AJTC welcomes mandatory training for school admission appeal panels
The Education (Admissions Appeals Arrangements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/3205) and a new School Admissions Appeals Code were laid before Parliament on 16 November 2007. They are due to come into force on 17 January 2008 and will apply to appeals in respect of decisions on admissions from 1 March 2008.
Amongst other provisions, the regulations make training mandatory for panel members and clerks. They also prescribe the components of the mandatory training requirement, which include the regulations governing admission appeals; the contents of the Appeals Code of Practice; the roles of the panel chair, members and clerk; the duties of panels under the Human Rights Act 1998, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Race Relations Act 1976, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Equality Act 2006; and the need for panels to observe procedural fairness and the rules of natural justice.
Until 1 March 2010 those who have served as a clerk or a member of an appeal panel between 1 March 2007 and 29 February 2008 will be deemed to have satisfied the training requirement.