The Tribunal System and its Costs

Special Educational Needs Tribunal

Department for Education and Employment

K1 Brief description of the tribunal's business. Hears appeals from parents against decisions taken by local education authorities during the process of assessing and making special educational provision for children with special educational needs.

K2 Cases received:
Total disposals in the year:
     disputes resolved:
     otherwise disposed of:
Pending at the end of the year: Awaiting Annual Report

K3 Time taken to deal with a case, from first receipt to final disposal, and the time taken to implement the tribunal's decision. Cases tend to take 3-4 months.

Statutory timescales:
Registration, and copy sent to LEA, within 10 working days of appeal receipt;
LEA has 20 working days to respond from date of registration.
LEA response is actioned and copied to parents within 10 working days of receipt.
Parents have 15 working days to respond to LEA reply from date posted.
Hearing date notified to parties providing 10 working days notice.
Decisions notified within 10 working days.

K4 For appeal tribunals, the percentage of appeals which succeed. 75% upheld; 25% dismissed.

Refusal to assess     64% upheld
Refusal to statement     72% upheld
Refusal to re-assess    78% upheld
Cease to maintain    63% upheld

Contents of statement of appeal:

Part 2, and/or 3, not 4    89% upheld
Parts 2,3, and 4    91% upheld
Part 4 only    62% upheld

Refusal to change school    55% upheld
Failure to name school    67% upheld

K5 Managerial structures for the tribunal administration: Tribunal supported by a Secretary. Four administrative sections are each headed by an administrator:

3 Appeals sections (each with a supervisor and team of clerks/admin support), supported by a single database/listings manager
1 Finance/Accommodation section with five support staff

Objectives:

To provide fair, independent and speedy adjudication of disputes.

To administer efficiently and effectively SENT

To ensure that parties and the public perceive SENT as fair, independent and authoritative in carrying out all its functions

To provide appropriate information and guidance on the appeals procedure for all parties.

Further aims:

To maintain the current average disposal rate for appeals in line with the statutory framework.

To provide accurate, speedy, clear and precise guidance on the appeals procedures to tribunal users.

To maintain and develop good working relationships with tribunal users by continuing to adopt an outward looking approach and through the tribunal's four regional user groups.

To monitor all systems involved in handling appeals, including listing cases for hearing and improve effectiveness wherever possible.

K6 How tribunal outcomes are fed back into departmental/agency decision-making, and used to identify and correct problems with the substantive law, or departmental policies and service delivery? No formal arrangements exist to enable tribunal outcomes to influence departmental policy other than quarterly reviews which monitor performance and other issues in relation to handling appeals processed and appeals withdrawn.
Where evidence of concern with a particular LEA (such as evidence that policies were leading to excessive numbers of appeals), open to the tribunal to voice concerns to the LEA and copy to DfEE.
Annual Report provides opportunity for President to voice concerns of a general nature.

K7 Nature and scope of current ICT systems, and any major plans for improvement. Appeals administration is IT based, with access to over 100 standard letters available for specific circumstances. An enhanced system, with improved management information, is being developed for March 2001.
A website is currently being developed with a planned introduction date by December 2000.

K8 How the tribunal(s) fit in the department's Modernising Government strategy. Tribunal is committed to making its service more accessible and responsive to the needs of its users. User satisfaction surveys based on a sample of appeals. Information published for parents is approved by the Plain English Campaign. Plan to apply for Charter Mark status. New website planned which will make information (including tribunal decisions) available to users.

K9 Numbers and grades of staff engaged on providing administrative support to the tribunal. Information not provided.

K12 Performance and user satisfaction measures in the tribunal. Tribunal has an annual user group forum, split into four geographical areas, made up of tribunal members, parents, LEAs, and a selection of their respective advocates, to test current performance and related issues.
The tribunal has the following targets (and current performance):
new appeals replied/registered within 10 working days (96%) acknowledge and forward LEA replies within 10 working days (96%)
hearing date allocated, parties notified within 4 weeks of registration (96%)
average time to process appeals 4.5 months (5.5 months if August included)
decisions issued within 10 days (80%) - issued 3 days after receipt from panel (80%)
average travel time for parents to tribunal 2 hours (London); 1 1/2 hours elsewhere
answer telephone within 20 seconds (96%); answerphone messages to be replied within 1 day
request for information responded to within 5 days (96%) written complaints responded to within 15 days (96%) - holding reply where appropriate
other correspondence replied to within 10 days (96%) - holding reply where appropriate
see parties 10 minutes before tribunal start (96%) see parties attending office within 10 minutes of appointment (96%)
process user expense claims within 15 days (99%)
retain the unit cost per appeal at Ł450.

K13 Arrangements for assistance for users, legal or otherwise (including legal aid). The tribunal arranges, and pays for, sign language interpreters. Arrangements made to accommodate users with wheelchairs (hearings are held in local hotels).
Tribunal's main guidance leaflet includes names and addresses of voluntary groups.

K14 Arrangements for providing hearings (including their locations). Parents who live in London and the South East, or who live within two hours of Victoria: hearings held at dedicated hearing accommodation in London. All other hearing venues are local hotels, and arranged for within one hour of the parent's home address.

K15 The extent to which the tribunal's practices and procedures have been reviewed for conformity to ECHR requirements, and any particular concerns which have been identified. Arrangements have been reviewed. Anonymised decisions have been available since 1 October 2000.

K16 Arrangements for appointing tribunal members, both legally and otherwise qualified. The Lord Chancellor appoints chairs, following indications from DfEE about the number and location of posts required. Chairs must be lawyers of seven years standing.
DfEE recruit panel members on behalf of the Secretary of State or the National Assembly for Wales.

K17 Number of members of the tribunal, by category of appointment and whether full-time or part-time (in the latter case, with an average number of sitting days each year); and rates of pay. 1 part-time legal President - 20-7- days per year (Ł436 per day)
53 Chairs - 20-70 days per year (Ł350 per day)
Members - 20-700 days per year (Ł178 per day)

K18 Arrangements for training tribunal members, and the approach to and content of training. The tribunal has received law society accreditation for its training arrangements.
President leads a member-based Training Consultative Committee with two chairmen, and two lay members. Committee meets quarterly. Remit to look at future member training needs and to satisfy that requirement. All members are required to attend an annual residential training conference. Supplementary training is arranged each year, alternating between courses for chairmen and members.

K19 Arrangements for staff training. Specific appeals-related training is delivered in-house. Other skills-related training is delivered by DfEE courses.

