Education Act 1996

Establishment etc. of schoolsE+W

16 Power to establish, maintain and assist primary and secondary schools.E+W

(1)For the purpose of fulfilling their functions under this Act, a [F1local authority] may—

(a)establish primary schools and secondary schools;

(b)maintain primary and secondary schools, whether established by them or not; and

(c)assist any primary or secondary school which is not maintained by them.

(2)A [F1local authority] may under subsection (1) establish, maintain and assist schools outside as well as inside their area.

(3)A [F1local authority] may not under subsection (1) establish a school to provide—

(a)part-time education suitable to the requirements of persons of any age over compulsory school age; or

(b)full-time education suitable to the requirements of persons who have attained the age of 19.

[F2(3A)A [F1local authority] in England may not under subsection (1) establish a school which is principally concerned with the provision of full-time education suitable to the requirements of pupils who are over compulsory school age but under 19.]

17 Powers in respect of [F3nursery schools] .E+W

(1)A [F1local authority] may—

(a)establish nursery schools;

(b)maintain nursery schools established by them or by an authority which was a [F1local authority] within the meaning of any enactment repealed by the M1Education Act 1944 or an earlier Act; and

(c)assist any nursery school not so established.

(2)Section 14(4) does not affect a [F1local authority]’s power under section 16(1) to establish, maintain and assist schools at which education is provided both for children under [F4compulsory school age] and for older pupils (including schools at which there are nursery classes for children under [F4compulsory school age]).

Textual Amendments

F3Words in s. 17 heading substituted (1.9.2008 for E.) by Childcare Act 2006 (c. 21), s. 109(2), Sch. 2 para. 20; S.I. 2008/2261, art. 2 (with Sch. 1)

F4Words in s. 17(2) substituted (1.8.1998) by 1997 c. 44, s. 57(1), Sch. 7 para.13; S.I. 1998/386, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt.III

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 17 functions made exercisable concurrently (1.4.2016) by The Tees Valley Combined Authority Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/449), arts. 1(a), 7, Sch. 2 para. 3

C2S. 17 functions made exercisable concurrently (9.2.2017) by The West of England Combined Authority Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/126), arts. 1(3), 25(1), Sch. 5 paras. 1, 3

Marginal Citations