Commentary Part 8 – Inspections Chapter 3 – Inspection of Further Education and Training etc Section 128: Area inspections
566.Subsection (1) requires the Chief Inspector, if requested by the Secretary of State to do so, to carry out an inspection covering the whole of a specified area (which would normally reflect the way in which local education authorities and/or local Learning and Skills Councils are organised territorially). He will be under a duty to inspect the quality and availability of provision in that area for persons aged 15 or over but under 19 as well as the standards they achieve. Included in the scope of the inspections are those who will reach the age of 15 in the current school year.
567.Subsection (2) allows the Chief Inspector to carry out such inspections without being requested to do so.
568.Subsections (3) and (4) extend the powers of the Chief Inspector so that he can investigate value for money issues.
569.Subsection (5) defines what education or training may be made the subject of an area inspection. Broadly this includes all 14-19 provision within the national curriculum, further education and work-based training.
570.Subsections (6) and (7) set out the duties and responsibilities of education and training providers as well as local education authorities in respect of supplying any information required for an area inspection.
571.Subsection (8) explains what is meant by the reference in subsection (1)(a) to persons who are aged 15.