Technical Notes 2024, Issue 42 - Scottish Government Consultation – Placing Request Appeals

Report by:
Karen Donnelly – Chief Solicitor & Monitoring Officer, Executive Officer – Legal & Regulatory Services
TN Number:
042-24
Subject:
Scottish Government Consultation – Placing Request Appeals
Responsible Officer:
Martin Cunningham, Corporate Governance Manager/ Caroline Magowan, Team Leader Litigation & Licensing
Publication:
This Technical Note will be published on the Council’s website following circulation to Members. Its contents may be disclosed or shared outwith the Council.

Section

The purpose of this note is to advise Members of a response to a Scottish Government consultation regarding the conduct of Placing Request Appeals Hearings, which was submitted on behalf of the Council.
The questions in the consultation referred to the practical administration of Appeals Hearings, particularly in relation to remote/virtual hearings. These were introduced in response to COVID and have worked well for the Council. Evidence and experience shows that virtual hearings have increased attendance by parents/carers and/or their representatives. Virtual hearings also work well with the grouped approach to hearings that this Council takes (ie where all appeals for the same school/year group in a school are heard collectively). In light of this, the response advocates for retaining virtual hearings.
The consultation had a very tight turn around time and the deadline for responses was 12 March 2024. The attached response was submitted on time, reflecting informed contributions from officers in Education and Legal & Regulatory Services all of whom contribute to the effective management and administration of the Council’s Education Appeals process.