Commentary on Sections Part 2 - Standards Section 9 – General power to give directions and take steps
17.This section provides a general power for local authorities to issue such directions to the governing body or head teacher of a school it maintains as it thinks appropriate and to take any other steps when one or more of the grounds for intervention exist.
18.This section replaces section 62 of 1998 Act (local authority’s power to prevent a breakdown of discipline).  It also provides for local authorities to have powers similar to the Welsh Ministers’ intervention powers in sections 496 and 497 of the Education Act 1996 (but unlike sections 496 and 497, the power to intervene here is not limited to those cases where grounds 5 or 6 exist).