Commentary on Sections Academy orders Section 55: Academy orders: involvement of religious bodies etc
275.Section 55 amends section 4 of AA 2010.
276.Under section 4(1)(b) of AA 2010, the Secretary of State can make an Academy order in respect of a school if the school is eligible for intervention (within the meaning of section 59(2) of EIA 2006).
277.Subsection (2), which inserts a new subsection (1A) into section 4 of the AA 2010, provides that before making an Academy order under section 4(1)(b) in respect of a foundation or voluntary school that has a foundation, the Secretary of State must first consult the trustees of the school, the person or persons by whom the foundation governors are appointed, and in the case of a school which has a religious character, the appropriate religious body.
278.Subsection (3) amends section 4(4) so that if an Academy order is made by the Secretary of State in respect of a foundation or voluntary school with a foundation, either on an application from the governing body or in respect of a school that is eligible for intervention, then he must give a copy of the order to the trustees of the school, the person or persons by whom the foundation governors are appointed, and in the case of a school which has a religious character, the appropriate religious body.
279.Subsection (4) amends section 4(5) so that if the Secretary of State decides not to make an Academy order in respect of a foundation or voluntary school with a foundation following an application from the governing body, then he must inform the trustees of the school, the person or persons by whom the foundation governors are appointed, and in the case of a school which has a religious character, the appropriate religious body, of his decision and the reasons for it.