K20 Resources expended on:

a tribunal member salaries and expenses Ł1,087,000

b staff salaries and expenses Ł955,000

c system administration Ł127,000 ( Endnote 1 )

d accommodation; Ł604,000

e tribunal member training Ł57,000

f staff training Ł19,000

TOTAL: Ł2,849,000

Endnotes:

Comprising Ł91,000 for IT related expenditure and Ł36,000 for supporting IT systems.

Exclusion Appeal Panels

Department for Education and Employment

K1 Brief description of the tribunal's business. Hear parents' appeals against governors' decisions to uphold their child's permanent exclusion from a maintained school. If the pupil is 18 or over, he or she is the appellant.

K2 Cases received:
Total disposals in the year:
     disputes resolved:
     otherwise disposed of:
Pending at the end of the year: 1998/99:
1,220 appeals were lodged by parents; around 100 by governing bodies.

960 appeals from parents were heard by an appeal committee, as were 96 appeals from governing bodies.

K3 Time taken to deal with a case, from first receipt to final disposal, and the time taken to implement the tribunal's decision. The statutory time limit for the panel to sit is the 15th day after the day on which the appeal is lodged. The appellant can request a later date in exceptional circumstances.
A panel's rejection of an appeal has an immediate effect: the pupil's exclusion is then final. A panel's allowing of an appeal may lead them to direct the pupil's reinstatement on the next school day, or after a short interval to allow the school to prepare for the pupil's reintegration.

K4 For appeal tribunals, the percentage of appeals which succeed. Around 23% of appeal succeeded in the school year 1998/99.

K5 Managerial structures for the tribunal administration: Information not provided.

K6 How tribunal outcomes are fed back into departmental/agency decision-making, and used to identify and correct problems with the substantive law, or departmental policies and service delivery? DfEE considers the feedback received from those who participate in exclusion appeals; this informs thinking on whether policy and legislation should be changed. DfEE also consider court judgements which have implications for the exclusion procedure.

K7 Nature and scope of current ICT systems, and any major plans for improvement. Information not provided.

K8 How the tribunal(s) fit in the department's Modernising Government strategy. Information not provided.

K9 Numbers and grades of staff engaged on providing administrative support to the tribunal. No DfEE staff provide administrative support to exclusion appeal panels. A small team provides advice in answer to requests, usually by phone or e-mail.
No information provided on what support is provided for the tribunals.

K12 Performance and user satisfaction measures in the tribunal. Local authorities should monitor performance and user satisfaction, as each panel is established ad hoc. DfEE "monitors anecdotally" from contact with participants and authorities.

K13 Arrangements for assistance for users, legal or otherwise (including legal aid). Parents can telephone the dedicated exclusions helpline set up by DfEE.
Legal aid is not available for exclusion panels.

K14 Arrangements for providing hearings (including their locations). The local authority makes the arrangements for an exclusion appeal to be held away from the excluding school's premises.

K15 The extent to which the tribunal's practices and procedures have been reviewed for conformity to ECHR requirements, and any particular concerns which have been identified. Exclusion appeal panels' practices and procedures have been reviewed for conformity, and do conform.

K16 Arrangements for appointing tribunal members, both legally and otherwise qualified. Each local education authority appoints members, who need not be legally qualified, but must satisfy the criteria set out in the legislation.

K17 Number of members of the tribunal, by category of appointment and whether full-time or part-time (in the latter case, with an average number of sitting days each year); and rates of pay. A panel has three or five members. At least one must be a lay member, and at least one must have educational experience. They are unpaid volunteers but may claim travel and subsistence expenses, attendance or financial loss allowances in certain circumstances.
No information provided on the total number of members, or how often members sit, on average.

K18 Arrangements for training tribunal members, and the approach to and content of training. LEAs are responsible for training panel members. DfEE is now developing a training package which will be made available to LEAs in late Autumn.

K19 Arrangements for staff training. LEAs are responsible for training staff who administer exclusion appeals.

K20 Resources expended on:

a tribunal member salaries and expenses Such resources are expended by each LEA. DfEE do not hold such information.

b staff salaries and expenses

c system administration

d accommodation;

e tribunal member training

f staff training

TOTAL:

Admission Appeal Panels

Department for Education and Employment

K1 Brief description of the tribunal's business. Hear parental appeals against non-admission to their preferred school, or against the school place allotted to them.

K2 Cases received:
Total disposals in the year:
     disputes resolved:
     otherwise disposed of:
Pending at the end of the year: All schools 1998/99:
85,900 appeals were lodged by parents.
60,200 appeals were heard by a committee

K3 Time taken to deal with a case, from first receipt to final disposal, and the time taken to implement the tribunal's decision. School Admission Appeal Code recommends that appeals, particularly for secondary schools, should be dealt with by the end of the term prior to the school year of admission. The Code also recommends that parents give notice that they wish to lodge an appeal within 10 working days of receipt of notification that their school application has been successful.

K4 For appeal tribunals, the percentage of appeals which succeed. Around 40% over last few years. 37% in 1998/99, a drop of 1% from the previous year.

K5 Managerial structures for the tribunal administration: Information not provided.

K6 How tribunal outcomes are fed back into departmental/agency decision-making, and used to identify and correct problems with the substantive law, or departmental policies and service delivery? DfEE use feedback from day to day contact with appeal panel members, and admission authorities responsible for setting up panels to monitor and evaluate the Government's policy on admission appeals.

K7 Nature and scope of current ICT systems, and any major plans for improvement. Information not provided.

K8 How the tribunal(s) fit in the department's Modernising Government strategy. Information not provided.

K9 Numbers and grades of staff engaged on providing administrative support to the tribunal. No DfEE staff are involved in providing administrative support, but a TL, SEO and HEO give policy advice to appeals panel members, clerks, chairs, presenting officers and admission authorities.

K12 Performance and user satisfaction measures in the tribunal. The Local Government Ombudsman publishes an annual report giving details of the number of parental complaints each year about admission appeal panels.
Admission authorities should monitor parental satisfaction with their appeal panels. Some local education authorities invite parents to complete a form after their hearing to check whether they considered that they were treated fairly.

K13 Arrangements for assistance for users, legal or otherwise (including legal aid). DfEE does not offer support (financial or otherwise) to parents seeking to review an appeal panel's decision. Legal aid is not available.
No information given on support offered at or before the tribunal itself.

K14 Arrangements for providing hearings (including their locations). Admission authority responsible for arranging hearings. School Admission Code recommends that appeals should be heard at a neutral location if possible, away from the school or local education authority concerned.

K15 The extent to which the tribunal's practices and procedures have been reviewed for conformity to ECHR requirements, and any particular concerns which have been identified. DfEE lawyers have examined the legislation relating to school admissions and admission appeals. DfEE training for panel members includes information on the HRA.

