Commentary on Sections General Section 16: Pre-commencement applications etc
49.Section 16 allows steps taken by schools before section 3 comes into force with a view to converting into an Academy to have effect as if taken under the Act. Thus an application made by the governing body of a maintained school to the Secretary of State to become an Academy prior to the date on which section 3 comes into force will be treated as though made under the Act. Likewise, an application by the governing body to its foundation for consent to make an application will also be treated as having been made after section 3 has come into force (subsection (4)) and any consent given by the foundation prior to commencement of section 3 will be treated as given under the Act (subsection (6)).