{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/education-act-1996/section-16",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/education-act-1996/section-16.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1996/56",
  "legislation_title": "Education Act 1996",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/education-act-1996",
  "path": "section/16",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "16",
  "heading": "Power to establish, maintain and assist primary and secondary schools.",
  "text": "(1) For the purpose of fulfilling their functions under this Act, a local authority may—\n(a) establish primary schools and secondary schools;\n(b) maintain primary and secondary schools, whether established by them or not; and\n(c) assist any primary or secondary school which is not maintained by them.\n(2) A local authority may under subsection (1) establish, maintain and assist schools outside as well as inside their area.\n(3) A local authority may not under subsection (1) establish a school to provide—\n(a) part-time education suitable to the requirements of persons of any age over compulsory school age; or\n(b) full-time education suitable to the requirements of persons who have attained the age of 19.\n(3A) A local authority in England may not under subsection (1) establish a school which is principally concerned with the provision of full-time education suitable to the requirements of pupils who are over compulsory school age but under 19.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words 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))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 16(3A) inserted (12.1.2010) by Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22), ss. 126(1), 269(4); S.I. 2009/3317, art. 2, Sch."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/56/section/16",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:29:40.627017+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}