Commentary on Sections Part 10: Schools Chapter 2: Complaints: England Section 212: Adverse findings notices
695.This section requires a governing body to consider any statement containing recommendations by a Local Commissioner and notify the Local Commissioner within the “required period” as set by the Local Commissioner of the action which the governing body has taken or proposes to take. If by the end of that period, the Local Commissioner has not received this notification, or is satisfied before the period expires that the governing body has decided to take no action, the Local Commissioner may require a governing body to publish an adverse findings notice. The Local Commissioner may also do this in two other circumstances: first, if not satisfied with the action which the governing body has taken or proposes to take; or second, if, after a further month following the end of the “notification period” (or any longer period agreed in writing by the Local Commissioner), the Local Commissioner has not received satisfactory confirmation that the governing body has taken the proposed action.
696.An adverse findings notice, in a form agreed between the governing body and a Local Commissioner, should include details of any action recommended in the Local Commissioner’s statement which the governing body has not taken, any supporting material required by the Local Commissioner, and an explanation of the governing body’s reasons for not having taken the recommended action (if the governing body wishes). The adverse findings notice must be published by the governing body in a manner directed by the Local Commissioner. The Local Commissioner might, for example, require publication in a local newspaper or, if the school has one, on its internet site.
697.A Local Commissioner must publish an adverse findings notice if the governing body fails to do so in accordance with subsections (4) and (5), or cannot agree the form of the notice with the Local Commissioner within one month of the date the notice was received (or longer if agreed in writing by the Local Commissioner). Subsection (7) requires the provider to reimburse the LGO on demand any reasonable expenses incurred by the Local Commissioner in performing the duty under subsection (6).