The Act Section 27 – Code of practice and directions
53.This section requires the Scottish Ministers to publish a code of practice giving guidance on the exercise by education authorities and appropriate agencies of their functions under this Act. Subsection (2) lists topics which a code of practice may include. Before a code, or revised code, is published, the Scottish Ministers must consult all education authorities and agencies and anyone else they think appropriate, and they must take account of any comments by Parliament on the draft code.
54.There is a duty placed on education authorities and appropriate agencies to have regard to the code of practice.
55.Subsections (9) to (11) enable the Scottish Ministers to give directions to all, or any, education authorities about the exercise of authorities’ functions under this Act and education authorities are under a duty to comply with such directions.