Select Committee on Education and Skills Written Evidence


Annex B

B1: ADMISSIONS APPEALS PROJECT REPORT TO THE DFES: APRIL—NOVEMBER 2005

  We have continued to provide seminars for LEAs and Diocesan Boards—see list below The demand for these remains strong and there are several more in the pipeline plus a number of enquiries. We have not listed other numerous small appeals seminars which have not been subsidised from the DfES grant, eg for individual VA or foundation schools. We make it clear that LEAs and Boards should be able to recruit at least 30 participants in order to qualify for DfES subsidy. However, it does happen that the Boards especially have difficulty in achieving this number, though we do recommend that they invite other dioceses and the LEA.

  B2.  The evaluations are consistently good.

  As the interpretation of the law develops, we find that our earlier materials are getting out of date. It is important to match the exercises and demonstration to the experience and background of the participants. Many LEAs are now taking seriously the need to offer regular training to their panel members, and we get a number of repeat requests. This means that we constantly need new modules. We have spent a good deal of time this year on developing a new set of materials. I attach as Annex 2 a list of most of those we currently use.

  B3.  We are represented at the EASI (Education Appeal Support Initiative) group meetings and were invited to speak at the Council on Tribunals seminar to discuss the formation of a London EASI group.

B4.  NEW DEVELOPMENTS

  With the Council on Tribunals, we are hoping to offer a joint seminar for panel chairs to be held at their offices in Chancery Lane.

  B5.  As a result of our work with Diocesan Boards we would like to run a seminar for those officers of Diocesan Boards who advise their schools on admission arrangements. They have told us that they would welcome this particularly in order to discuss the sensitive question of faith criteria in an independent setting.

  B6.  We have had a discussion with DfES officers working with the Academies about how we might support their governors and panel members in admissions processes and appeals.

  B7.  We may need to make substantial revisions to our appeals materials when the new Codes of Practice are published. We intend to develop a module on infant class size appeals as these are a source of considerable concern to panel members.

  B8.  ISCG looks forward to continuing this work with DfES support.

B9.  RECENT SEMINARS

  Calderdale LEA 12 June 2005

  Poole LEA 28 June 2005

  High Wycombe ISCG 21 September 2005

  Liverpool LEA 17 October 2005

  Peterborough CofE Diocese 11 November 2005

  Durham LEA 22 November 2005

  Sunderland LEA 23 November 2005

  South Gloucestershire LEA 29 November 2005

  Hertfordshire LEA December 8 2005

  Nottingham Diocese 24 January 2006

  B10.  (At a meeting with representative of the DfES on 24 November 2005 we were informed that they could no longer subsidise our appeals seminars. We are concerned that this will reduce the quality of the appeals system just when admissions are so crucial to the new ideas in the White Paper)







 
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