Explanatory note

This Order brings into force certain provisions of the Education Reform Act 1988 relating to the admission of pupils to county and voluntary schools.

Section 30, which amends section 6 of the Education Act 1980 in relation to arrangements made between a local education authority and the governors of an aided or special agreement school for preserving the character of the school, is brought into force on 1st September 1988 (article 6).

The remaining provisions of the Order bring specified provisions of sections 26, 27, 28, 31 and 32 into force but only in relation to secondary schools (articles 1(3) and 2 to 5).

Sections 27(1) to (3) and (9), 28 and 31 are brought into force for secondary schools on 1st September 1988 (article 3).

Subsections (4) to (8) of section 27 are brought into force on 1st September 1988 to the extent necessary to enable applications for orders reducing standard numbers at such schools, and such orders, to be made (article 4(a)).

Those same subsections, together with section 26, are brought into force on 1st September 1989 to the extent necessary to enable proposals for increasing admissions limits and applications for orders increasing standard numbers at such schools, and such orders, to be made (articles 2(a) and 4(b)).

Transitional provisions in articles 7 and 8 modify the meaning of “standard number” where such proposals and applications are made before 4th August 1990.

A further transitional provision (article 9) provides for the case where an application for reduction of a standard number has been made before 31st May 1990 but not determined by that date.

Sections 26 and 27 are brought fully into force in relation to secondary schools on 4th August 1990, together with the consequential provisions in section 31(1) (articles 2(b), 4(c) and 5(1)). For school years commencing after that date the admissions limits for county and voluntary secondary schools must not be less than the relevant standard number as defined in section 27. Section 31(2), which makes consequential amendments in the requirements for the publication of admission arrangements, is brought into force in relation to such years and such schools on 1st September 1989 (article 5(2)).