Gathering info for appeal, any advice?

[MrBloomEatsVeggies]

Hi, looking for some advice (again!)

There is a quote about how appeals are conducted( in the education section) from somebody who has already successfully appealed. She said:

'LEA rep read out a statement (school was oversubscribed)

Panel asked me if I had questions for the LEA rep (try to have a question as it makes you look prepared)'.

I have absolutely no idea what I could ask the LEA rep, do you have any suggestions..I have thought long and hard about it, but can't think of anything.

bump?

I had our appeal hearing yesterday, and am now tearing my hair out waiting for the outcome!

The questions we asked the rep were based on the evidence that they provided, which you should recieve at some time before your hearing. Ours was different as it was a secondary appeal, but we asked now many students were in years 7 and 8. As the school had said that they could not cope with any more than 28 in a class but also provided evidence that many of their classrooms had a capacity well below that, we asked if many of the classes were split into smaller groups anyway. The panel also asked the rep some good questions. I can barely remember what now, it's all a bit of a blur, but they were things that never occured to me. We also said that we agreed with some of the schools points though, because it felt like there was no point in arguing with fact just for the sake of it.

Something may come to you naturally when you get the school's evidence though, so if you don't have that yet, don't worry.

The questions have to be regarding the case put by the local authority not to admit. The questions are likely to be around class size, classroom sizes, what is the admission number and net capacity and when were they last measured, etc.
Normally I will ask the parent(s) if they have any questions, often they do not so the panel ask questions which most are well versed in asking appropriate relevant questions. I as chair would then always go back to the parents and ask if anything that we as a panel has asked has sparked any questions. Quite often it does. Do not feel obliged to ask questions but if you think that there is any kind of mistake been made then you must bring that up in part 1 when the LA present their case. Most Chairs would then ask you to bring it up when you present your own personal arguements but if it looks like an obvious mistake, which could affect other appeals then it might get considered at part1.

Many thanks bubble and admission