K16 Arrangements for appointing tribunal members, both legally and otherwise qualified. School admission authorities are responsible for establishing admission appeal panels. As part of that process, admission authorities must secure members who are eligible in terms of the law and who will act, and be seen to act, with impartiality. Admission authorities must advertise for lay members every three years.

K17 Number of members of the tribunal, by category of appointment and whether full-time or part-time (in the latter case, with an average number of sitting days each year); and rates of pay. Three or five members on each tribunal. At least one member must be a lay member, and at least one must have educational experience. They work in a voluntary capacity for which they receive no payment other than claiming expenses for travel and subsistence, attendance or financial loss allowances in certain circumstances.
No information provided on the total number of members, or how often members sit, on average.

K18 Arrangements for training tribunal members, and the approach to and content of training. School Admission Code of Practice recommends that panel members, clerks, chairs, and presenting officers receive training. DfEE in conjunction with a training provider is developing a training package which will be available to local education authorities and schools in Autumn 2000. In addition, DfEE is paying for some panel members to be trained using the new package, during 2000-01 and 2001-02.

K19 Arrangements for staff training. Code recommendations for training do not relate to training staff involved in the administration of appeals. Local education authorities and schools may provide their own training but these details are not known to DfEE.

K20 Resources expended on:

a tribunal member salaries and expenses No information provided

b staff salaries and expenses

c system administration

d accommodation;

e tribunal member training

f staff training

TOTAL:

Registered Inspectors of Schools Tribunal

Department for Education and Employment

K1 Brief description of the tribunal's business. Hears appeals by registered inspectors against decisions by HM Chief Inspector to de-register an inspector, not to renew registration (inspectors are normally registered for a three year period) or to attach conditions to a registration. In January 2000, the tribunal's remit was extended to cover team inspectors as arrangements are now in place for them to be enrolled, de- enrolled etc.

K2 Cases received:
Total disposals in the year:
     disputes resolved:
     otherwise disposed of:
Pending at the end of the year: To date three inspectors have submitted appeals but these were withdrawn before the a chair had been appointed.

K3 Time taken to deal with a case, from first receipt to final disposal, and the time taken to implement the tribunal's decision. Not applicable. No cases heard.

K4 For appeal tribunals, the percentage of appeals which succeed. Not applicable. No cases heard.

K5 Managerial structures for the tribunal administration: Administration provided by DfEE.

K6 How tribunal outcomes are fed back into departmental/agency decision-making, and used to identify and correct problems with the substantive law, or departmental policies and service delivery? Not applicable. No cases heard.

K7 Nature and scope of current ICT systems, and any major plans for improvement. No information provided.

K8 How the tribunal(s) fit in the department's Modernising Government strategy. No information provided.

K9 Numbers and grades of staff engaged on providing administrative support to the tribunal. No information provided.

K12 Performance and user satisfaction measures in the tribunal. No information provided.

K13 Arrangements for assistance for users, legal or otherwise (including legal aid). No information provided.

K14 Arrangements for providing hearings (including their locations). No information provided.

K15 The extent to which the tribunal's practices and procedures have been reviewed for conformity to ECHR requirements, and any particular concerns which have been identified. No information provided.

K16 Arrangements for appointing tribunal members, both legally and otherwise qualified. Chairs are appointed by the Lord Chancellor, members by the Secretary of State. A panel of ten members, shared with the Registered Nursery Inspectors Appeal Tribunal, has been set up.

K17 Number of members of the tribunal, by category of appointment and whether full-time or part-time (in the latter case, with an average number of sitting days each year); and rates of pay. Ten members, none of whom have sat.

No information on pay rates has been provided.

K18 Arrangements for training tribunal members, and the approach to and content of training. No information provided.

K19 Arrangements for staff training. The small workload of the tribunal has made it difficult to justify investing in training staff, for whom tribunal-related work is only a small part of a policy-focused job.

K20 Resources expended on:

a tribunal member salaries and expenses No information has been provided.

b staff salaries and expenses

c system administration

d accommodation;

e tribunal member training

f staff training

TOTAL:

Registered Nursery Education Inspectors Appeal Tribunal

Department for Education and Employment

K1 Brief description of the tribunal's business. Hears registered nursery inspectors' appeals against any decision by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools (MHCI) to remove their name from the register of inspectors, either during or at the end of a period of registration, or to impose or vary their conditions of registration.

K2 Cases received:
Total disposals in the year:
     disputes resolved:
     otherwise disposed of:
Pending at the end of the year: Tribunal was set up in 1999. Two appeals were heard that year. None outstanding. No appeals in 2000.

K3 Time taken to deal with a case, from first receipt to final disposal, and the time taken to implement the tribunal's decision. The first appeal took six months; the second took seven months.

K4 For appeal tribunals, the percentage of appeals which succeed. 0% Neither appeal succeeded.

K5 Managerial structures for the tribunal administration: The Proper Officer has the lead role in the tribunal's administration and is supported by three additional staff, all on loan to the tribunal on a temporary part-time basis for the duration of an appeal.

K6 How tribunal outcomes are fed back into departmental/agency decision-making, and used to identify and correct problems with the substantive law, or departmental policies and service delivery? There is no formal arrangement. However, if a panel identifies a gap in policy, and makes a recommendation in its final decision (report), this can be fed back to the appropriate DfEE policy team.

K7 Nature and scope of current ICT systems, and any major plans for improvement. The tribunal can be contacted by e-mail by parties to an appeal, to submit written evidence, if preferred. DfEE are examining scope for making available information about the tribunal and its guidance for appellants and respondent on a website.

K8 How the tribunal(s) fit in the department's Modernising Government strategy. As part of DfEE Modernising Government strategy, the department is modernising delivery by being customer-focused and committed to quality; working with a range of partners; learning from others; and using ICT more effectively. The tribunal's operation is consistent with this.
Being a newly established tribunal, it has worked well with other tribunals, and learned from them.

K9 Numbers and grades of staff engaged on providing administrative support to the tribunal. 1xGrade 7 (The Proper Officer)
1xHEO
1xEO
1xAO

All part-time, on secondment for the duration of an appeal.

K12 Performance and user satisfaction measures in the tribunal. Tribunal has had just two appeals, and has learned from those two.

K13 Arrangements for assistance for users, legal or otherwise (including legal aid). Tribunal pays travel expenses incurred by appellants ravelling to London. (All hearings in London as cost of moving tribunal out of London for one hearing would be "huge".) Tribunal obliged to consider the convenience of both parties in an appeal when deciding on a venue.

K14 Arrangements for providing hearings (including their locations). Normally held at the tribunal's registered address (Tothill Street, London SW1). Where this is not possible, other tribunal facilities, or a hired facility would be sought in central London.

