What questions to ask at an ICS appeal?

[jellysmum77]

Well as the title says really. We are prepared with what we want to say in terms of our case but looking at the structure of the appeal and the part where it says 'opportunity ask questions of the LA representative.
Just wondering what kind of questions we should be asking?
Thanks in advance.

You should be looking for questions that highlight any weaknesses in the LA's case. If you think a mistake was made that deprived your child of a place ask questions relating to that.

Thanks, that's what we have prepared.
I was just unsure if we need to ask anything else more related to the school/numbers etc as they have talked about only having two classrooms for year 1 and 2 (This is a reception appeal).
Do you think we need to ask/say anything about the fact that they have previously had 31 pupils in KS1 (on two separate occasions) without any problems? I know that it makes no difference to the ics laws but wondered if it was worth mentioning?
They have also given us two different numbers for class sizes in KS1. In an email to us they said year 2 had 25, in their statement they say 27. I have asked the school to clarify they have said 25 (this was today). Again I know it doesn't actually matter to our case but I am wondering why the discrepancy?

Pupils do come and go and it is not unusual for numbers in year groups to change between the appeal papers being produced and the actual appeal.
It does not in any way give any impetus to your case. You need to concentrate on establishing a mistake has been made.

oh I know that it doesn't effect our case but I don't want to miss anything out that we should have asked and equally I do not want to ask something that we shouldn't.
Thanks for your response.

Whenever I've been involved in a hearing I have two rules:

• Only ask questions that are relevant and/or helpful to the case you are trying to make.

• Only ask questions to which you know the answer.

Sticking to questions that are relevant and/or helpful to your case avoids flooding the appeal panel with lots of irrelevant information and keeps them focussed on the strongest points of your case. Sticking to questions to which you know the answer avoids the risk of getting an answer that damages your case.

I wouldn't stick to these rules rigidly. Sometimes it is necessary to go on a fishing expedition, asking questions where you don't know the answer and which may not be relevant or helpful. But you should still ask yourself what you hope to achieve by asking the question. If you don't know the panel certainly won't!

Thank you prh, that is very helpful.