{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/education-act-1996/section-496",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/education-act-1996/section-496.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1996/56",
  "legislation_title": "Education Act 1996",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/education-act-1996",
  "path": "section/496",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "496",
  "heading": "Power to prevent unreasonable exercise of functions.",
  "text": "(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).\n(2) The bodies to which this section applies are—\n(a) any local authority in England, and\n(b) the governing body of any community, foundation or voluntary school in England, of any community or foundation special school in England, or of any maintained nursery school in England.\n(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(5) This section is subject to sections 508I and 509AE (complaints about transport arrangements etc).",
  "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": "Words 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)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Word 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"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "S. 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"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 496(2)(b) substituted (8.1.2007) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), ss. 168(1), 188(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words 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)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "S. 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)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "S. 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"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 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))S. 496 modified (1.9.1998) by 1997 c. 44, s. 43(4); S.I. 1998/386, art. 2(4), Sch. 1 Pt. IVS. 496 modified (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 44(7) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1S. 496 modified (1.4.2001 (E.), 1.4.2002 (W.)) by 2000 c. 21, s. 113(3) (with s. 150); S.I. 2001/654, art. 2(2), Sch. Pt. II (with art. 3); S.I. 2001/2705, art. 2(1), Sch. Pt. I"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 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))S. 496 extended (1.11.1996) by 1992 c. 13, s. 57(6)(a) (as substituted (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 582(1), 583(2), Sch. 37 Pt. I para. 113 (with ss. 1(4), 561, 562, Sch. 39))S. 496 extended (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 24, Sch. 4 para. 10 (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "S. 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"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C4",
      "text": "S. 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. 2S. 496 applied (E.) (20.1.2003) by The Education (Co-ordination of Admission Arrangements) (Primary Schools) (England) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2903), regs. 1(2), 8S. 496 applied (E.) (20.1.2003) by The Education (Co-ordination of Admission Arrangements) (Secondary Schools) (England) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2904), regs. 1(2), 8 (with reg. 9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C5",
      "text": "S. 496 continued (W.) (22.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1274, art. 3(4)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C6",
      "text": "S. 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)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C7",
      "text": "Ss. 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."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C8",
      "text": "S. 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.)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C9",
      "text": "S. 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"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C10",
      "text": "S. 496 applied (1.4.2007) by Childcare Act 2006 (c. 21), ss. 15(1), 109(2); S.I. 2007/1019, art. 3"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C11",
      "text": "S. 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"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C12",
      "text": "S. 496 applied (31.8.2008) by Childcare Act 2006 (c. 21), ss. 29(1), 109(2); S.I. 2008/17, art. 2(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C13",
      "text": "S. 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"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C14",
      "text": "S. 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)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C15",
      "text": "S. 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)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C16",
      "text": "S. 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))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C17",
      "text": "S. 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))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C18",
      "text": "Ss. 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)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C19",
      "text": "S. 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)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C20",
      "text": "S. 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)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C21",
      "text": "S. 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)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/56/section/496",
    "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."
}