The Northern School of Art (Becoming a Higher Education Corporation) Order 2026

Education

Published: Mon 6th Jul 26

Transferred the Northern School of Art from the further education sector to the higher education sector by reconstituting it as a higher education corporation.

This Order transitions the Northern School of Art from a further education corporation to a higher education corporation.

It exercises powers granted to the Secretary of State for Education under the Education Reform Act 1988 and applies to the institution located in England.

The Order designates August 1, 2026, as the formal date for this change in legal status and sector classification.

Arguments For

The order states that the Northern School of Art will transition from a further education corporation to a higher education corporation on 1st August 2026.
Proponents argue the transition is consistent with the powers granted to the Secretary of State under section 122ZA of the Education Reform Act 1988.
The explanatory note asserts that no significant impact on the private, voluntary, or public sector is foreseen, which served as the basis for not preparing a formal impact assessment.

Arguments Against

Legal scholars might note that the legal status of the institution changes significantly, potentially affecting its governance structure and regulatory oversight under the Office for Students.
Affected parties might express concern regarding the lack of a detailed impact assessment to evaluate the long-term financial or administrative consequences of shifting from the further education sector to the higher education sector.

Citation, commencement, extent and application

-(1) This Order may be cited as the Northern School of Art (Becoming a Higher Education Corporation) Order 2026.

(2) This Order comes into force on 1st August 2026.
(3) This Order extends to England and Wales.
(4) This Order applies to England only.

This section establishes the official name of the statutory instrument and sets the date of August 1, 2026, for it to take legal effect.

It specifies that while the order is part of the law of England and Wales, its practical application is limited to England.

Transfer to the higher education sector

On 1st August 2026, the Northern School of Art( 2 ) ceases to be a further education corporation and becomes a higher education corporation.

( 2 ) Cleveland College of Art and Design was formed on 1st September 1979 by the merger of Teesside College of Art, Middlesbrough, and Hartlepool College of Art, Hartlepool. Cleveland College of Art and Design was incorporated under section 15 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (c. 13) by the Education (Further Education Corporations) Order 1992 (S.I. 1992/2097). Its name was changed to The Northern School of Art, whose address is Newport Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 1LA, on 1st May 2018.

This provision mandates the legal conversion of the Northern School of Art from a further education corporation into a higher education corporation on the specified date.

The included footnote clarifies the institution's history, confirming it was formerly known as Cleveland College of Art and Design before its name change in 2018.

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