GovWire

What youll need to do

This section explains which parts of the guidance youll need to read and how to make an application or notify the Secretary of State.

School land transactions: guidance (PDF, 469 KB, 72 pages)

1. Use part 1 to find out whether you need to involve the Secretary of State.

2. Use part 2 to find out about the assessment criteria used for different types of land transactions and the specific information and evidence required to be provided with your application.

3. Use part 3 to find out about playing field land, including what is classified as playing field land, how to provide your playing field statistics and information about the role of the playing field panel.

4. Use part 4 to read about which land transactions are covered by the General Consent Orders (GCOs).

5. Use part 5 to find out how to submit your application for consent or notify the Secretary of State.

6. Use part 6 to read about academy conversions, statutory transfers for voluntary and foundation schools, transfers of land from one academy trust to another academy trust and orders made under section 554 of the Education Act 1996 - see the guidance on section 554 orders.

Apply for school land transactions

Use the following forms to make your land transaction application.

• Form A - Disposals of non-playing field land
• Form B - Disposals of or including playing field land
• Form C - Disposals of non-playing field land at operating schools which require notification under Schedule 22 only (MS Word Document, 137 KB)
• Form D - Granting an easement of playing field or non-playing field land (MS Word Document, 140 KB)
• Form E - Granting a lease or disposing of land for solar panels (MS Word Document, 150 KB)
• Form F - Granting a telecommunications lease (MS Word Document, 103 KB)
• Form G - Applications to enter into joint use agreements (MS Word Document, 143 KB)
• Form H - Change of use of playing field land (MS Word Document, 146 KB)
• Form I - Change of use of school land for non-educational purposes (MS Word Document, 141 KB)
• Form J - Acquisitions
• Form K - Any other application under an academy trust's funding agreement (MS Word Document, 138 KB)
• Form L - Appropriation of school land by a local authority (MS Word Document, 91.1 KB)
• Form M - Academy land transfers (MS Word Document, 84 KB)
• Form N - Disposal of school land for a school-based nursery (MS Word Document, 57.3 KB)

Nurseries

Following the departments announcement aboutfunding for schools to create nurseries in existing primary school premisesand updates to guidance onestablishing school-based nursery provision,a consent process for land transactions relating to nurseries and childcare is now available.

There is a General Consent Order (GCO) and notification form applicable to:

• local authorities
• governing bodies of maintained schools and foundation bodies
• the trustees of a foundation, voluntary, or foundation special schools for specific nursery related land transactions

There is also ashort application form for nursery and childcare related land transactions where the GCO does not apply.

General Consent Orders (GCO)

The Secretary of State has agreed that some types of disposal fall within the type where they would routinely expect to grant consent. Accordingly, they have agreed General Consent Orders (GCOs) that provide a blanket consent in these cases.

• The School Land General Disposal and Change of Use (Childcare) Class Consent 2024 (PDF, 150 KB, 3 pages)
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