Procedure for schools wishing to federate

Where a governing body are considering federation, they must first consider a report on the proposal.

The report must be specified as an item on the agenda for the meeting of which notice has been given in accordance with regulation 11(4) of the Procedures Regulations.

(1) Where a governing body propose that they should federate with the governing body of a

federation, they must give notice of the proposal to the governing body of the federation.

(2) Upon receipt of the notice, the governing body of the federation must consider whether they

should—

(a) give preliminary consent to the governing body joining the federation or

(b) determine that the governing body should not join the federation.

Where a governing body decide that they should federate with one or more other

governing bodies and, where necessary, preliminary consent has been given, they must jointly with the other governing body or bodies publish proposals for federation.

The proposals must contain the following—

(a) the name or names of the governing body or bodies with which the governing body propose to federate and confirmation that that governing body, or those governing bodies,

have resolved likewise to federate;

(b) the proposed size of the governing body of the federation;

(c) the proposed number of governors for each category of governor;

(d) the proposed arrangements for staffing the schools within the federation;

(e) the proposed federation date;

(f) the identity of the admission authority or authorities for the schools within the federation;

(g) the date, not less than 6 weeks after the publication of the proposals, by which written

representations may be made to the governing body regarding the proposals and the

address to which they should be sent; and

(h) such other matters as the governing bodies consider appropriate.

(3) The governing bodies proposing to federate must publish the proposals by sending them to—

(a) the relevant authorities;

(b) the head teacher of each school;

(c) in the case of any school with a foundation

(i) the foundation governors; and

(ii) any trustees of a trust relating to the school;

(d) where any of the schools are designated under section 69(3) of SSFA 1998 as having a

religious character, the appropriate diocesan authority in the case of a Church of England

or Roman Catholic Church school, or the appropriate religious body in the case of any

other such school;

(e) all staff paid to work at any of the schools;

(f) every person known to them to be a parent of a registered pupil at any of the schools; and

(g) such other persons as the governing bodies consider appropriate.

(4) A copy of the proposals must be made available for inspection at all reasonable times at each

school.

The governing bodies proposing to federate must jointly consider any responses to the

proposals and each governing body must determine whether—

(a) to proceed with the proposals for federation as published;

(b) to proceed with the proposals for federation with such modifications as the governing

body consider appropriate; or

(c) not to proceed with the proposals for federation.

(2) The modifications referred to in paragraph (1)(b) may not include a change in the identity of

the governing bodies proposing to federate.

(3) All the governing bodies that have determined to proceed must jointly give notice of that fact

to the relevant authority or authorities.


Full regulations can be found at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/960/contents/made