Education Act 1996

280 Nature of group

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Chapter, two or more grant-maintained schools may be conducted as a group by a single governing body.

(2) In the case of such a group—

(a) there shall be an instrument (known as the instrument of government) providing for the constitution of the governing body, and

(b) for each school in the group there shall be an instrument (known as the articles of government) in accordance with which the school is to be conducted.

(3) The instrument and articles of government—

(a) shall comply with any requirements imposed by or under this Chapter, and

(b) may make any provision authorised by or under this Chapter to be made and such other provision as may be necessary or desirable.

(4) Subject to any express provision of the instrument or articles of government, each school in such a group shall be conducted in accordance with any trust deed relating to it.

(5) The provisions of Schedules 22 and 23 (other than paragraph 14 of Schedule 22) shall have effect in relation to groups of grant-maintained schools with such modifications as may be prescribed.

(6) Subject to any provision made by or under this Chapter, where there is a group of grant-maintained schools any provision of an enactment which applies to such schools shall apply separately in relation to each of the schools.

(7) References in this Chapter to a group are to a group of grant-maintained schools conducted, or to be conducted, by a single governing body.