More appeals help, please!

[ImASecretTwigletNibbler]

If a school is currently building more classrooms and plans to take on an extra class in 2015, then does that hold any sway in me saying that the school could admit another pupil above their PAN in 2014, as it will only be for a year? Or is that argument only valid if the buildings are actually useable in 2014?

Also, does an appeal panel have the same rights/authority at an academy as they do at a local authority-run school? Can they force an academy to go above PAN if they find in the appellant's favour?

The extra class won't be relevant until it is useable I'm afraid. And yes an appeal panel can force an academy to admit a child over PAN. If it couldn't there would be no point having an appeal.

Thanks, prh. I thought it could but a friend made me wobble by saying academies can do what they like.

What if the class is already built and useable but the school are just choosing not to use it yet?

If the additional classrooms are complete it is worth raising. The school will then have to explain why they can't use the classrooms yet. It will be up to the panel to decide whether the additional classrooms allow the school to take on additional pupils immediately.