SCHOOL ADMISSIONS APPEALS PANEL Would you like to become involved in an important, impartial service provided to parents and schools?
We are looking for new volunteers to become members of the Blackpool Independent Appeals Panel. The work is unpaid but travel expenses are reimbursed and refreshments are provided.
If a parent is refused a place at their preferred school for their child, they can appeal to an independent panel. The Panel will consider the reasons provided by the parent/carer, balance these against the reasons why the admission authority refused the child a place, and make a decision on whether the child should be given a place at that school. The decision of the Panel is binding on the admission authority.
We have a pool of members and use three members to sit on our panels. There are two types of panel member – those with experience of education (eg. a retired headteacher/teacher/school governor), and “lay” members (those without any experience in education).
Appeal Panels sit all year round with appeals for community schools being held on a fortnightly basis and as and when required for voluntary aided schools. There are a higher number of appeals in May/June/July for the September admission to primary and secondary schools.
All new panel members receive training before taking part in an appeal. After this initial training, panel members will receive refresher training every year. In addition, the Clerk to the Panel is always available to give advice.
To ensure the Appeals Panel is independent and unbiased, some people are not eligible to become members - such as employees of the Local Authority (Blackpool Council).
For more information and an informal chat, please contact: Mr Lennox Beattie, Democratic Services Team Leader, on 01253 477157 or e-mail lennox.beattie@blackpool.gov.uk
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
As a parent, you have the right to express a preference for a place at any school. However, if your child is not allocated a place at your preferred school, you may appeal to an independent appeals panel.
Appeals are conducted in accordance with the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and the Statutory Code of Practice on Admission Appeals 1999.
If you have a general query on admissions and appeals, including the availability of places, please contact the School Admissions Team on 476829.
If your query relates to the independent Appeal Panel or appeals procedure you should direct your query to the Clerk to the Appeal Panel who can be contacted by telephone on 477153 or 477157.
The process to appeal is quite simple, you start by completing the appeal form. If you are appealing for a community, a voluntary controlled, a trust school or academy, this form is available from the Forms link on the right of this page.
If your appeal is for a place at a voluntary aided school, you need to contact the Clerk to the Appeal Panel or the school you wish to appeal for, to request an appeal form.
You will be invited to attend the appeal hearing to tell the Appeal Panel why you feel your child should have a place at your preferred school. Appeals are usually heard at the Town Hall, Talbot Square, Blackpool.
Further information can be found in the APPEALS GUIDANCE NOTES JAN 2010, which can be accessed from the Forms link on the right of this page.
The timetable for organising and hearing school admissions appeals is attached in the Publications link on the right of this page.
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