Appeals this summer and COVID-19
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Re: Appeals this summer and COVID-19
I have had an email today from SHSG stating appeals have been postponed until further notice
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Re: Appeals this summer and COVID-19
Which ever schools are planning to cancel or postpone appeals are living in the dark ages.
Schools Week has an article telling schools and LAs to hold appeals by paper or online or by phone. This is 2020 not 1820
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/coronavirus-a ... ideo-call/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Schools Week has an article telling schools and LAs to hold appeals by paper or online or by phone. This is 2020 not 1820
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/coronavirus-a ... ideo-call/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Appeals this summer and COVID-19
The article tells them to consider holding them by video call/phone or in writing. Not telling them to.
Most LAs understand that they cannot make assumptions that all panel members will be set up to work from home let alone parents.
Most LAs understand that they cannot make assumptions that all panel members will be set up to work from home let alone parents.
Re: Appeals this summer and COVID-19
More work in progress on how it may be possible, not a definite decision, well that's how I read it anyway!hempsteadlad wrote:Which ever schools are planning to cancel or postpone appeals are living in the dark ages.
Schools Week has an article telling schools and LAs to hold appeals by paper or online or by phone. This is 2020 not 1820
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/coronavirus-a ... ideo-call/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad !
Re: Appeals this summer and COVID-19
Perhaps they just have the good sense to wait until the government act to make the regulations more flexible?hempsteadlad wrote:Which ever schools are planning to cancel or postpone appeals are living in the dark ages./
As the article points out, any breach of the current detailed regulations could result in claims of maladministration.
It's a good point. If panel members - who tend to be elderly - are unable or unwilling to work with the new arrangements, there won't be any appeals.kenyancowgirl wrote:Most LAs understand that they cannot make assumptions that all panel members will be set up to work from home .....
Etienne
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Re: Appeals this summer and COVID-19
I have been told by a couple of parents that in parts of London they have already told parents that their appeals will be heard by video conference. This is 2020 and not the end of the world.
Re: Appeals this summer and COVID-19
It depends how accurately this is being reported!hempsteadlad wrote:I have been told by a couple of parents that in parts of London they have already told parents that their appeals will be heard by video conference. This is 2020 and not the end of the world.
If they were told "We're working on plans to try and hear your appeal by video conference," that would be quite sensible.
Most authorities are aware by now of the options being considered by the government, and are probably making provisional plans. They will also need to establish whether their panel members (who are unpaid volunteers) will participate in any new arrangements.
If the couple of parents were told, as you report, that their appeal "will be heard by video conference", and the implication is that these are firm plans - no matter what the DfE decides to allow - and will go ahead irrespective of whether the appellant is able to use the technology, then the admission authority is foolish. Non-compliance with whatever regulations are in place means that a maintained school would have acted unlawfully, and an academy would be in breach of its funding agreement.
The DfE is hoping to publish its guidance in mid-April. It seems quite possible that they will give admission authorities the flexibility to use a range of options, such as a telephone or video conference or a 'paper only' process - but with safeguards.
Etienne
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Re: Appeals this summer and COVID-19
The Government have now announced that appeals will be held by Video Conference or Telephone Conference or if that cannot be done by reading through the paperwork.
Maybe the doubting Thomases can now accept that some schools were more prepared than others and were not foolish. A clerk for a VA school tells me that that in London, Kent and Essex, the Appeal Clerks have been discussing this for weeks.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... on-appeals" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Maybe the doubting Thomases can now accept that some schools were more prepared than others and were not foolish. A clerk for a VA school tells me that that in London, Kent and Essex, the Appeal Clerks have been discussing this for weeks.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... on-appeals" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Appeals this summer and COVID-19
So not a case of "appeals will be heard by video conference" but "appeals could be heard by video conference"?hempsteadlad wrote:The Government have now announced that appeals will be held by Video Conference or Telephone Conference or if that cannot be done by reading through the paperwork.
Exactly as I suggested further up:
- Etienne wrote:It seems quite possible that they will give admission authorities the flexibility to use a range of options, such as a telephone or video conference or a 'paper only' process - but with safeguards.
and safeguards such as:
- DfE wrote:The clerk should establish whether everyone has access to the necessary equipment and that the appellant is able to participate in a hearing by telephone or video conference.
Foolish indeed, if they were making firm arrangements irrespective of what the DfE decides.hempsteadlad wrote:Maybe the doubting Thomases can now accept that some schools were more prepared than others and were not foolish.
- Etienne wrote:If the couple of parents were told, as you report, that their appeal "will be heard by video conference", and the implication is that these are firm plans - no matter what the DfE decides to allow - and will go ahead irrespective of whether the appellant is able to use the technology, then the admission authority is foolish. Non-compliance with whatever regulations are in place means that a maintained school would have acted unlawfully, and an academy would be in breach of its funding agreement.
- DfE wrote:The regulations are subject to legislation being made.
Discussing? Very sensible!hempsteadlad wrote:A clerk for a VA school tells me that that in London, Kent and Essex, the Appeal Clerks have been discussing this for weeks.
- Etienne wrote:..... that would be quite sensible. Most authorities are aware by now of the options being considered by the government, and are probably making provisional plans.
Etienne
Re: Appeals this summer and COVID-19
I was asked last week to chair some appeals later this year (not Grammar). Although I'm not elderly, I do have some health issues that mean I'm trying to avoid human contact. The person organising the appeals said that other ways of hearing the appeals were being looked into.
If I hear them via Zoom / Skype etc, my big question is who will supply the dried-out sandwiches and weak instant coffee for my lunch?
Of the panel members I've worked with, there are a few who I think may struggle with technology, but the majority should be OK. I'd be happy hear by video. Phone conferencing could be done but I really wouldn't like it - imagine being on the 'phone for 8 hours a day (including the discussions after each appeal and at the end of the day). 8 hours is assuming the appeals didn't over-run!
If I hear them via Zoom / Skype etc, my big question is who will supply the dried-out sandwiches and weak instant coffee for my lunch?
Of the panel members I've worked with, there are a few who I think may struggle with technology, but the majority should be OK. I'd be happy hear by video. Phone conferencing could be done but I really wouldn't like it - imagine being on the 'phone for 8 hours a day (including the discussions after each appeal and at the end of the day). 8 hours is assuming the appeals didn't over-run!
Capers