Modifications

  1. C171Ss. 495-498 modified (1.4.2003 for E.; 31.10.2005 for W.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), ss. 34(7), 216(4) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2003/124, art. 4; S.I. 2005/2910, art. 4, Sch.
  2. C174S. 496 applied (with modifications) (10.2.2009) (with application in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The School Admissions (Co-ordination of Admission Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/3090), regs. 1(1), 10
  3. C175S. 496 modified (1.11.1996) by 1988 c. 40, s. 219(3) (as substituted (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 582(1), 583(2), Sch. 37 Pt. I para. 77 (with ss. 1(4), 561, 562, Sch. 39))
  4. C176S. 496 extended (1.11.1996) by 1992 c. 13, s. 56(3) (as added (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 582(1), 583(2), Sch. 37 Pt. I para. 112 (with ss. 1(4), 561, 562, Sch. 39))
  5. C177S. 496: power to apply conferred (1.10.1998) by 1998 c. 31, s. 105(7) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1998/2212, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I
  6. C178S. 496 applied (7.8.2000 for E., 1.11.2000 for W.) by 2000 c. 22, s. 23, Sch. 1 para. 10(a); S.I. 2000/2187, art. 2(c); S.I. 2000/2948, art. 2
  7. C179S. 496 continued (W.) (22.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1274, art. 3(4)(a)
  8. C180S. 496 modified by 2000 c. 21, s. 113A(10) (as inserted (1.4.2003 for E., 1.8.2004 for W.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), ss. 72(1), 216(4) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2003/124, art. 4; S.I. 2004/1728, art. 4, Sch. Pt. 1)
  9. C181S. 497: power to apply conferred by 1998 c. 31, s. 89(2) (as inserted (1.10.2002 for E., 1.2.2006 for W.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), ss. 48, 216(4) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2439, art. 3; S.I. 2006/172, art. 4, Sch.)
  10. C182S. 496 applied (E.) (27.2.2007) by The School Admissions (Co-ordination of Admission Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/194), regs. 1(1), 10
  11. C183S. 496 applied (1.4.2007) by Childcare Act 2006 (c. 21), ss. 15(1), 109(2); S.I. 2007/1019, art. 3
  12. C184S. 496 applied (with modifications) (E.) (1.2.2008) by The Education (Pupil Referral Units) (Application of Enactments) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2979), reg. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 6
  13. C185S. 496 applied (31.8.2008) by Childcare Act 2006 (c. 21), ss. 29(1), 109(2); S.I. 2008/17, art. 2(a)
  14. C186S. 496 restricted (1.10.2010) by Equality Act 2010 (c. 15), ss. 87(2), 216(3) (with ss. 6(4), 84, 89(2), 205); S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(6)(a) (as amended (1.10.2010) by S.I. 2010/2337, art. 2)
  15. C187S. 496 applied (1.10.2010) by Equality Act 2010 (c. 15), ss. 87(1), 216(3) (with ss. 6(4), 84, 89(2), 205); S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(6)(a) (as amended (1.10.2010) by S.I. 2010/2337, art. 2)
  16. C188S. 496 applied by 2000 c. 22, Sch. A1 para. 9(a) (as inserted (3.12.2011 for specified purposes) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 2 para. 2; S.I. 2011/2896, art. 2(e))
  17. C189S. 496 applied (1.2.2012) by The School Admissions (Admission Arrangements and Co-ordination of Admission Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/8), regs. 1(1), 32 (with reg. 1(3)(4))
  18. C190Ss. 496, 497 modified by 2002 c. 32, s. 135C(4) (as inserted (1.4.2012) by Education Act 2011 (c. 21), ss. 9, 82(3); S.I. 2012/924, art. 2)
  19. C191S. 496: transfer of functions (7.8.2013) by The Transfer of Functions (Youth Leisure-time Activities) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1721), arts. 1(2), 2(b)(i) (with art. 4)
  20. C192S. 496 functions transferred (9.11.2016) by The Transfer of Functions (Elections, Referendums, Third Sector and Information) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/997), arts. 1(2), 10(2)(d) (with arts. 10(3), 11, 12)
  21. C193S. 496(1) modified (7.8.2013) by The Transfer of Functions (Youth Leisure-time Activities) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1721), arts. 1(2), 3(3)(a) (with art. 4)