Commentary Part 1: Education Functions of Local Authorities Section 3: Duty to consider parental representations
24.This section inserts a new section 14A into the 1996 Act to require local education authorities in England to respond to parental representations in relation to the exercise of their functions under section 14 of that Act (as amended by section 2). Local education authorities must consider what action to take in response to such representations and provide a statement to the parent setting out any action which the authority propose to take in response or, where relevant, their reasons for taking no action, in each case having regard to guidance from the Secretary of State. The guidance to authorities will set out how local education authorities might reasonably respond to parental representations on the opportunities for choice and the diversity of schools in their area.