In exercise of the powers conferred on the Secretary of State by sections 41(3) and 138(7) and (8) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998[1], and now vested in the National Assembly for Wales[2], the National Assembly for Wales makes the following Regulations: Citation, commencement and application 1. - (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Changing of School Session Times (Wales) Regulations 2000 and shall come into force on 1 September 2000. (2) These Regulations apply only in relation to Wales. Procedure for changing school session times 2. - (1) Where the governing body of a community, voluntary controlled or community special school propose to make any change in the times of the school sessions (or, if there is only one, the school session), they shall -
(b) prepare a statement -
(ii) specifying the proposed change and when they propose that it should take effect, (iii) drawing attention to any comment on the proposal included as an annex to the statement by virtue of paragraph (c) and including such response to the comment as they may consider appropriate, and (iv) giving details of the date, time and place of the meeting which they are required to hold by virtue of paragraph (f);
(c) if so required by the local education authority, include as an annex to that statement such written comment on the proposal as the authority may provide for that purpose;
(ii) that copies of the statement and any annex are available for inspection (at all reasonable times and free of charge) at the school during the two week period immediately preceding that meeting;
(f) provide an opportunity for discussion of the proposal at a meeting which is open to -
(ii) the head teacher, and (iii) such other persons as the governing body may invite;
(g) consider any comments made at the meeting on the proposal before determining whether any change in those times should be made and (if so) whether the proposal should be implemented with or without any modification;
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), if the governing body determine to implement the proposed change (with or without modification), they shall, not less than six weeks before any change in those times is to take effect -
(ii) take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that the parents of all registered pupils at the school are so informed.
(3) Where the change concerns the times at which a school session is to begin in the morning or end in the afternoon (or both) the period referred to in paragraph (2) shall not be less than three months.
(b) in all other cases, at the beginning of a school term.
Control of meetings (This note is not part of the Regulations) Under section 41(1)(b) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 the governing body of a community, voluntary controlled or community special school are responsible for determining the times of the school sessions. That is to say, the times at which each of the school sessions (or, if there is only one, the school session) is to begin and end on any day. These Regulations set out the procedures to be taken by the governing body of such a school before making any change in its session times. They do not apply to foundation, voluntary aided or foundation special schools. The Regulations are explained in more detail below. Regulation 2 sets out the procedures which the governing body must follow. Regulation 3 specifies when a change in the times of school sessions takes effect. Regulation 4 provides for the meeting with parents (which is required to be held before any change in school session times is made) to be under the control of the governing body. Notes: [1] 1998 c.31. For the meaning of "regulations" see section 142(1).back [2] See the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/672).back [3] See section 576 of the Education Act 1996 (c.56) for the meaning of "parent".back
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