K15 The extent to which the tribunal's practices and procedures have been reviewed for conformity to ECHR requirements, and any particular concerns which have been identified. Practices and procedures have been examined and are compliant.

K16 Arrangements for appointing tribunal members, both legally and otherwise qualified. The Lord Chancellor appoints the chairman. The Secretary of State for Education and Employment appoints lay members.

K17 Number of members of the tribunal, by category of appointment and whether full-time or part-time (in the latter case, with an average number of sitting days each year); and rates of pay. The tribunal has a pool of 10 lay members. Two members are selected to sit on each appeal panel (which is constituted on an ad hoc basis when an appeal is lodged). Members paid Ł203 per day for a hearing, and Ł153.33 per day for preparatory work.

K18 Arrangements for training tribunal members, and the approach to and content of training. The chair in the two appeals heard so far has been selected from the SEN Tribunal, and receives training from that tribunal. Lay members had a one-day training session several years ago ( Endnote 1 ).

K19 Arrangements for staff training. Tribunal staff have appropriate administrative experience, and receive training in the course of their policy work.

K20 Resources expended on:

a tribunal member salaries and expenses Ł9071.50

b staff salaries and expenses Come under DfEE running costs.

c system administration Come under DfEE running costs.

d accommodation; Accommodation is provided by DfEE

e tribunal member training No resources have yet been spent on training members.

f staff training No resources have yet been spent on training staff.

TOTAL: Ł9071.50

Endnotes:

It is not clear how training was provided several years ago for members of atribunal that did not exist until 1999.

Office of the Schools Adjudicator

Department for Education and Employment

K1 Brief description of the tribunal's business. Fifteen schools adjudicators decide on schools' admission arrangements and school organisation issues where there is local disagreement. Cases may be referred to adjudicators by schools, local education authorities, and school organisation committees; and by parents who object about schools who continue partially to select pupils by ability.

K2 Cases received:
Total disposals in the year:
     disputes resolved:
     otherwise disposed of:
Pending at the end of the year: 137 referrals ( Endnote 1 )107 objections to admission arrangements (59 decisions issued; 28 related referrals; 10 out of jurisdiction; 6 referrals to Sec State; 3 withdrawn; 1 outstanding)

16 variations to admission arrangements (15 decisions issued; 1 outstanding)

13 statutory proposals (10 decisions issued; 3 outstanding)

1 school plan (decision issued)

K3 Time taken to deal with a case, from first receipt to final disposal, and the time taken to implement the tribunal's decision. Average time for clearing cases is between six and 12 weeks, depending on the complexity.
Decisions are normally implemented at the start of the school year, in September.

K4 For appeal tribunals, the percentage of appeals which succeed. objections to admission arrangements - 64% upheld (54/84) (includes all grounds of appeal - some referrals more than one ground)

variations to admission arrangements - 60% approved (9/15)

statutory proposals - 10% approved (1/10)

school plan - 100% successful (1/1)

K5 Managerial structures for the tribunal administration: Secretary (G7); 2 HEO casework managers (6 staff); 1 HEO admin/finance manager (6 staff)

K6 How tribunal outcomes are fed back into departmental/agency decision-making, and used to identify and correct problems with the substantive law, or departmental policies and service delivery? The chief adjudicator and the OSA secretary feed back to DfEE issues relating to the law or Code of Practice. Suggested improvements are put forward and discussed.

K7 Nature and scope of current ICT systems, and any major plans for improvement. All OSA staff use computers, as do the adjudicators - their equipment was provided by the OSA. E-mail is used extensively to exchange data (eg adjudicator decisions are sent electronically. Staff can then format them immediately.), and all have access to the Internet, and DfEE's intranet.
The OSA website contains all adjudicator decisions; parents can complete submission to the adjudicator on-line on a standard pro-forma; any user can subscribe to receive adjudicator decisions automatically; users can provide feedback electronically.
Standard letters are triggered automatically, and the system has an in-built project management mechanism which produces case plans and forecasts completion dates automatically.
The office has a database system for tracking cases, and the website which is used externally and internally for retrieving management information. The website will be continually developed as new requirements arise.

K8 How the tribunal(s) fit in the department's Modernising Government strategy. The schools adjudicators are part of the wider initiative to devolve decision-making to local level.

K9 Numbers and grades of staff engaged on providing administrative support to the tribunal. 1xG7
3xHEO
6xEO
9xAO
3xAA.

K12 Performance and user satisfaction measures in the tribunal. Objectives (to parents, schools and LEAs):
be open and accessible;
act fairly and reasonable with you at all times;
give you information in plain language and offer to help if there is anything you do not understand;
help you understand how the adjudication process works and the time-scales involved;
act promptly;
make sure that the procedure staff follow reflect the commitments set out in this charter;
correct errors and handle complaints speedily; and
make sure that the adjudicators' decisions and our office procedures meet the relevant laws and regulations.

(additional objective for parents only):

respect your right to be heard, and your right to confidentiality.

Targets:

acknowledge objection within 3 days; ensure all parties know what is going on
respond to further information within 5 days
inform at outset how long case will take - notify in advance of any delay
deliver decision within 6 weeks of receiving objection

K13 Arrangements for assistance for users, legal or otherwise (including legal aid). None, other than the OSA helpdesk.

K14 Arrangements for providing hearings (including their locations). An informal hearing may be provided at the request of one or more of the parties involved. The Office arranges these and the venue is always in the locality of the case.

K15 The extent to which the tribunal's practices and procedures have been reviewed for conformity to ECHR requirements, and any particular concerns which have been identified. There is nothing in the practices and procedures that could be considered incompatible with ECHR.

K16 Arrangements for appointing tribunal members, both legally and otherwise qualified. Schools adjudicators are appointed by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, but are independent of DfEE.

K17 Number of members of the tribunal, by category of appointment and whether full-time or part-time (in the latter case, with an average number of sitting days each year); and rates of pay. 1 Chief Adjudicator - average 35 days a year (Ł300 per day)
14 part-time adjudicators - average 35 days a year (Ł275 per day)

K18 Arrangements for training tribunal members, and the approach to and content of training. Training needs are identified by the adjudicators and arranged by the Office. Experts in the field are brought in to conduct training for each topic.

K19 Arrangements for staff training. Staff and their managers together identify training needs, and courses are arranged as appropriate. Good use is made of DfEE's training division.
Office staff receive the same training as adjudicators, either by participation in events (which are recorded) or by watching the videos.

