OpenLegislation

Section 38 Inspection of local authorities in Wales.F11F21C1

England and Wales

(1)

The Chief Inspector—

(a)

may, and

(b)

if requested to do so by F1the Welsh Ministers or the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (“the Commission”), shall,

arrange for any F2local authority F3in Wales to be inspected under this section.

F4(2)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5(2A)

An inspection of a local authority in Wales under this section shall consist of a review of the way in which the authority are performing—

(F6a)

any education function of theirs;

(b)

the functions conferred on them under F7section 25 F8of the Children Act 2004 so far as relating to education, training or youth support services (within the meaning of section 123 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000).

F9(2B)

Where the Commission has made a request under subsection (1)(b), the review mentioned in subsection (2A) is to be of the way that the local authority is performing the functions mentioned in subsection (2A)(a) and (b) in so far as those functions relate to further education and training within the meaning of section 144(2) to (5) of the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022.

(3)

A request by F10the Welsh Ministers or the Commission under this section may relate to one or more local authorities, and shall specify both—

(a)

the local authority or authorities concerned, and

(b)

the functions of theirs to which the inspection is to relate.

(4)

Before making any such request F12the Welsh Ministers or the Commission shall consult the Chief Inspector as to the matters to be specified in the request in accordance with subsection (3).

C2(5)

Any inspection under this section shall be conducted—

(a)

by one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools in F13... Wales, or

(b)

by any additional inspector authorised under F14... F15paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to F16the Education Act 2005;

but he may be assisted by such other persons (whether or not members of the Chief Inspector’s staff) as the Chief Inspector thinks fit.

(6)

For the purposes of this section a local authority F17in Wales shall provide the Chief Inspector with such information as may be prescribed, and shall do so in such form and—

(a)

within such period following a request made by the Chief Inspector in any prescribed circumstances, or

(b)

at such other times,

as regulations may provide.

(7)

In this section and sections 39 to F1841A “the Chief Inspector” means—

F19(a)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)

in relation to a local authority in Wales, F20Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales or Prif Arolygydd Ei Mawrhydi dros Addysg a Hyfforddiant yng Nghymru;

and in those sections references to “the inspector” in relation to an inspection under this section are references to the person conducting the inspection.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1

Words in s. 38(1)(b) substituted (1.4.2026) by Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (asc 1), s. 148(2), Sch. 4 para. 9(3)(a)(i) (with s. 19); W.S.I. 2026/62, art. 2(ww)(vi)

F2

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. 8(2)

F3

Words in s. 38(1) inserted (1.4.2026) by Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (asc 1), s. 148(2), Sch. 4 para. 9(3)(a)(ii) (with s. 19); W.S.I. 2026/62, art. 2(ww)(vi)

F4

S. 38(2) repealed (1.4.2007) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), s. 188(3), Sch. 14 para. 22(2), Sch. 18 Pt. 5; S.I. 2007/935, art. 5(gg)(ii)

F5

S. 38(2)(2A) substituted for s. 38(2) (1.4.2005 for E., 31.7.2008 for W.) by Children Act 2004 (c. 31), ss. 51, 67(7)(e); S.I. 2005/394, art. 2(2)(e); S.I. 2008/1904, art. 2

F6

S. 38(2A)(a) substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 8(4)

F7

Words in s. 38(2A)(b) substituted (1.4.2016) by Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 (anaw 2), s. 56(2), Sch. 4 para. 1; S.I. 2016/86, art. 3

F8

Words in s. 38(2A)(b) inserted (1.4.2008) by Childcare Act 2006 (c. 21), s. 109(2), Sch. 2 para. 28; S.I. 2008/17, art. 3(b)

F9

S. 38(2B) inserted (1.4.2026) by Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (asc 1), s. 148(2), Sch. 4 para. 9(3)(b) (with s. 19); W.S.I. 2026/62, art. 2(ww)(vi)

F10

Words in s. 38(3) substituted (1.4.2026) by Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (asc 1), s. 148(2), Sch. 4 para. 9(3)(c) (with s. 19); W.S.I. 2026/62, art. 2(ww)(vi)

F11

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. 8(3)

F12

Words in s. 38(4) substituted (1.4.2026) by Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (asc 1), s. 148(2), Sch. 4 para. 9(3)(d) (with s. 19); W.S.I. 2026/62, art. 2(ww)(vi)

F13

Words in s. 38(5)(a) repealed (1.4.2007) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), s. 188(3), Sch. 14 para. 22(3)(a), Sch. 18 Pt. 5; S.I. 2007/935, art. 5(gg)(ii)

F14

Words in s. 38(5)(b) repealed (1.4.2007) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), s. 188(3), Sch. 14 para. 22(3)(b), Sch. 18 Pt. 5; S.I. 2007/935, art. 5(gg)(ii)

F15

Words in s. 38(5)(b) substituted (1.9.2005 for E., 1.9.2006 for W.) by Education Act 2005 (c. 18), s. 125(4), Sch. 9 para. 11; S.I. 2005/2034, art. 4; S.I. 2006/1338, art. 3, Sch. 1

F16

Words in s. 38(5)(b) substituted (1.4.2007) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), s. 188(3), Sch. 14 para. 22(3)(b); S.I. 2007/935, art. 5(gg)

F17

Words in s. 38(6) inserted (1.4.2026) by Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (asc 1), s. 148(2), Sch. 4 para. 9(3)(e) (with s. 19); W.S.I. 2026/62, art. 2(ww)(vi)

F18

Word in s. 38(7) substituted (1.4.2007) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), s. 188(3), Sch. 14 para. 22(4)(a); S.I. 2007/935, art. 5(gg)

F19

S. 38(7)(a) repealed (1.4.2007) by Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40), s. 188(3), Sch. 14 para. 22(4)(b), Sch. 18 Pt. 5; S.I. 2007/935, art. 5(gg)(ii)

F20

Words in s. 38(7)(a) substituted (1.1.2001) by 2000 c. 21, s. 73(a); S.I. 2000/3230, art. 2, Sch.

F21

Words in s. 38 heading inserted (1.4.2026) by Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (asc 1), s. 148(2), Sch. 4 para. 9(3)(f) (with s. 19); W.S.I. 2026/62, art. 2(ww)(vi)

Modifications

C1

S. 38 modified (31.8.2008) by Childcare Act 2006 (c. 21), ss. 28, 109(2); S.I. 2008/17, art. 2(a)

C2

S. 38(5) applied (E.) (1.9.2005) by Children Act 2004 (Joint Area Reviews) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1973), reg. 1(1), Sch. para. 2(a)

Notes on Chapter I

Textual amendments

F2

Words in Pt. 6 Ch. 1 heading inserted (1.4.2026) by Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (asc 1), s. 148(2), Sch. 4 para. 9(2) (with s. 19); W.S.I. 2026/62, art. 2(ww)(vi)