Commentary on Sections Part 6 – General Section 51 – Interpretation
175.This section defines some of the key terms used in the Act. In addition, this section provides that definitions in the provisions of the Education Act 1996 apply when the defined term is used in section 51(1), section 1(1)(c), section 2(1)(b) and (c) and Parts 3 and 4 of this Act. But if one of those terms is given another meaning by this Act, it is that other meaning rather than the definition in the Education Act 1996 that applies for the purposes of the Act. For example, this applies to the definitions of “school” and “maintained school” which have a specific meaning in this Act (see section 8(2)(c) and section 51(1)).