K20 Resources expended on:

a tribunal member salaries and expenses Ł228,000

b staff salaries and expenses Ł476,000

c system administration Ł123,000 ( Endnote 2 )

d accommodation; Information has not been provided.

e tribunal member training Ł16,000

f staff training Ł6,000

TOTAL: awaiting (d)

Endnotes:

Figures relate to April 1999 to August 2000 - the first 17 months of the tribunal's operation.

Includes legal fees, publicity, consultancy fees and other admin/consumables.

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K1	Brief description of the tribunal's business.	Hears appeals from parents against decisions taken by local education authorities during the process of assessing and making special educational provision for children with special educational needs.
K2	Cases received: Total disposals in the year: disputes resolved: otherwise disposed of: Pending at the end of the year:	Awaiting Annual Report
K3	Time taken to deal with a case, from first receipt to final disposal, and the time taken to implement the tribunal's decision.	Cases tend to take 3-4 months. Statutory timescales: Registration, and copy sent to LEA, within 10 working days of appeal receipt; LEA has 20 working days to respond from date of registration. LEA response is actioned and copied to parents within 10 working days of receipt. Parents have 15 working days to respond to LEA reply from date posted. Hearing date notified to parties providing 10 working days notice. Decisions notified within 10 working days.
K4	For appeal tribunals, the percentage of appeals which succeed.	75% upheld; 25% dismissed. Refusal to assess 64% upheld Refusal to statement 72% upheld Refusal to re-assess 78% upheld Cease to maintain 63% upheld Contents of statement of appeal: Part 2, and/or 3, not 4 89% upheld Parts 2,3, and 4 91% upheld Part 4 only 62% upheld Refusal to change school 55% upheld Failure to name school 67% upheld
K5	Managerial structures for the tribunal administration:	Tribunal supported by a Secretary. Four administrative sections are each headed by an administrator: 3 Appeals sections (each with a supervisor and team of clerks/admin support), supported by a single database/listings manager 1 Finance/Accommodation section with five support staff Objectives: To provide fair, independent and speedy adjudication of disputes. To administer efficiently and effectively SENT To ensure that parties and the public perceive SENT as fair, independent and authoritative in carrying out all its functions To provide appropriate information and guidance on the appeals procedure for all parties. Further aims: To maintain the current average disposal rate for appeals in line with the statutory framework. To provide accurate, speedy, clear and precise guidance on the appeals procedures to tribunal users. To maintain and develop good working relationships with tribunal users by continuing to adopt an outward looking approach and through the tribunal's four regional user groups. To monitor all systems involved in handling appeals, including listing cases for hearing and improve effectiveness wherever possible.
K6	How tribunal outcomes are fed back into departmental/agency decision-making, and used to identify and correct problems with the substantive law, or departmental policies and service delivery?	No formal arrangements exist to enable tribunal outcomes to influence departmental policy other than quarterly reviews which monitor performance and other issues in relation to handling appeals processed and appeals withdrawn. Where evidence of concern with a particular LEA (such as evidence that policies were leading to excessive numbers of appeals), open to the tribunal to voice concerns to the LEA and copy to DfEE. Annual Report provides opportunity for President to voice concerns of a general nature.
K7	Nature and scope of current ICT systems, and any major plans for improvement.	Appeals administration is IT based, with access to over 100 standard letters available for specific circumstances. An enhanced system, with improved management information, is being developed for March 2001. A website is currently being developed with a planned introduction date by December 2000.
K8	How the tribunal(s) fit in the department's Modernising Government strategy.	Tribunal is committed to making its service more accessible and responsive to the needs of its users. User satisfaction surveys based on a sample of appeals. Information published for parents is approved by the Plain English Campaign. Plan to apply for Charter Mark status. New website planned which will make information (including tribunal decisions) available to users.
K9	Numbers and grades of staff engaged on providing administrative support to the tribunal.	Information not provided.
K12	Performance and user satisfaction measures in the tribunal.	Tribunal has an annual user group forum, split into four geographical areas, made up of tribunal members, parents, LEAs, and a selection of their respective advocates, to test current performance and related issues. The tribunal has the following targets (and current performance): new appeals replied/registered within 10 working days (96%) acknowledge and forward LEA replies within 10 working days (96%) hearing date allocated, parties notified within 4 weeks of registration (96%) average time to process appeals 4.5 months (5.5 months if August included) decisions issued within 10 days (80%) - issued 3 days after receipt from panel (80%) average travel time for parents to tribunal 2 hours (London); 1 1/2 hours elsewhere answer telephone within 20 seconds (96%); answerphone messages to be replied within 1 day request for information responded to within 5 days (96%) written complaints responded to within 15 days (96%) - holding reply where appropriate other correspondence replied to within 10 days (96%) - holding reply where appropriate see parties 10 minutes before tribunal start (96%) see parties attending office within 10 minutes of appointment (96%) process user expense claims within 15 days (99%) retain the unit cost per appeal at Ł450.
K13	Arrangements for assistance for users, legal or otherwise (including legal aid).	The tribunal arranges, and pays for, sign language interpreters. Arrangements made to accommodate users with wheelchairs (hearings are held in local hotels). Tribunal's main guidance leaflet includes names and addresses of voluntary groups.
K14	Arrangements for providing hearings (including their locations).	Parents who live in London and the South East, or who live within two hours of Victoria: hearings held at dedicated hearing accommodation in London. All other hearing venues are local hotels, and arranged for within one hour of the parent's home address.
K15	The extent to which the tribunal's practices and procedures have been reviewed for conformity to ECHR requirements, and any particular concerns which have been identified.	Arrangements have been reviewed. Anonymised decisions have been available since 1 October 2000.
K16	Arrangements for appointing tribunal members, both legally and otherwise qualified.	The Lord Chancellor appoints chairs, following indications from DfEE about the number and location of posts required. Chairs must be lawyers of seven years standing. DfEE recruit panel members on behalf of the Secretary of State or the National Assembly for Wales.
K17	Number of members of the tribunal, by category of appointment and whether full-time or part-time (in the latter case, with an average number of sitting days each year); and rates of pay.	1 part-time legal President - 20-7- days per year (Ł436 per day) 53 Chairs - 20-70 days per year (Ł350 per day) Members - 20-700 days per year (Ł178 per day)
K18	Arrangements for training tribunal members, and the approach to and content of training.	The tribunal has received law society accreditation for its training arrangements. President leads a member-based Training Consultative Committee with two chairmen, and two lay members. Committee meets quarterly. Remit to look at future member training needs and to satisfy that requirement. All members are required to attend an annual residential training conference. Supplementary training is arranged each year, alternating between courses for chairmen and members.
K19	Arrangements for staff training.	Specific appeals-related training is delivered in-house. Other skills-related training is delivered by DfEE courses.
K20	Resources expended on:
a	tribunal member salaries and expenses	Ł1,087,000
b	staff salaries and expenses	Ł955,000
c	system administration	Ł127,000 ( Endnote 1 )
d	accommodation;	Ł604,000
e	tribunal member training	Ł57,000
f	staff training	Ł19,000
	TOTAL:	Ł2,849,000

