Tes quotes Partner Laura Berman

The Tes article, entitled ‘Admissions appeal changes: what you need to know’ looks at Government plans to allow school admissions appeals to be heard remotely and for decisions to be made by two-person panels where required.

These measures were introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a consultation now launched to gather opinions.

Laura, a Partner in Stone King’s Education Team, said the change "may not be welcomed by parents on the face of it" because of the risk of a single person being responsible for any decision.

However, she said that that the wording in the proposed new code is such that it would probably only happen very rarely.

The proposals state that a two-person panel "may" be used to reach a decision if not doing so would mean an "unreasonable delay" - words that she says are open to interpretation.

"What does 'unreasonable delay' mean? What is unreasonable to one may not be the same as to another," said Laura.

"It may be that a parent can be given the choice between proceeding with a two-person panel in the knowledge that if these panel members disagree, the chair will effectively make the decision, or waiting for a replacement panel member, however long that may take."

The Tes article can be read in full here.

The consultation is open until 3 April 2022 and can be read here.