Use of remote technology in school admission and exclusion appeal hearings: Consultation Analysis

1. Executive Summary

1.1 Background

This report provides a summary of the analysis of responses submitted during the consultation on whether to retain the option of holding school admission and exclusion appeal hearings remotely. The consultation also sought views on making use of remote means only if all parties agree and use of video-conferencing as the default remote method to be used. The consultation opened on 16 January 2024 and closed on 12 March 2024. Following the collection of consultees’ responses, a mixed method approach was adopted to analyse the consultation findings. This ensured a comprehensive review of the qualitative and quantitative data. Please visit https://consult.gov.scot/learning-directorate/remote-means-school-admissions-exclusion-appeal/ to view responses to the consultation where consent has been given to publish the response.

1.2 Responses Received

In total 23 responses were received as part of the consultation. Respondents were asked to self-identify either as individuals or as organisations.

• 6 respondents self-identified as an individual
• 17 respondents self-identified as an organisation.

Responses from organisations were assigned appropriate categories to allow for further analysis.

• Local authority and local authority representative bodies (14 responses)
• Legal profession or judiciary (two responses)
• Representative/advocacy bodies for children with additional support needs (one response)

1.3 Summary of Responses

The following provides a summary of the key outcomes of the questions:

87% of respondents (20 responses) agree that the use of remote means for appeal hearings should remain. A minority of 9% (two responses) did not agree that the use of remote means for appeal hearings should remain and 4% (one response) did not provide an answer to this question.

70% of respondents (16 responses) agreed that video conferencing should be the default option and telephone conferencing, or wholly written means be used only where it is not possible to use video-conferencing. A minority of 26% (six responses) did not agree and 4% (one response) did not provide an answer to this question.

65% of respondents (15 responses) agreed that remote means should only be used where all parties agree. A minority, 26% (six responses), did not agree, and 9% (two consultees) did not provide an answer to this question.

39% of respondents (nine responses) answered that there were other improvements that should be made to how remote means is used in appeal hearings for example to mitigate the risk of digital exclusion that remote means should only be used where all parties agree. 52% (12 responses), did not think any changes were needed, and 9% (two consultees) did not provide an answer to this question.

1.4 Next steps

This report presents the analysis of the feedback received during the consultation. Scottish Ministers have considered the results of the consultation and intend to bring forward measures that will make permanent the use of remote means in appeal hearings and for appellants to have a choice about the type of appeal hearing they participate in.