Citation and commencement

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the School Governance (Constitution and Federations) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2016.

(2) Regulations 1 and 2 come into force on 18th March 2016.

(3) Regulation 3 comes into force on 1st September 2016.

Amendment of the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012

2.-(1) The School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012(2) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 5(1) (interpretation), in the appropriate place, insert-

""enhanced criminal record certificate" means an enhanced criminal record certificate issued under section 113B of the Police Act 1997, which includes, in such cases as are from time to time prescribed under section 113BA(1) of that Act, suitability information relating to children, and any relevant up-date information (as defined in section 116A(8) of the Act) where such a certificate is subject to up-date arrangements;".

(3) After regulation 16 (notification of appointments), insert-

"Criminal record certificates

16A.-(1) Where a governor has been elected or appointed before 1st April 2016 and does not hold an enhanced criminal record certificate, the governing body must apply for such a certificate in respect of that governor by 1st September 2016.

(2) Where a governor is elected or appointed on or after 1st April 2016 and does not hold an enhanced criminal record certificate, the governing body must apply for such a certificate in respect of that governor within 21 days after his or her appointment or election.".

Amendment of the School Governance (Federations) (England) Regulations 2012

3.-(1) The School Governance (Federations) (England) Regulations 2012(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 14-

(a)in paragraph (1)(a)(i), omit "in respect of a federated school";

(b)in paragraph (1)(b), omit "in respect of a federated school";

(c)in paragraph (1)(a)(i)(aa), for "that" substitute "a";

(d)in paragraph (1)(a)(i)(bb), for "that" substitute "a"; and

(e)in paragraph (3), omit "of a federated school".

(3) For regulation 21(3)(a) substitute-

"(a)two parent governors;".

(4) In Schedule 1, for paragraph 2(1)(a), substitute-

"(a)two temporary parent governors;".

(5) In Schedule 2-

(a)in paragraph 7, for "the school in respect of which the vacancy has arisen" substitute "a federated school";

(b)for paragraph 8, substitute-

"8.  Where a vacancy for a parent governor is not filled by election, the governing body of a federation must appoint a parent governor to fill the vacancy.";

(c)for paragraph 9, substitute-

"9.-(1) In appointing a parent governor, the governing body of a federation must appoint-

(a)a parent of a registered pupil at a federated school (or, in respect of any maintained nursery school in the federation, a parent of a child for whom educational or other provision is made on the premises of the school (including any such provision made by the governing body under section 27 of EA 2002));

(b)a parent of a former registered pupil at a federated school;

(c)a parent of a child with special educational needs for which a federated school is approved; or

(d)a parent of a child, including a child who has special educational needs and is over compulsory school age.

(2) The governing body of a federation may only appoint a person referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(b), (c) or (d) if it is not reasonably practicable to appoint a person referred to in the sub-paragraph which immediately precedes it."; and

(d)omit paragraph 10.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012 ("the Constitution Regulations 2012") and the School Governance (Federations) (England) Regulations 2012 ("the Federations Regulations 2012").

Regulation 2 amends the Constitution Regulations 2012 to provide that where a maintained school governor does not hold an enhanced criminal record certificate, the school's governing body must apply for one by 1st September 2016 (for governors appointed or elected before 1st April 2016) or within 21 days after the governor's appointment or election (for governors appointed or elected on or after 1st April 2016).

Regulation 3 amends the Federations Regulations 2012 to provide that the governing body of every federation must include two parent governors, to be elected by parents of any federated school or appointed by the governing body of the federation, and that the temporary governing body constituted for two or more maintained schools intending to federate must include two temporary parent governors.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.