Watch the recording of this webinar - https://www.brownejacobson.com/education/training-and-resources/training-videos/2016/03/admission-appeals-webinar-questions-from-parents-and-your-prejudice-statement-march-2016 In this webinar Dai Durbridge talks you through: - dealing with questions from parents - drafting a strong prejudice statement.

2. questions from parents and your
prejudice statement

3. ‐ dealing with questions from parents
‐ drafting a strong prejudice statement
‐ hopefully time for some questions

4. • Partner in the Education team at
Browne Jacobson and, alongside
Richard Freeth, leads on admissions
and appeals
• work with schools on admissions,
appeals, Fair Access Protocols, in year
admissions, policy challenges…
• part of the Optimus expert panel and
chair of their Annual Admissions
Conference

5. • a relatively complicated area
• admissions appeals still take up a huge
amount of time
• how many appeals did we face in
2014-15?

7. • over 40,000 appeals heard
• over 30,000 failed
• getting through them efficiently and
effectively is key
• focus on non-ICSL appeals today

8. ‐ dealing with questions from parents

9. The panel must uphold the appeal at the first
stage where it finds that the:
a) admission arrangements did not comply
with the law/had not been correctly and
impartially applied, and the child would
have been offered a place if the
arrangements had complied/been correctly
and impartially applied; or
b) admission of additional children would not
prejudice the provision of efficient
education or efficient use of resources

10. Paragraph 2.8 of the School Admission
Appeals Code 2012 covers questions from
parents:
“Admission authorities must comply with
reasonable requests from parents for
information which they need to help
them prepare their case for appeal”
• so how far do we go?

11. Compile a FAQ of questions asked by
parents - three steps:
1. look online to see what questions
parents are asking and add them to
your FAQ
2. keep updating it as new questions are
asked
3. consider sending out the FAQ with the
appeal papers

12. What if we don’t comply with 2.8?
• parents will raise it at appeals and
panels will listen
• presenting officer will be questioned
• could lead to loss of appeal and/or a
complaint to the LGO/EFA post hearing

13. ‐ drafting a strong prejudice statement

14. The panel must uphold the appeal at the first
stage where it finds that the:
a) admission arrangements did not comply
with the law/had not been correctly and
impartially applied, and the child would
have been offered a place if the
arrangements had complied/been correctly
and impartially applied; or
b) admission of additional children would not
prejudice the provision of efficient
education or efficient use of resources

15. • the panel balance the prejudice to the
school against the appellant’s case
(paragraph 3.8)
• what do they look at to reach a
decision?

16. 1. effect on school in current/following
academic years as that year group
progresses
2. physical changes to school since PAN
set
3. impact of Fair Access Protocol
4. impact on organisation of classes,
availability of teachers, effect on
children already at the school

17. 1. school background
2. admissions process
3. number on the roll
4. teaching accommodation
crucial document – spend time to get it
right

18. • number of places
• mixed sex
• build period and condition
• classroom design
• locality (socioeconomic)

19. • criteria
• code compliance
• PAN exceeded?
• number of applicants each year
• school values
• what you are trying to achieve

20. • for last 3 years and per year group
• current school population
• Fair Access Protocol impact
• sixth form numbers

21. • design/student numbers,
modernisation/additions
• desk space, teacher stress, disruption
• overcrowded rooms – assembly, dining
hall?

22. • circulation areas – health and safety
concerns, number of minor accidents,
corridor congestion
• toilets – how many students per toilet
(1 in 20)

23. • summarise – bullet points on one side
of A4
• clear and easy to read
• lead with your best points
Finally, don’t forget to challenge each
appellant’s specific case

24. • address the appellant’s case and
prepare areas of challenge:
‐ why is the offered school not good
enough?
• distance
• too many drop offs?
• interferes with their working day?
• social and medical reason?
‐ before and after school clubs
• research what is offered by other
schools in your area

25. • model/template prejudice statement
available from me – just get in touch

26. Dai Durbridge| 0161 300 8037
dai.durbridge@brownejacobson.com