{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/education-act-2002/section-90",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/education-act-2002/section-90.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2002/32",
  "legislation_title": "Education Act 2002",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/education-act-2002",
  "path": "section/90",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "90",
  "heading": "Development work and experiments",
  "text": "(1) For the purpose of enabling development work or experiments to be carried out, the Secretary of State may direct in respect of a particular maintained school ... that, for such period as may be specified in the direction, the National Curriculum for England—\n(a) shall not apply, or\n(b) shall apply with such modifications as may be specified in the direction.\n(2) A direction under subsection (1) may apply either generally or in such cases as may be specified in the direction.\n(3) In the case of a community, voluntary controlled or community special school ..., a direction shall not be given under subsection (1) except on an application—\n(a) by the governing body with the agreement of the local authority, or\n(b) by the local authority with the agreement of the governing body, ...\n(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(4) In the case of a foundation, voluntary aided or foundation special school, a direction shall not be given under subsection (1) except on an application by the governing body....\n(5) The Secretary of State may make it a condition of a direction under subsection (1) that any person by whom or with whose agreement the request for the direction was made should, when so directed or at specified intervals, report on any matters specified by the Secretary of State to—\n(a) the Secretary of State, or\n(b) a person designated for the purposes of this subsection by the Secretary of State.\n(5A) If required by the Secretary of State to do so a person designated for the purposes of this subsection by the Secretary of State shall keep under review development work or experiments carried out following a direction given under subsection (1).\n(5B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(5C) A designation under subsection (5)(b) or (5A) may make different provision for different purposes.\n(6) The Secretary of State may by a direction under this subsection vary or revoke a direction under subsection (1).",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 90(1) repealed (1.9.2008) by Childcare Act 2006 (c. 21), s. 109(2), Sch. 1 para. 12(2), Sch. 3 Pt. 1; S.I. 2008/2261, art. 2 (with Sch. 1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 90(3) repealed (1.9.2008) by Childcare Act 2006 (c. 21), s. 109(2), Sch. 1 para. 12(3), Sch. 3 Pt. 1; S.I. 2008/2261, art. 2 (with Sch. 1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "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), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 11(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Word in s. 90(3) inserted (1.4.2012) by Education Act 2011 (c. 21), s. 82(3), Sch. 8 para. 14(2)(a); S.I. 2012/924, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 90(3)(c) and word omitted (1.4.2012) by virtue of Education Act 2011 (c. 21), s. 82(3), Sch. 8 para. 14(2)(b); S.I. 2012/924, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 90(4) omitted (1.4.2012) by virtue of Education Act 2011 (c. 21), s. 82(3), Sch. 8 para. 14(3); S.I. 2012/924, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "S. 90(5)(b) substituted (1.4.2012) by Education Act 2011 (c. 21), s. 82(3), Sch. 8 para. 14(4); S.I. 2012/924, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "S. 90(5A)-(5C) inserted (1.4.2010) by Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22), s. 269(4), Sch. 12 para. 36(4); S.I. 2010/1151, art. 2, Sch. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 90(5A) substituted (1.4.2012) by Education Act 2011 (c. 21), s. 82(3), Sch. 8 para. 14(5); S.I. 2012/924, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "S. 90(5B) omitted (1.4.2012) by virtue of Education Act 2011 (c. 21), s. 82(3), Sch. 8 para. 14(6); S.I. 2012/924, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Words in s. 90(5C) substituted (1.4.2012) by Education Act 2011 (c. 21), s. 82(3), Sch. 8 para. 14(7); S.I. 2012/924, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 90 applied (with modifications) (25.5.2007) by The School Governance (New Schools) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/958), regs. 1, 30"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 90(3) modified (31.3.2004) by The Blackburn with Darwen (Maintained Nursery School Governance) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/657), arts. 1(1), 3(i)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/32/section/90",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:19:01.287129+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "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."
  }
}