K1	Brief description of the tribunal's business.	Hear parents' appeals against governors' decisions to uphold their child's permanent exclusion from a maintained school. If the pupil is 18 or over, he or she is the appellant.
K2	Cases received: Total disposals in the year: disputes resolved: otherwise disposed of: Pending at the end of the year:	1998/99: 1,220 appeals were lodged by parents; around 100 by governing bodies. 960 appeals from parents were heard by an appeal committee, as were 96 appeals from governing bodies.
K3	Time taken to deal with a case, from first receipt to final disposal, and the time taken to implement the tribunal's decision.	The statutory time limit for the panel to sit is the 15th day after the day on which the appeal is lodged. The appellant can request a later date in exceptional circumstances. A panel's rejection of an appeal has an immediate effect: the pupil's exclusion is then final. A panel's allowing of an appeal may lead them to direct the pupil's reinstatement on the next school day, or after a short interval to allow the school to prepare for the pupil's reintegration.
K4	For appeal tribunals, the percentage of appeals which succeed.	Around 23% of appeal succeeded in the school year 1998/99.
K5	Managerial structures for the tribunal administration:	Information not provided.
K6	How tribunal outcomes are fed back into departmental/agency decision-making, and used to identify and correct problems with the substantive law, or departmental policies and service delivery?	DfEE considers the feedback received from those who participate in exclusion appeals; this informs thinking on whether policy and legislation should be changed. DfEE also consider court judgements which have implications for the exclusion procedure.
K7	Nature and scope of current ICT systems, and any major plans for improvement.	Information not provided.
K8	How the tribunal(s) fit in the department's Modernising Government strategy.	Information not provided.
K9	Numbers and grades of staff engaged on providing administrative support to the tribunal.	No DfEE staff provide administrative support to exclusion appeal panels. A small team provides advice in answer to requests, usually by phone or e-mail. No information provided on what support is provided for the tribunals.
K12	Performance and user satisfaction measures in the tribunal.	Local authorities should monitor performance and user satisfaction, as each panel is established ad hoc. DfEE "monitors anecdotally" from contact with participants and authorities.
K13	Arrangements for assistance for users, legal or otherwise (including legal aid).	Parents can telephone the dedicated exclusions helpline set up by DfEE. Legal aid is not available for exclusion panels.
K14	Arrangements for providing hearings (including their locations).	The local authority makes the arrangements for an exclusion appeal to be held away from the excluding school's premises.
K15	The extent to which the tribunal's practices and procedures have been reviewed for conformity to ECHR requirements, and any particular concerns which have been identified.	Exclusion appeal panels' practices and procedures have been reviewed for conformity, and do conform.
K16	Arrangements for appointing tribunal members, both legally and otherwise qualified.	Each local education authority appoints members, who need not be legally qualified, but must satisfy the criteria set out in the legislation.
K17	Number of members of the tribunal, by category of appointment and whether full-time or part-time (in the latter case, with an average number of sitting days each year); and rates of pay.	A panel has three or five members. At least one must be a lay member, and at least one must have educational experience. They are unpaid volunteers but may claim travel and subsistence expenses, attendance or financial loss allowances in certain circumstances. No information provided on the total number of members, or how often members sit, on average.
K18	Arrangements for training tribunal members, and the approach to and content of training.	LEAs are responsible for training panel members. DfEE is now developing a training package which will be made available to LEAs in late Autumn.
K19	Arrangements for staff training.	LEAs are responsible for training staff who administer exclusion appeals.
K20	Resources expended on:
a	tribunal member salaries and expenses	Such resources are expended by each LEA. DfEE do not hold such information.
b	staff salaries and expenses
c	system administration
d	accommodation;
e	tribunal member training
f	staff training
	TOTAL:

K1	Brief description of the tribunal's business.	Hear parental appeals against non-admission to their preferred school, or against the school place allotted to them.
K2	Cases received: Total disposals in the year: disputes resolved: otherwise disposed of: Pending at the end of the year:	All schools 1998/99: 85,900 appeals were lodged by parents. 60,200 appeals were heard by a committee
K3	Time taken to deal with a case, from first receipt to final disposal, and the time taken to implement the tribunal's decision.	School Admission Appeal Code recommends that appeals, particularly for secondary schools, should be dealt with by the end of the term prior to the school year of admission. The Code also recommends that parents give notice that they wish to lodge an appeal within 10 working days of receipt of notification that their school application has been successful.
K4	For appeal tribunals, the percentage of appeals which succeed.	Around 40% over last few years. 37% in 1998/99, a drop of 1% from the previous year.
K5	Managerial structures for the tribunal administration:	Information not provided.
K6	How tribunal outcomes are fed back into departmental/agency decision-making, and used to identify and correct problems with the substantive law, or departmental policies and service delivery?	DfEE use feedback from day to day contact with appeal panel members, and admission authorities responsible for setting up panels to monitor and evaluate the Government's policy on admission appeals.
K7	Nature and scope of current ICT systems, and any major plans for improvement.	Information not provided.
K8	How the tribunal(s) fit in the department's Modernising Government strategy.	Information not provided.
K9	Numbers and grades of staff engaged on providing administrative support to the tribunal.	No DfEE staff are involved in providing administrative support, but a TL, SEO and HEO give policy advice to appeals panel members, clerks, chairs, presenting officers and admission authorities.
K12	Performance and user satisfaction measures in the tribunal.	The Local Government Ombudsman publishes an annual report giving details of the number of parental complaints each year about admission appeal panels. Admission authorities should monitor parental satisfaction with their appeal panels. Some local education authorities invite parents to complete a form after their hearing to check whether they considered that they were treated fairly.
K13	Arrangements for assistance for users, legal or otherwise (including legal aid).	DfEE does not offer support (financial or otherwise) to parents seeking to review an appeal panel's decision. Legal aid is not available. No information given on support offered at or before the tribunal itself.
K14	Arrangements for providing hearings (including their locations).	Admission authority responsible for arranging hearings. School Admission Code recommends that appeals should be heard at a neutral location if possible, away from the school or local education authority concerned.
K15	The extent to which the tribunal's practices and procedures have been reviewed for conformity to ECHR requirements, and any particular concerns which have been identified.	DfEE lawyers have examined the legislation relating to school admissions and admission appeals. DfEE training for panel members includes information on the HRA.
K16	Arrangements for appointing tribunal members, both legally and otherwise qualified.	School admission authorities are responsible for establishing admission appeal panels. As part of that process, admission authorities must secure members who are eligible in terms of the law and who will act, and be seen to act, with impartiality. Admission authorities must advertise for lay members every three years.
K17	Number of members of the tribunal, by category of appointment and whether full-time or part-time (in the latter case, with an average number of sitting days each year); and rates of pay.	Three or five members on each tribunal. At least one member must be a lay member, and at least one must have educational experience. They work in a voluntary capacity for which they receive no payment other than claiming expenses for travel and subsistence, attendance or financial loss allowances in certain circumstances. No information provided on the total number of members, or how often members sit, on average.
K18	Arrangements for training tribunal members, and the approach to and content of training.	School Admission Code of Practice recommends that panel members, clerks, chairs, and presenting officers receive training. DfEE in conjunction with a training provider is developing a training package which will be available to local education authorities and schools in Autumn 2000. In addition, DfEE is paying for some panel members to be trained using the new package, during 2000-01 and 2001-02.
K19	Arrangements for staff training.	Code recommendations for training do not relate to training staff involved in the administration of appeals. Local education authorities and schools may provide their own training but these details are not known to DfEE.
K20	Resources expended on:
a	tribunal member salaries and expenses	No information provided
b	staff salaries and expenses
c	system administration
d	accommodation;
e	tribunal member training
f	staff training
	TOTAL:

