{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/education-act-1996/section-524",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/education-act-1996/section-524.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1996/56",
  "legislation_title": "Education Act 1996",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/education-act-1996",
  "path": "section/524",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "524",
  "heading": "Suspension of a pupil pending examination or cleansing.",
  "text": "(1) Where—\n(a) a medical officer of a local authority suspects that the person or clothing of a pupil in attendance at a relevant school is infested with vermin or in a foul condition, but\n(b) action for the examination or cleansing of the pupil’s person and clothing cannot be taken immediately,\nthe medical officer may direct that the pupil is to be suspended from the school until such action has been taken, if he considers it necessary to do so in the interests either of the pupil or of other pupils in attendance at the school.\n(2) A direction under subsection (1) is a defence to any proceedings under Chapter II of Part VI in respect of the failure of the pupil to attend school on any day on which he is excluded in pursuance of the direction, unless it is proved that the giving of the direction was necessitated by the wilful default of the pupil or his parent.\n(3) For the purposes of this section a “relevant school” is—\n(a) a school maintained by the local authority, . . .\n(b) . . .",
  "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": "Word in s. 524(1) substituted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, ss. 140(1), 145(3), Sch. 30 para. 142(a) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 524(3)(b) and the word \"or\" preceding it repealed (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 140(1)(3), Sch. 30 para. 142(b), Sch.31 (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Sidenote substituted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, ss. 140(1), Sch. 30 para. 142(c) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/56/section/524",
    "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."
}