northlincs.gov.uk

3        (3) APPOINTMENT OF EDUCATION APPEALS PANEL MEMBERS – The Director of Policy and Resources submitted a report which sought consideration to appoint members to the Education Appeal Panel to hear appeals in respect of schools admissions and exclusions.

The key point outlined within the report was that under Section 94 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, responsibility for making arrangements for appeals against the refusal of a school place rested with the admission authority of the school.

Parents could appeal to an independent Panel if they were refused a place they wanted or were dissatisfied with the place offered by the Local Authority. Parents could also appeal against any decision of the governing body under the School Discipline (Pupil Exclusions and Reviews) (England) Regulations 2012 not to reinstate a pupil who had been permanently excluded from a school maintained by the council.

Admission Appeals Panels consisted of three or five members, including at least one “education expert” and at least one “lay member”.

It was explained that the small pool of volunteer members was very experienced, however due to the ever changing demographics of the area, the number of appeals was on the increase.  This caused problems in dealing with appeals within the required timescales, especially if one or more members had an interest arising from their involvement in one of the schools concerned.

Appeals needed to be heard within certain timescales and with the availability/eligibility of panel members sometimes being limited it was considered desirable to extend the number of available panel members.

Five applications were received and interviews were held with all five of the applicants.  All five interviewees met the requirements and were considered to be able to bring valuable knowledge and experience to the pool of panel members.

Resolved – That the following applicants be appointed with a view to receiving training on 16 June 2015 and being gradually introduced onto panels as outlined within the report –

Jon Clark

Michele Collinson

Madeleine Keyworth

Raymond Murphy

Kathleen Scales