K1	Brief description of the tribunal's business.	Hears appeals by registered inspectors against decisions by HM Chief Inspector to de-register an inspector, not to renew registration (inspectors are normally registered for a three year period) or to attach conditions to a registration. In January 2000, the tribunal's remit was extended to cover team inspectors as arrangements are now in place for them to be enrolled, de- enrolled etc.
K2	Cases received: Total disposals in the year: disputes resolved: otherwise disposed of: Pending at the end of the year:	To date three inspectors have submitted appeals but these were withdrawn before the a chair had been appointed.
K3	Time taken to deal with a case, from first receipt to final disposal, and the time taken to implement the tribunal's decision.	Not applicable. No cases heard.
K4	For appeal tribunals, the percentage of appeals which succeed.	Not applicable. No cases heard.
K5	Managerial structures for the tribunal administration:	Administration provided by DfEE.
K6	How tribunal outcomes are fed back into departmental/agency decision-making, and used to identify and correct problems with the substantive law, or departmental policies and service delivery?	Not applicable. No cases heard.
K7	Nature and scope of current ICT systems, and any major plans for improvement.	No information provided.
K8	How the tribunal(s) fit in the department's Modernising Government strategy.	No information provided.
K9	Numbers and grades of staff engaged on providing administrative support to the tribunal.	No information provided.
K12	Performance and user satisfaction measures in the tribunal.	No information provided.
K13	Arrangements for assistance for users, legal or otherwise (including legal aid).	No information provided.
K14	Arrangements for providing hearings (including their locations).	No information provided.
K15	The extent to which the tribunal's practices and procedures have been reviewed for conformity to ECHR requirements, and any particular concerns which have been identified.	No information provided.
K16	Arrangements for appointing tribunal members, both legally and otherwise qualified.	Chairs are appointed by the Lord Chancellor, members by the Secretary of State. A panel of ten members, shared with the Registered Nursery Inspectors Appeal Tribunal, has been set up.
K17	Number of members of the tribunal, by category of appointment and whether full-time or part-time (in the latter case, with an average number of sitting days each year); and rates of pay.	Ten members, none of whom have sat. No information on pay rates has been provided.
K18	Arrangements for training tribunal members, and the approach to and content of training.	No information provided.
K19	Arrangements for staff training.	The small workload of the tribunal has made it difficult to justify investing in training staff, for whom tribunal-related work is only a small part of a policy-focused job.
K20	Resources expended on:
a	tribunal member salaries and expenses	No information has been provided.
b	staff salaries and expenses
c	system administration
d	accommodation;
e	tribunal member training
f	staff training
	TOTAL:

K1	Brief description of the tribunal's business.	Hears registered nursery inspectors' appeals against any decision by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools (MHCI) to remove their name from the register of inspectors, either during or at the end of a period of registration, or to impose or vary their conditions of registration.
K2	Cases received: Total disposals in the year: disputes resolved: otherwise disposed of: Pending at the end of the year:	Tribunal was set up in 1999. Two appeals were heard that year. None outstanding. No appeals in 2000.
K3	Time taken to deal with a case, from first receipt to final disposal, and the time taken to implement the tribunal's decision.	The first appeal took six months; the second took seven months.
K4	For appeal tribunals, the percentage of appeals which succeed.	0% Neither appeal succeeded.
K5	Managerial structures for the tribunal administration:	The Proper Officer has the lead role in the tribunal's administration and is supported by three additional staff, all on loan to the tribunal on a temporary part-time basis for the duration of an appeal.
K6	How tribunal outcomes are fed back into departmental/agency decision-making, and used to identify and correct problems with the substantive law, or departmental policies and service delivery?	There is no formal arrangement. However, if a panel identifies a gap in policy, and makes a recommendation in its final decision (report), this can be fed back to the appropriate DfEE policy team.
K7	Nature and scope of current ICT systems, and any major plans for improvement.	The tribunal can be contacted by e-mail by parties to an appeal, to submit written evidence, if preferred. DfEE are examining scope for making available information about the tribunal and its guidance for appellants and respondent on a website.
K8	How the tribunal(s) fit in the department's Modernising Government strategy.	As part of DfEE Modernising Government strategy, the department is modernising delivery by being customer-focused and committed to quality; working with a range of partners; learning from others; and using ICT more effectively. The tribunal's operation is consistent with this. Being a newly established tribunal, it has worked well with other tribunals, and learned from them.
K9	Numbers and grades of staff engaged on providing administrative support to the tribunal.	1xGrade 7 (The Proper Officer) 1xHEO 1xEO 1xAO All part-time, on secondment for the duration of an appeal.
K12	Performance and user satisfaction measures in the tribunal.	Tribunal has had just two appeals, and has learned from those two.
K13	Arrangements for assistance for users, legal or otherwise (including legal aid).	Tribunal pays travel expenses incurred by appellants ravelling to London. (All hearings in London as cost of moving tribunal out of London for one hearing would be "huge".) Tribunal obliged to consider the convenience of both parties in an appeal when deciding on a venue.
K14	Arrangements for providing hearings (including their locations).	Normally held at the tribunal's registered address (Tothill Street, London SW1). Where this is not possible, other tribunal facilities, or a hired facility would be sought in central London.
K15	The extent to which the tribunal's practices and procedures have been reviewed for conformity to ECHR requirements, and any particular concerns which have been identified.	Practices and procedures have been examined and are compliant.
K16	Arrangements for appointing tribunal members, both legally and otherwise qualified.	The Lord Chancellor appoints the chairman. The Secretary of State for Education and Employment appoints lay members.
K17	Number of members of the tribunal, by category of appointment and whether full-time or part-time (in the latter case, with an average number of sitting days each year); and rates of pay.	The tribunal has a pool of 10 lay members. Two members are selected to sit on each appeal panel (which is constituted on an ad hoc basis when an appeal is lodged). Members paid Ł203 per day for a hearing, and Ł153.33 per day for preparatory work.
K18	Arrangements for training tribunal members, and the approach to and content of training.	The chair in the two appeals heard so far has been selected from the SEN Tribunal, and receives training from that tribunal. Lay members had a one-day training session several years ago ( Endnote 1 ).
K19	Arrangements for staff training.	Tribunal staff have appropriate administrative experience, and receive training in the course of their policy work.
K20	Resources expended on:
a	tribunal member salaries and expenses	Ł9071.50
b	staff salaries and expenses	Come under DfEE running costs.
c	system administration	Come under DfEE running costs.
d	accommodation;	Accommodation is provided by DfEE
e	tribunal member training	No resources have yet been spent on training members.
f	staff training	No resources have yet been spent on training staff.
	TOTAL:	Ł9071.50

