Anyone with experience of complaining about appeal panel at RC schoold infant class size

[lifeistooshort]

I would really be grateful if someone could share their experience of challenging the process and decision of an appeal panel for a RC voluntary aided school. We were treated appalingly during the hearing and don't think we had a fair hearing but apparently we have to complain to the school who appointed the "independent" panel so that they decide whether the hearing was fair or not. We are very very stressed and upset.

In addition we have had a lot of problems with the school applying rules inconsistently and with bias but we are now struggling to know where this leaves us? Local authority ombusdma? Judicial review? Also would appreciate recommendation of good education or judicial review lawyers.

any one?

hi there
sorry to hear this- we have our appeal for RC school on thurs. I cannot help sadly - but keep bumping as there are lots of experts here who will know..on the second point i wonder can you contact the schools adjudicator? They should be able to advise.

Can I ask what happened?

Thanks KrissKross I haven't heard of the schoold adjudicator what do they do? Can't really tell you what happened as it would no doubt out me but your circumstances are unlikely to be the same as ours (very exceptional circumstances).

Good luck with your own appeal. I hope it is far less traumatic than ours and that you get a positive outcome.

thanks life. someone recommended SA to me as our school had slightly odd admissions policy. i dont know too much but google them as when i did the website was pretty clear. sorry about your appeal and that i cannot write more- only got an hour to finish notes for our appeal.

Good luck KrissKross I will look up the SA. Let me know how yours goes.

If you have been to the appeal and re unhappy with the way that the appeal was carried out (not the decision of the panel) then the proper authority to refer it to is the Local Government Ombudsman. It is highly unlikely that any complaint over the decision reached will get you anywhere unless there was demonstrable bias in how the appeal was carried out.
I chair appeal panels and if you want to PM with some details of your concerns over the way that the whole appeal process was handled, then I may be able to give you some pointers as to how to handle the situation.

Hi Admission

Thank you for the information I have tonight lodged our complaint with the LGO. If you don't mind, I would quite like to have your opinion off line. Will try to PM you but I have never done it before so not sure it will work.

We are definitely complaining about the way the hearing was carried out not the decision itself.

admissions have pmed you