Explanatory note

This Order amends the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (Commencement No. 6 and Saving and Transitional Provisions) Order 1999 (“the No. 6 Commencement Order”) and the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (Commencement No. 7 and Saving and Transitional Provisions) Order 1999 (“the No. 7 Commencement Order”). It amends the No. 6 Commencement Order by inserting a further saving and transitional provision in Schedule 4. It applies to schools established pursuant to proposals published under the Education Act 1996 and which first admit pupils in the 1999–2000 school year. It allows for admission arrangements determined for such schools under section 422 of the 1996 Act before 1st September 1999 to continue to have effect in relation to that school year; and for applications for admission, and appeals against admission decisions, made before that date to be dealt with in accordance with section 422(6). The new provision will have effect notwithstanding the coming into force on 1st September 1999 of the repeal of section 422 of the 1996 Act.

The Order amends article 16 of the No. 7 Commencement Order (savings provisions relating to the winding up of grant-maintained schools and grant-maintained special schools) by applying the provisions of section 568 of the 1996 Act to an order made under section 274 of that Act after 1st September 1999. Any such order continues to be an “excepted provision” not required to be made by statutory instrument.

The Order also corrects textual errors in paragraphs 2(3) and 11 of Schedule 4 to the No. 6 Commencement Order.