K1	Brief description of the tribunal's business.	Fifteen schools adjudicators decide on schools' admission arrangements and school organisation issues where there is local disagreement. Cases may be referred to adjudicators by schools, local education authorities, and school organisation committees; and by parents who object about schools who continue partially to select pupils by ability.
K2	Cases received: Total disposals in the year: disputes resolved: otherwise disposed of: Pending at the end of the year:	137 referrals ( Endnote 1 )107 objections to admission arrangements (59 decisions issued; 28 related referrals; 10 out of jurisdiction; 6 referrals to Sec State; 3 withdrawn; 1 outstanding) 16 variations to admission arrangements (15 decisions issued; 1 outstanding) 13 statutory proposals (10 decisions issued; 3 outstanding) 1 school plan (decision issued)
K3	Time taken to deal with a case, from first receipt to final disposal, and the time taken to implement the tribunal's decision.	Average time for clearing cases is between six and 12 weeks, depending on the complexity. Decisions are normally implemented at the start of the school year, in September.
K4	For appeal tribunals, the percentage of appeals which succeed.	objections to admission arrangements - 64% upheld (54/84) (includes all grounds of appeal - some referrals more than one ground) variations to admission arrangements - 60% approved (9/15) statutory proposals - 10% approved (1/10) school plan - 100% successful (1/1)
K5	Managerial structures for the tribunal administration:	Secretary (G7); 2 HEO casework managers (6 staff); 1 HEO admin/finance manager (6 staff)
K6	How tribunal outcomes are fed back into departmental/agency decision-making, and used to identify and correct problems with the substantive law, or departmental policies and service delivery?	The chief adjudicator and the OSA secretary feed back to DfEE issues relating to the law or Code of Practice. Suggested improvements are put forward and discussed.
K7	Nature and scope of current ICT systems, and any major plans for improvement.	All OSA staff use computers, as do the adjudicators - their equipment was provided by the OSA. E-mail is used extensively to exchange data (eg adjudicator decisions are sent electronically. Staff can then format them immediately.), and all have access to the Internet, and DfEE's intranet. The OSA website contains all adjudicator decisions; parents can complete submission to the adjudicator on-line on a standard pro-forma; any user can subscribe to receive adjudicator decisions automatically; users can provide feedback electronically. Standard letters are triggered automatically, and the system has an in-built project management mechanism which produces case plans and forecasts completion dates automatically. The office has a database system for tracking cases, and the website which is used externally and internally for retrieving management information. The website will be continually developed as new requirements arise.
K8	How the tribunal(s) fit in the department's Modernising Government strategy.	The schools adjudicators are part of the wider initiative to devolve decision-making to local level.
K9	Numbers and grades of staff engaged on providing administrative support to the tribunal.	1xG7 3xHEO 6xEO 9xAO 3xAA.
K12	Performance and user satisfaction measures in the tribunal.	Objectives (to parents, schools and LEAs): be open and accessible; act fairly and reasonable with you at all times; give you information in plain language and offer to help if there is anything you do not understand; help you understand how the adjudication process works and the time-scales involved; act promptly; make sure that the procedure staff follow reflect the commitments set out in this charter; correct errors and handle complaints speedily; and make sure that the adjudicators' decisions and our office procedures meet the relevant laws and regulations. (additional objective for parents only): respect your right to be heard, and your right to confidentiality. Targets: acknowledge objection within 3 days; ensure all parties know what is going on respond to further information within 5 days inform at outset how long case will take - notify in advance of any delay deliver decision within 6 weeks of receiving objection
K13	Arrangements for assistance for users, legal or otherwise (including legal aid).	None, other than the OSA helpdesk.
K14	Arrangements for providing hearings (including their locations).	An informal hearing may be provided at the request of one or more of the parties involved. The Office arranges these and the venue is always in the locality of the case.
K15	The extent to which the tribunal's practices and procedures have been reviewed for conformity to ECHR requirements, and any particular concerns which have been identified.	There is nothing in the practices and procedures that could be considered incompatible with ECHR.
K16	Arrangements for appointing tribunal members, both legally and otherwise qualified.	Schools adjudicators are appointed by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, but are independent of DfEE.
K17	Number of members of the tribunal, by category of appointment and whether full-time or part-time (in the latter case, with an average number of sitting days each year); and rates of pay.	1 Chief Adjudicator - average 35 days a year (Ł300 per day) 14 part-time adjudicators - average 35 days a year (Ł275 per day)
K18	Arrangements for training tribunal members, and the approach to and content of training.	Training needs are identified by the adjudicators and arranged by the Office. Experts in the field are brought in to conduct training for each topic.
K19	Arrangements for staff training.	Staff and their managers together identify training needs, and courses are arranged as appropriate. Good use is made of DfEE's training division. Office staff receive the same training as adjudicators, either by participation in events (which are recorded) or by watching the videos.
K20	Resources expended on:
a	tribunal member salaries and expenses	Ł228,000
b	staff salaries and expenses	Ł476,000
c	system administration	Ł123,000 ( Endnote 2 )
d	accommodation;	Information has not been provided.
e	tribunal member training	Ł16,000
f	staff training	Ł6,000
	TOTAL:	awaiting (d)